Carlsbad moving forward on e-bike ban

The city plans to join a countywide pilot program and draft ordinances aimed at reducing accidents and improving safety

The Carlsbad City Council moved forward with new regulations and a ban on e-bikes and riders under 12 during Tuesday’s meeting. Steve Puterski photo

CARLSBAD — Responding to heightened and continuous concerns over the increase in e-bike collisions, the City Council moved forward Tuesday in drafting ordinances banning riders under 12, among other steps.

The City Council directed staff to develop two ordinances, pursue joining a more robust pilot program, explore e-bike bans at two public parks and engage the city’s impound authority. The council, though, opted not to move forward with exploring an ordinance to establish age requirements for those 16 or older riding after dark due to logistical challenges.

Staff will likely return next year with a package of ordinances, updates to city codes and the other elements as Carlsbad is set to join a handful of other cities in banning e-bike riders under 12 as part of a San Diego County pilot program established under Assembly Bill 2234.

San Marcos adopted the program in October amid concerns over unsafe riding from younger riders, mostly teenagers. Poway has enacted a ban on riders under 12 this year, following Santee, Coronado and Chula Vista. Del Mar has banned riders on sidewalks.

“Every option presented tonight has limitations,” said Carlsbad Police Lt. Jason Arnotti. “Each measure helps close specific gaps. Supporting AB 2234 is not futile, even with its limitations. It establishes a clear minimum age that is absent in state law and places responsibility on parents.”

City staff presented seven elements regarding the possible ordinance. Those include:

• Join the AB 2234 pilot program

• Pursue joining AB 1778

• Adopt an ordinance banning riders under 16 from carrying passengers unless equipped with a separate seat

• Update city codes on unsafe riding standards, equipment requirements and parent/guardian responsibility

• Ban operations of regulated mobility devices at Poinsettia and Pine Avenue parks

• Exercise e-bike and micromobility impound authority

Safety, enforcement concerns

Earlier this year, the city reported 249 collisions involving bikes and e-bikes between 2019 to mid-August 2022, or a 233% increase.