Carlsbad may outlaw e-bikes for riders under 12
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Scott Mace
Dec 3, 2025, 12:14:37 AMDec 3
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Carlsbad may outlaw e-bikes for riders under 12
By Phil Diehl
The San Diego Union-Tribune, December 2, 2025 (as syndicated in the San
Jose Mercury News)
E-bike riders would have to be at least 12 years old under an ordinance
to be considered Dec. 2 by the Carlsbad City Council.
Chula Vista, Coronado, Poway and San Marcos have adopted similar
ordinances this year to prohibit e-bikes for children younger than 12.
Final approval of one in Santee is expected in December. In most cities,
the enforcement begins with warnings and can lead to fines for children
and their parents.
Carlsbad's Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission voted in September to
recommend the City Council's approval. Prior to its meeting, the
commission received more than 550 comments on e-bikes, most in favor of
the age restriction and other additional regulations.
Cities across California are beefing up e-bike laws as part of a state
pilot program that took effect this year under Assembly Bill 2234,
sponsored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, D-Encintas. It sunsets Jan.
1, 2029.
Bicycle injury accidents have risen sharply since e-bike sales spiked
with the start of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020. E-bikes are especially
popular with young people, who are involved in most of the accidents.
"Adolescents are at the center of this problem," said Carlsbad police
Lt. Jason Arnotti in May, adding that younger children have less
developed judgment and are more likely to be injured in accidents.
Carlsbad declared a local traffic emergency after two bicycle fatalities
in 2022. Since then, the city has increased regulations and expanded
enforcement and street safety improvements, such as better bike lanes
and crosswalks.
The city was among the first in the region to pass e-bike laws in 2022,
when it prohibited them on public sidewalks, drainage ditches, culverts,
channels, athletic courts or gyms.
The ordinance approved in mid-2022 requires riders to take care and
reduce speed when necessary. They can't carry passengers on the
handlebars or rear bike racks not specifically made for additional
riders. On trails less than 5 feet wide, the rider must get off and walk
the bike within 50 feet of a pedestrian.
The city's injury accidents involving bicycles of all types peaked at 59
in 2023, then declined as the changes began to take effect.
The California Air Resources Board helped boost e-bike sales with an
incentive program that in 2024, after some delays, offered rebates of up
to $2,000 to help qualified recipients. The board reported it was
swamped with about 150,000 applications for the first 1,500 vouchers.
A second round of rebate vouchers was distributed early this year, and
again the response was overwhelming. Late this year the board voted to
end the program and to place the remaining money available into a
similar program offering incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles.
By Phil Diehl
The San Diego Union-Tribune, December 2, 2025 (as syndicated in the San
Jose Mercury News)
E-bike riders would have to be at least 12 years old under an ordinance
to be considered Dec. 2 by the Carlsbad City Council.
Chula Vista, Coronado, Poway and San Marcos have adopted similar
ordinances this year to prohibit e-bikes for children younger than 12.
Final approval of one in Santee is expected in December. In most cities,
the enforcement begins with warnings and can lead to fines for children
and their parents.
Carlsbad's Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission voted in September to
recommend the City Council's approval. Prior to its meeting, the
commission received more than 550 comments on e-bikes, most in favor of
the age restriction and other additional regulations.
Cities across California are beefing up e-bike laws as part of a state
pilot program that took effect this year under Assembly Bill 2234,
sponsored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, D-Encintas. It sunsets Jan.
1, 2029.
Bicycle injury accidents have risen sharply since e-bike sales spiked
with the start of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020. E-bikes are especially
popular with young people, who are involved in most of the accidents.
"Adolescents are at the center of this problem," said Carlsbad police
Lt. Jason Arnotti in May, adding that younger children have less
developed judgment and are more likely to be injured in accidents.
Carlsbad declared a local traffic emergency after two bicycle fatalities
in 2022. Since then, the city has increased regulations and expanded
enforcement and street safety improvements, such as better bike lanes
and crosswalks.
The city was among the first in the region to pass e-bike laws in 2022,
when it prohibited them on public sidewalks, drainage ditches, culverts,
channels, athletic courts or gyms.
The ordinance approved in mid-2022 requires riders to take care and
reduce speed when necessary. They can't carry passengers on the
handlebars or rear bike racks not specifically made for additional
riders. On trails less than 5 feet wide, the rider must get off and walk
the bike within 50 feet of a pedestrian.
The city's injury accidents involving bicycles of all types peaked at 59
in 2023, then declined as the changes began to take effect.
The California Air Resources Board helped boost e-bike sales with an
incentive program that in 2024, after some delays, offered rebates of up
to $2,000 to help qualified recipients. The board reported it was
swamped with about 150,000 applications for the first 1,500 vouchers.
A second round of rebate vouchers was distributed early this year, and
again the response was overwhelming. Late this year the board voted to
end the program and to place the remaining money available into a
similar program offering incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles.
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