CARLSBAD, Calif. — September 18, 2026 — The Carlsbad Unified School District (CUSD) Board of Trustees has adopted Board Policy 5142.04 and its companion Administrative Regulation 5142.04, establishing the district’s first comprehensive rules governing bicycles, e-bikes, and other electric mobility devices on school property.
The policy was developed in direct coordination with the City of Carlsbad and is designed to work hand-in-hand with the city’s Municipal Code 10.56, giving students, families, and staff one consistent safety standard whether they are riding to campus or through the neighborhood on the way there.
Why the District Acted
CUSD has long encouraged walking and biking to school through its Safe Routes to School program, supporting healthier, more sustainable transportation options for families.
But the rapid rise of e-bikes and e-motos among school-age riders introduced new risks the district’s existing rules didn’t address: higher speeds, heavier vehicles, and, in many cases, riders too young to have the experience to manage them safely. These risks affect riders, classmates, pedestrians, and drivers who share the road.
What the Policy Establishes
Board Policy 5142.04 sets clear, age-based expectations:
All grade levels: Traditional, human-powered bicycles are welcome at every grade level. Riders must wear helmets and park in designated bicycle areas on campus.
TK–5 (elementary): E-bikes, e-motos, and similar electric devices are strictly prohibited on or near school property at all times, mirroring the minimum-age standard set by the City of Carlsbad’s Municipal Code 10.56.
Middle and high school students age 12 and older: Students may bring a standard e-bike to campus only after completing a district-approved e-bike safety training program and obtaining a district permit. Electric mopeds, motorcycles, and dirt bikes (“e-motos”) remain prohibited at every grade level, district-wide, given their significantly higher speed and power.
On every campus: Students must walk, rather than ride, bicycles and e-bikes once on school grounds, secure them with a personal lock in designated parking, and follow California bicycle law and city traffic rules while riding to and from school.
The accompanying Administrative Regulation lays out how the policy works in practice. It includes a formal permit application and sticker system for e-bike riders, along with site-level procedures each principal will establish for parking and safe arrival and dismissal traffic patterns.
Violations will follow a progressive-response approach, starting with a warning and parent notification and moving up to suspension or revocation of e-bike privileges. Where warranted, violations may result in student discipline under California Education Code section 48900.
Students who lose their riding privileges have a clear path to earn them back, including repeating safety training.
A Shared Standard, Built Together
The city partnership is built into the policy. Both the Board Policy and Administrative Regulation direct CUSD school sites and district staff to coordinate with the City of Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Police Department on enforcement, education, and ongoing community communication about e-bike safety.
The policy also authorizes the superintendent to work with the city’s public works, public safety, and transportation teams, along with parent groups, health organizations, and local businesses, to continue refining these strategies as ridership patterns change. This work is consistent with the district’s existing Safe Routes to School policy.
That collaboration extends beyond the school gate. Because student safety on an e-bike doesn’t stop at the edge of campus, the policy allows the district to address serious off-campus conduct on the way to or from school, including violations of the city’s Municipal Code or the California Vehicle Code, using the same enforcement framework applied on campus.
“As more students use bikes and e-bikes to get to and from school, it is important that we have clear expectations, consistent education, and appropriate accountability when unsafe riding puts students or community members at risk. With the adoption of BP 5142.04, Carlsbad Unified has clearer tools to address unsafe riding connected to school travel, while continuing to coordinate with the City of Carlsbad and local law enforcement. Our goal is simple: every student gets to and from school safely.”
— Michele Tsutagawa Ward, President, Carlsbad Unified School District Board of Trustees
“With new local e-bike safety laws now in effect in Carlsbad, education has been the foundation of our approach to helping young riders and their families understand the rules and the importance of riding safely. Before full enforcement began, our department conducted a 60-day education period and has continued community outreach and education efforts. By working with Carlsbad Unified School District to reinforce e-bike safety information and education for students and families, we can continue encouraging safe riding habits both in our community and around our schools. We share the same goal of helping young riders understand the rules, make safer choices, and prevent serious collisions.”
— Chief Calderwood, Carlsbad Police Department
What Families Can Expect Next
Each CUSD school will communicate the new bicycle and e-bike expectations annually through student handbooks, registration materials, and other district communications.
Families of middle and high school students interested in e-bike permits should visit the Carlsbad Unified School District e-bike webpage for information about the application process and CUSD-approved safety courses and presentations.
Board Policy 5142.04 and Administrative Regulation 5142.04 took effect following their adoption at the Board of Trustees meeting on September 14, 2026. Both are available in full on the district’s Board Policy portal.
About Carlsbad Unified School District
Carlsbad Unified School District serves approximately 10,683 students across 16 schools, from pre-K through grade 12. Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and serving the community since 1958, CUSD’s mission is to provide every student an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment.
