Carlsbad, CA
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Safer Streets Together Plan
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.
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Parents are responsible for knowingly allowing their children to commit violations.
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:
- E-bike safety and training course (CHP endorsed)
- E-bike course offered by Motorcycle Safety Foundation and People for Bikes ($35.99)
- Electric Bike Academy ($50)
- League of American Bicyclists learning center (several resources available)
Bike safety month reminders
May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and with the beautiful weather in Carlsbad lately, more people are gearing up to explore Carlsbad on two wheels. Whether you are biking, walking or driving, please look out for each other on the road.
04/30/2026 10:24 AM
Village lighting improvements
New energy-efficient pedestrian lighting and upgrades to existing tree lights are planned throughout the Village. The city's Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission is scheduled to receive an update on the Village Lighting Project at its next meeting on May 4.
04/28/2026 2:20 PM
New all-way stops proposed
The City of Carlsbad will share updates on new proposed all-way stops at three locations citywide during the upcoming Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission meeting on May 4.
04/28/2026 2:10 PM
All-way stop at Grand and Madison
A new all-way stop at Grand Avenue and Madison Street will make it easier for our community members to cross the street or turn onto Grand. In this video, you can go behind the scenes with our crew who did the installation Wednesday morning.
04/23/2026 3:52 PM
Kelly Elementary Safe Routes to School
The City of Carlsbad has launched an online survey to gather input on potential street improvements in the area around Kelly Elementary School.
04/22/2026
New e-bike laws start 3/26
Stronger e-bike safety laws will go into effect on March 26 in Carlsbad, following a 30-day public information campaign.
03/26/2026 7:06 PM
New Barrio stop signs
The City of Carlsbad installed new all-way stop signs and enhanced crosswalks at four intersections in the Barrio during the last couple of weeks.
03/13/2026 12:56 PM
Terramar sidewalks
The City of Carlsbad is developing options for street improvements in the Terramar area and we are seeking input to help guide decisions about how the project should move forward.
03/10/2026 7:34 PM
Grand Avenue street improvements
The City of Carlsbad is considering ways to improve parking and traffic safety along Grand Avenue by converting existing parallel parking to diagonal parking and installing a new all-way stop at the intersection of Grand Avenue at Madison Street.
03/03/2026 9:47 AM
Barrio stop signs
The City of Carlsbad is installing new all-way stop signs at four intersections in the Barrio as part of the city’s efforts to help reduce speeds and improve safety in the Barrio.
02/26/2026 12:31 PM
New e-bike laws
Stronger e-bike safety laws will be effective in Carlsbad starting March 26, 2026, after the City Council formally adopted the laws at its meeting this week.
02/25/2026 9:21 AM
New e-bike rules
At its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10, the Carlsbad City Council took the next step toward enacting stricter e-bike laws by adopting a resolution and introducing a new ordinance, which is the technical term for a city law.
02/12/2026 4:28 PM
More street improvements completed on Kelly Drive
The City of Carlsbad recently completed additional street improvements to enhance safety and reduce traffic congestion near Kelly Elementary School.
02/05/2026 9:32 AM
E-bike rules: Next steps
The Carlsbad City Council will consider next steps for enacting several new e-bike safety rules at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
02/05/2026 9:20 AM
Barrio traffic calming construction
More than 40 high visibility crosswalks, four all-way stop signs and a traffic circle will be installed in the Barrio under a plan to reduce speeds in the neighborhood the City Council approved this week.
01/29/2026 4:56 PM
Grand Avenue street improvements
The City of Carlsbad is considering ways to improve parking and traffic safety along Grand Avenue by converting existing parallel parking to diagonal parking and installing new all-way stop -at the intersection of Grand Avenue at Madison Street.
01/26/2026 6:08 PM
New stop sign at State and Laguna
New stop signs will be installed at the intersection of State Street at Laguna Drive next month to help address community concerns about safety. The City Council approved the new stop signs at its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
01/16/2026 4:05 PM
More lighting for Barrio sidewalks
Construction is starting soon on a project to install more than 100 new lights next to sidewalks throughout the Barrio.
01/08/2026 3:37 PM
New e-bike safety rules
New e-bike safety measures are coming to Carlsbad soon, including a minimum age of 12 for riding e-bikes and rules to strengthen and clarify Carlsbad’s existing e-bike laws. The city will launch a 30-day public information campaign in the new year to raise awareness of the new laws.
12/03/2025 4:02 PM
Proposed e-bike safety measures
New e-bike safety measures, including adopting a minimum age of 12 for riding e-bikes, will go before the City Council next Tuesday, Dec. 2. The recommendations are coming from staff and the city’s Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission.
12/01/2025 8:50 AM