Carlsbad to hold meetings on e-bike safety

A Bird eBike File image courtesy BIrd Carlsbad s Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission will hold a special meeting Tuesday to gather population input on whether the city should prohibit e-bike use by children under age The Carlsbad City Council requested the commission to hold the meeting following the passage of AB which allows cities and unincorporated areas in San Diego County to establish a minimum age of for riding e-bikes Residents can submit comments by email to traffic carlsbadca gov by p m Tuesday or they can attend the Special Traffic Safety and Mobility Commission meeting in person and provide a comment The meeting is scheduled for p m Tuesday in City Council chambers Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad Village Drive Because the age of is identified in the measure the city does not have authority to adopt an ordinance with a different minimum age The new law applies only to Class and Class e-bikes State law already establishes a minimum age of for riding Class e-bikes which can reach higher maximum speeds State law prevents cities from adopting licensing requirements but school districts operating in Carlsbad have worked with the city to develop bike safety or permit programs for students The Carlsbad Police Department offers bike and e-bike safety training More than students have participated so far Carlsbad was the first city in the region to pass local laws to curtail reckless riding and address other unsafe use of e-bikes functionaries reported In the last three years police have issued more than e-bike citations and warnings for violations that include running red lights failing to stop at stop signs riding on sidewalks and engaging in hazardous riding behaviors Coaching is a key part of Carlsbad s approach according to executives The city s local laws allow riders who receive a citation for the first time to take a safety syllabus instead of paying the fine