Carlsbad riders under 12 can no longer operate e-bikes, and police now have the authority to impound machines from minors who ride recklessly.

The city's new e-bike ordinance, adopted unanimously by the City Council on Feb. 24, is in full enforcement after a 30-day public information campaign and a 60-day warning period that concluded after May 25, according to The Coast News.

The rules give the Carlsbad Police Department tools it did not have before. Officers can seize an e-bike from any minor when they have probable cause to believe the rider violated the ordinance and created an immediate or substantial risk to public safety, the Coast News reported. To get the bike back, the minor must complete an in-person safety course with a parent or guardian present.

Police can also impound e-motorcycles, which are not street legal, according to the city's e-bike page.

What riders need to know

The ordinance sets several requirements beyond the age minimum:

  • Riders under 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet.
  • Riders must travel at a safe speed for conditions, accounting for weather, pedestrians and other traffic.
  • Only e-bikes designed for passengers can carry more than one rider.
  • Parents are responsible for knowingly allowing their children to commit violations.

E-bikes are now banned at Poinsettia Community Park and Pine Avenue Community Park. The city had received the most complaints about unsafe riding at those two locations, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Feb. 15. Walking a bike through the parks is still allowed unless otherwise posted.

No fines are specified. The city does have authority to recover costs for impounding and storing e-bikes, according to the Union-Tribune.

How it got here

Carlsbad declared a local state of emergency in August 2022 after a rise in collisions involving bikes and e-bikes. Injury accidents involving bicycles of all types peaked at 59 in 2023, then declined as safety changes took hold, the Union-Tribune reported.

The ordinance operates under state Assembly Bill 2234 (AB 2234), a San Diego County pilot program sponsored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, D-Encinitas, and signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September 2024. The pilot sunsets Jan. 1, 2029.

Before the council voted, more than 550 residents submitted comments. About 85% supported imposing a minimum riding age, North Coast Current reported in December 2025.

Carlsbad Police Chief Christie Calderwood said in a Sept. 30 statement tied to the Carlsbad Unified School District's adoption of its own e-bike policy that "education has been the foundation of our approach to helping young riders and their families understand the rules."

The school district adopted its first comprehensive e-bike rules on Sept. 14, aligning campus standards with the city's Municipal Code 10.56.

Residents can review the full list of rules on the city's electric bikes page.