Let's be Safer Together, Carlsbad!

The City of Carlsbad uses the three Es of traffic safety -- education, engineering and enforcement -- to help ensure everyone uses local streets safely. Thanks to your support, it's working! Please continue to look out for one another, follow our safety tips and share your commitment publicly so others will do the same.

New e-bike laws effective March 26, 2026 

The Carlsbad City Council formally adopted new e-bike laws at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The news laws are in effect as of March 26, 2026, starting with a 60-day warning period.

Here is what to expect: 

  • Anyone operating an e-bike must be at least 12 years old, as allowed by Assembly Bill 2234.
  • When a minor breaks the rules and creates an immediate or substantial public safety risk, their e-bike may be impounded. The minor must complete an in-person safety course to retrieve the e-bike, and a parent or guardian must be present when the e-bike is released. 
  • The Police Department can also impound e-motorcycles, which are not street legal. 
  • E-bikes are prohibited at Poinsettia and Pine Avenue Community Parks. 

Additionally, the city's previously existing laws have been updated to provide additional clarity on safe riding behavior, including:

  • Riders must go at a safe speed for the conditions, factoring in weather, whether pedestrians are present and how quickly other traffic is moving.
  • Riders under 18 years old must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet.
  • Only e-bikes designed for passengers can carry more than one rider.

  • Parents are responsible for knowingly allowing their children to commit violations. 

E-bike chart with e-motorcycles

More information

E-bike laws overview
View the new ordinance  
Watch a recording of the City Council meeting 

Safety classes

The Carlsbad Police Department hosts quarterly bike and e-bike safety classes. Sign up to be the first to know when new classes are added.

Online resources are also available: 

New all-way stops proposed

Post Date:04/28/2026 2:10 PM

The City of Carlsbad's Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission is scheduled to discuss new proposed all-way stops at three locations citywide during its next meeting on May 4.

Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission
Monday, May 4, 4 p.m.
City Council Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

The agenda and staff report will be available on the city's website by Friday, May 1.

How to participate

Locations where new all-way stops are being considered include:

  • Batiquitos Drive and Aviara Drive
  • Camino De Los Coches and La Costa Avenue
  • Tamarack Avenue and Sunnyhill Drive

Proposed all-way stop location map 

After analyzing traffic volumes and patterns at these intersections, city staff are recommending new all-way stops to help improve pedestrian access, make it easier for cars to turn onto busy streets and reduce speeding.

Tamarack Avenue and Sunnyhill Drive

In 2023, the city installed a raised crosswalk on Tamarack Avenue at Sunnyhill Drive to help address speeding concerns. Since then, we have continued to monitor the intersection and determined that a new all-way stop would make it easier for pedestrians to safely cross the street. If an all-way stop is approved at this intersection, the existing raised crosswalk and flashing warning beacons would be removed and new high-visibility crosswalks would be installed on all four edges of the intersection.

Next steps

During its meeting on May 4, the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission may recommend that the City Council approves all-way stops at one or all of these intersections. The City Council would then consider approving the all-way stops at a future meeting. 

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