New e-bike regulations to prohibit riders younger than 12, ban e-bikes at two community parks, and allow the temporary confiscation of reckless riders’ machines were introduced last week in Carlsbad. “Our goals is not to punish folks … not to limit mobility,” said Carlsbad City Councilmember Priya Baht-Patel. “It’s really to figure out how we can make sure we are keeping kids safe.” Motor vehicle drivers also need to be careful around the increasing number of e-bikes, regular bicycles, scooters and other alternative modes of transportation on the roads, she said. “I’ve seen a lot of near misses,” Baht-Patel said. The Carlsbad City Council unanimously approved the updated mobility ordinance, which will be brought back to the council Feb. 24 for adoption. After a 30-day public information campaign, the ordinance will take effect March 24, followed by a 60-day warning period, then full enforcement after May 25. More regulations are working their way through the state Legislature to keep up with the rapidly advancing technology that drives increasing e-bike sales, said Councilmember Teresa Acosta. “It’s not just Carlsbad … it’s statewide,” Acosta said. “We haven’t quite fixed all the pieces yet because it’s a moving and fluid situation.” E-bikes will be prohibited at Pine and Poinsettia community parks, where the city has had the most complaints about unsafe behaviors. Regulatory signs and additional bike racks will be installed at the two parks. E-bikes will be temporarily impounded from minors involved in unsafe activities or who ride in off-limits areas. The bikes will be released only after the rider completes a city-approved education course in person and with a parent present. No fines are specified, but the ordinance gives the city the authority to recover the costs associated with the impoundment and storage of e-bikes. Many San Diego County cities are beefing up their e-bike laws under a temporary pilot program that took effect last year with the approval of Assembly Bill 2234, sponsored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, D-Encinitas. The pilot program only applies to San Diego County and its cities, and it sunsets Jan. 1, 2029. Chula Vista, Coronado, Poway, San Marcos and Santee adopted similar ordinances in 2025 to prohibit e-bikes for children younger than 12. Oceanside updated its e-bike ordinance in January to allow police to confiscate e-bikes from reckless riders, although the city stopped short of setting an age restriction. In most cities, the enforcement begins with warnings and can lead to fines for minors and their parents or guardians. Carlsbad was one of the first cities in the region to tighten e-bike regulations after two bicycle fatalities in 2022. The city declared a local emergency to expedite its response. It expanded enforcement, added educational programs, and installed safety improvements such as better bike lanes, lighted crosswalks and the green zones shared by cyclists and motor vehicles. The ordinance approved in mid-2022 requires e-bike riders to take care and reduce speed when necessary. It prohibits carrying passengers on the handlebars or rear bike racks not specifically made for additional riders. On trails less than 5 feet wide, riders must get off and walk their e-bike within 50 feet of a pedestrian. The ordinance also prohibited e-bikes on public sidewalks, drainage ditches, culverts, channels, athletic courts or gyms. The city’s injury accidents involving bicycles of all types peaked at 59 in 2023, then declined as the changes began to take effect. ...read more read less