With the school year wrapping up and the anticipation of seeing kids enjoy their summer vacations by riding their bikes and e-bikes around town, the city and Carlsbad Unified School District hosted more than 100 parents and students for a bicycle and e-bike safety meeting on May 24.
The City of Carlsbad Police Department was on hand to highlight the rules of the road, including new city e-bike rules that target reckless riding behaviors. The city’s focus is on education rather than ticketing for first time violators.
Medical Doctor Gail Tominaga from Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla also spoke at the meeting, sharing the types of injuries she sees most often associated with bike riding and how to avoid them.
Key takeaways from the meeting:
- Helmets are required for ages 17 and younger and can protect riders from life-threatening injuries
- Passengers are only allowed on bikes and e-bikes specifically made for additional riders. They cannot be on handlebars or storage racks.
- Bikes and e-bikes should not ride on sidewalks, public drainage facilities, culverts, ditches, channels, or any public athletic or sports court or gymnasium in the city.
- Ride with the flow of traffic and ride with predictability.
- Bikes and e-bikes need to be well-maintained just like cars for safety – check your tire pressure and brakes and replace tires and brakes as needed
Carlsbad Police will be out enforcing these rules with the opportunity to educate riders with the goal of improving safety for everyone. Learn about more e-bike rules and free resources from the San Diego County Bike Coalition.
