Carlsbad students riding e-bikes to school this fall face real consequences if they break the city's new rules, the Carlsbad Police Department warned in an advisory posted Friday, Aug. 21.

Officers can impound an e-bike when a minor violates the ordinance and creates an immediate or substantial public safety risk. To get the bike back, the rider must complete a safety course and pass an in-person test, and a parent or guardian must be present at release.

The advisory marks the first school year under Carlsbad's updated e-bike ordinance, which took effect March 26, according to city records, after the City Council unanimously approved it in February. Full enforcement began after May 25, following a 60-day warning period.

Here's what families need to know:

• Minimum age: Riders must be at least 12 years old.
• Helmets: Required for all riders under 18, and for all ages on Class 3 e-bikes.
• Park bans: E-bikes are prohibited at Poinsettia Community Park and Pine Avenue Community Park.
• No double-riding: Only e-bikes designed for passengers can carry more than one rider.
• Parent liability: Parents and guardians can be held responsible if they knowingly allow their children to violate the rules.

The ordinance was enabled by Assembly Bill 2234, a state pilot program covering San Diego County and its cities that sunsets Jan. 1, 2029.

"Our goal is not to punish folks … not to limit mobility," Councilmember Priya Bhat-Patel said in February, when the council introduced the ordinance. "It's really to figure out how we can make sure we are keeping kids safe."

The city's bicycle-involved injury accidents peaked at 59 in 2023, according to San Diego Union-Tribune reporting. Two bicycle fatalities in 2022 prompted the city to declare a local emergency and fast-track its response. Carlsbad was among the first San Diego County cities to tighten e-bike regulations; Chula Vista, Coronado, Poway, San Marcos and Santee adopted similar ordinances in 2025.

The police department also launched an online e-bike reporting portal in June, allowing residents to submit photos and videos of illegal or unsafe riding. Traffic Lt. Jim Willis said at the portal's launch that community members can help officers identify unsafe behaviors and problem locations before someone is seriously injured.

The CPD advisory also flags e-motorcycles, including brands such as Sur-ron, Talaria and Rawrr Mantis, which are not street legal and require a driver's license with a motorcycle endorsement, registration and insurance. Those devices are also subject to impoundment.

The department recommends parents take a test ride with their student from home to school to familiarize them with the route. The full e-bike rules are available in English and Spanish at carlsbadca.gov/ebikes.