Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Carlsbad Backs Under-12 E‑Bike Ban, Orders Draft Ordinance With New Safety Rules

City staff will now write a draft ordinance for public review under a new state pilot program.

Overview

  • The City Council voted unanimously to adopt recommendations that prohibit riders under 12, bar passengers under 16, update unsafe passing and riding standards, allow police to impound bikes, and restrict e-bikes in Poinsettia and Pine Avenue community parks.
  • The measures are not yet law, with penalties and enforcement details to be set during drafting after discussion of $25 fines or safety classes and potential referrals for repeat willful parental violations.
  • A proposal to limit younger riders after dark was rejected after staff reported few collisions during nighttime hours.
  • City leaders cited extensive public input, including more than 550 comments with most favoring a minimum rider age of 12.
  • Officials pointed to rising youth injuries, Coronado’s 36 recorded e-bike accidents since January 2023 mostly involving ages 10 to 18, and clinicians reporting increasing teen cases at Rady’s Children’s Hospital.