Teresa Acosta is a council member for the city of Carlsbad, and Geoff Patnoe is the Carlsbad city manager. They can be reached at Teresa.Acosta@carlsbadca.gov and Geoff.Patnoe@carlsbadca.gov.

For many communities, electric bike technology has moved faster than the law. But in Carlsbad, we are working to proactively respond to this nuanced, emerging challenge.

In Carlsbad, outdoor living and e-bikes go hand in hand, but increased usage led to a 200% spike in e-bike collisions in 2022. That same year, Carlsbad became the first city in the San Diego region to adopt local e-bike safety laws. It declared a local traffic safety emergency and immediately developed a balanced traffic safety effort focused on the three E’s of traffic safety: education, engineering, and enforcement.

City staff launched a multimedia public education campaign in partnership with local schools, businesses, faith-based groups, and mobility organizations. The city added dozens of new green bike lanes, crosswalk signal adjustments, and sidewalks. Enforcement also took center stage, with officers focusing on high-traffic areas and issuing thousands of warnings and citations.

This all-hands-on-deck effort raised awareness of local e-bike laws, improved city streets, and increased enforcement in places with high concentrations of collisions. After a year, we saw an 18% decrease in e-bike collisions, but we knew there was more work to do.

When we launched the traffic safety emergency, residents had consistently asked for changes in state law, such as e-bike licensing or setting an e-bike minimum rider age. We approached our state legislators and sponsored AB 2234 (Boerner), a pilot program that gives San Diego County cities the authority to set 12 as the minimum age for riding Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes.

After the bill was signed, we asked for community input. We received over 550 comments and about 85% of respondents supported a minimum age. After reviewing community input and police department data, in February 2026 the city council adopted several new local laws that set a minimum age of 12 and created new safety standards. Minors whose e-bikes are impounded due to unsafe behavior can get them back after completing a safety course.  

Enforcement of the new e-bike laws began in May, after a robust education effort; but enforcement is just a piece of the puzzle. The city has worked closely with all four school districts within Carlsbad to develop e-bike permit programs for students and reinforce safety messaging.

Carlsbad police officers also use drone technology when appropriate to help when people recklessly ride e-bikes or e-motorcycles and then flee. This reduces the need for vehicle pursuits and enhances public safety. 

In the first six weeks since the new laws took effect, officers issued over 50 related warnings and 20 citations. Over 40 minors have completed the safety course conducted by Carlsbad Police, which is required to release e-bikes from impoundment.

Carlsbad Police also direct residents to training resources, including the California Highway Patrol’s online e-bike safety course and educational materials from the League of American Bicyclists.  

The city is also partnering with the community through new tools, like an online e-bike reporting portal that lets residents submit photos and videos of unsafe e-bike or e-motorcycle activity to the Carlsbad Police Traffic Unit. This makes it easier for police to identify problem areas, allowing officers to focus education and enforcement efforts where they are needed most.

Ultimately, keeping riders safe is a long-term community commitment. Carlsbad plans to meet that commitment thanks to the ongoing support of residents, schools, and families to help ensure the city’s streets are safe for everyone.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Western City, the League of California Cities, or its members.