The Carlsbad Police Department this week launched a new e-bike reporting portal, an online system that allows residents to inform officers of dangerous riders on the road.
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The program comes on the heels of the city passing new e-bike regulations that focus on addressing unsafe riding behaviors and educating riders about the dangers involved with modified bikes, officials said.
“The Police Department recognizes that many residents frequently share concerns and videos of unsafe riding behavior on neighborhood and community social media platforms,” police said in a statement released Tuesday. “While those platforms are not monitored by the Carlsbad Police Department, the information may provide valuable evidence that can assist officers in addressing ongoing safety concerns.”
City officials said the new online portal allows residents to submit photos and videos of e-bike riders exhibiting illegal or unsafe activity, such as excessive speeds, traffic violations, reckless riding behaviors and riding in prohibited areas.
“Our goal is to improve safety for everyone using our roadways, trails and public spaces,” said traffic Lt. Jim Willis. “Community members can play an important role by providing information that helps us identify unsafe behaviors and the specific locations in Carlsbad where they are occurring before someone is seriously injured.”
Residents on the portal are encouraged to share the location of the incident, as well as photos and video that may have been captured. The evidence can be used by officers for targeted enforcement or educational outreach efforts.
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The new portal was unveiled as part of the Carlsbad City Council’s continued effort to crack down on e-bikes. In February, the council introduced new e-bike regulations to prohibit riders younger than 12, ban e-bikes at two community parks and allow the temporary confiscation of reckless riders’ machines.
Four years earlier, the council approved an ordinance that prohibited carrying passengers on the handlebars or rear bike racks not specifically made for additional riders.
In 2022, the city reported two bicycle fatalities, and injuries involving bicycles peaked at 59 in 2023 as the changes began to take effect.
Chula Vista, Coronado, Poway, San Marcos and Santee adopted ordinances last year to prohibit e-bikes for children younger than 12, and a pilot program under Assembly Bill 2234 beefed up e-bike laws.
As recently as Tuesday, the San Diego City Council passed laws that set the minimum age for usage at 12 years old and banned double-riding unless an e-bike has a permanent second seat for a passenger.
