Carlsbad commission supports e-bike ban for riders under age 12

Carlsbad’s Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission unanimously recommended Tuesday that the Carlsbad City Council prohibit e-bikes for kids under age 12 and suggested taking the ban a step further.

Noting that the local ordinance would be “kind of toothless” as allowed under state law, commission Chair Josh Coelho proposed the City Council also consider additional measures, such as prohibiting passengers for all e-bike riders under age 16.

“It’s older kids who are the problem,” Coelho said.

Teens sometimes ride e-bikes in packs near schools or on downtown streets ignoring traffic signs and signal lights, commission members said. Sometimes the pack will follow a lead rider into crowds of pedestrians or in other hazardous behavior such as wheelies or racing.

Commission members also suggested the council consider increasing the age limit, possibly to include anyone younger than 16. A higher age limit would require a separate action by the city other than just following the program prescribed by the state law, Assembly Bill 2234, which only applies the ban to those under age 12.

“Adolescents are at the center of this problem,” said Carlsbad police Lt. Jason Arnotti, adding that younger children have less developed judgment and are more likely to be injured in accidents.

The city’s community outreach efforts on the issue prompted more than 500 emails from residents, said Nathan Schmidt, the city’s transportation planning and mobility manager. More than 85% of the emails supported a minimum age of 12 or higher for e-bike riders.

“This is a reasonable, common-sense measure,” said Christina McGoldrick, a Carlsbad mother of three, in remarks to the commission Tuesday. “Children are a vulnerable population … their frontal cortex is still developing.”

Some residents suggested additional measures such as licensing or registering e-bike riders. However, the state law does not give local agencies the authority to do that.

Instead, the traffic commission proposed that city officials and the council lobby elected state officials for new laws that allow more local control of e-bike safety issues.

Cities have seen a sharp increase in bicycle collisions since e-bike sales spiked statewide in 2020. After two fatalities, Carlsbad declared a traffic emergency in 2022 that led to increased regulations, expanded enforcement and street safety improvements, such as better bike lanes and crosswalks.

Carlsbad’s injury accidents involving bicycles of all types peaked at 59 in 2023, then declined as the changes began to take effect.

AB 2234, sponsored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, D-Encinitas, gives cities the authority to prohibit children under age 12 from operating Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes in a statewide pilot program that sunsets Jan. 1, 2029. Class 1 e-bikes are pedal-assist only and stop providing power at 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes have a throttle or pedal-assist, but also stop providing power at 20 mph.

Class 3 e-bikes are pedal-assisted up to 28 mph and must have a speedometer. State law requires Class 3 operators to be at least 16 years old. E-motorcycles, which usually have no pedals and can go over 60 mph, are not street legal in Carlsbad.

No date was set for the proposal to go to the City Council. If approved, the program would include 60 days in which violators would only receive warnings.

After that, violations would be punishable by a base fine of $25 with approximately $200 of additional fees. Parents or guardians would be jointly responsible for the fines, according to a city report.

Coronado and Chula Vista both adopted ordinances this year to prohibit e-bikes for children younger than 12.