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Carlsbad council introduces e-bike ordinance, sets age limit and bans e-bikes in two parks
Summary
The City Council introduced an ordinance aligning local rules with Assembly Bill 2234, setting a minimum age restriction that bars riders under 12 from operating certain e-bikes, authorizing limited seizure authority for juvenile devices posing immediate safety risks, and adopted a companion resolution prohibiting e-bike operation in Pine Avenue and Poinsettia Community Parks with a phased education-and-enforcement rollout.
The Carlsbad City Council on Feb. 10 introduced an ordinance to update city code on regulated mobility devices and adopted a companion resolution to prohibit e-bike operation in two community parks, advancing a phased education-and-enforcement plan tied to state law.
Lieutenant Jason Arnotti of the Carlsbad Police Department told the council the proposed amendments to Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 10.56 would modernize definitions and operational standards, implement the state pilot under Assembly Bill 2234 by setting a minimum age (riders under 12 may not operate a class 1 or class 2 e-bike), and add narrowly tailored seizure authority for juveniles only when a device poses an immediate public-safety risk. The ordinance also would allow the city to recover administrative costs related to state-authorized impounds, the lieutenant said.
The staff presentation said the ordinance balances safety and mobility by emphasizing education and parental accountability during a phased rollout the city would begin if the ordinance is adopted. Arnotti described a timeline that mirrors AB 2234: a 30-day education and outreach campaign, a 60-day voluntary-compliance warning period, and then standard enforcement beginning May 25, 2026.
Public commenters supported regulation but urged careful outreach. Kevin Ferguson, who said he is a guardian of a 12-year-old, said he supports “safe and sane regulations” but warned the council to “move slowly and carefully” on any pilot described as the “nuclear option” that could criminalize youth unintentionally. Kurt Watson urged the city to prioritize policies that encourage biking generally, and suggested requiring children under 12 to be accompanied by an adult as a possible compromise.
Council members pressed staff on implementation details: whether the city can join the Marin pilot (staff said the legislature must add Carlsbad to that pilot), multilingual outreach including Spanish, coordination with PTAs and schools, designated bike parking inside parks (staff said riders could access parks but would be asked to park in bike areas), and education-focused enforcement tools.
Councilmember comments emphasized safety for children while preserving mobility. After discussion the council voted to introduce the ordinance and adopt the companion resolution prohibiting e-bike operation in Pine Avenue and Poinsettia Community Parks; the motion passed unanimously.
The ordinance introduction advances the process; if the council votes to adopt the ordinance at a later meeting it will trigger the education and warning phases discussed by staff. The council also directed staff to coordinate outreach with schools and the communications team prior to enforcement.
