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

New e-bike laws are now in effect in Carlsbad. 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: 

Traffic safety improvements

Post Date:06/24/2026 10:23 AM

The Carlsbad City Council approved three new all-way stops and a neighborhood traffic calming plan during its meeting on Tuesday, June 23.

The new all-way stops will be installed this summer at the following intersections:

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

All-way stops and traffic calming map

After analyzing traffic volumes and patterns at these intersections, city staff recommended 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.

In addition to the all-way stop, high-visibility crosswalks will also be installed on all four edges of the intersection, and the existing raised crosswalk and flashing warning beacons will be removed.

Unicornio Street traffic calming

To address speeding concerns on Unicornio Street between El Fuerte Street and Rancho Cortes, the City of Carlsbad worked with residents to develop a traffic calming plan, which includes two speed cushions.

Following the City Council’s approval, the team will seek bids for construction and anticipate work to install speed cushions to begin in the fall.

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