2023-07-11; City Council; 12; Update on the City’s Response to the Local Traffic Safety Emergency and Option to Extend the Emergency Proclamation for an Additional 60 Days

CA Review CKM

Meeting Date: July 11, 2023

To: Mayor and City Council

From: Scott Chadwick, City Manager

Staff Contact: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager
[email protected], 442-339-2820

Subject: Update on the City’s Response to the Local Traffic Safety Emergency and Option to Extend the Emergency Proclamation for an Additional 60 Days Districts: All

Recommended Actions

1. Receive a report on actions taken to date relating to a local traffic safety emergency proclaimed Aug. 23, 2022

2. Adopt a resolution extending the Proclamation of Bicycle, E-Bicycle and Motorized Mobility Device Safety Local Emergency in the City of Carlsbad until Sept. 8, 2023, at 5 p.m., unless otherwise extended or terminated by the City Council (Exhibit 1) Executive Summary
The City of Carlsbad proclaimed a local emergency on traffic safety Aug. 23, 2022, to address a more than 200% increase in collisions involving bikes and e-bikes since 2019. Under an emergency proclamation, a city can more easily redeploy staff and resources, expedite projects and increase engagement with community partners to address conditions threatening the community’s safety.

When ratifying the emergency proclamation Aug. 30, 2022, the City Council approved emergency funding of $2 million to immediately launch education, engineering and enforcement actions to enhance traffic safety in Carlsbad. In addition to these immediate actions, the City Council approved a Safer Streets Together Plan Sept. 27, 2022, which includes dozens of short- and long- term traffic safety-related programs and initiatives.

This report provides an update on those efforts and asks the City Council to consider extending the emergency proclamation for an additional 60 days. After 60 days, the proclamation would end unless City Council votes to extend it. Enhanced education, engineering and enforcement activities initiated during the emergency would continue as needed, as part of ongoing city operations, even if the emergency proclamation ends.

July 11, 2023
Item #12 Page 1 of 15
Explanation & Analysis
City response
City staff have initiated a wide variety of programs, projects and initiatives to enhance the safe use of city streets. Some could be completed immediately while others are longer term in nature. All are described in the Safer Streets Together Plan, which was approved by the City Council Sept. 27, 2022. The following sections provide an update on what has been accomplished so far under the “three Es” of traffic safety, education, engineering and enforcement:

Education
Since the city launched the Take the Pledge for Safer Streets Together campaign Jan. 25, 2023, community members have made nearly 10,000 commitments to safe roadway behaviors by displaying yard signs, window clings on their cars and signing an online pledge form. The city’s commitment campaign is based on research showing that making a public commitment leads to lasting behavior change and helps establish a new social norm around the desired behavior for others.

Collaboration
City staff are continuing to collaborate with all school districts and schools serving Carlsbad, including preschools, to increase awareness of traffic safety. This has included safety workshops for students and parents, safety banners and materials at school sites and regular safety tips distributed through school and district email newsletters to parents.

Business collaboration continues as more than 350 local companies are helping to distribute safer streets information to their clients and customers. The city has coordinated with 11 faith-based organizations to engage their congregations with safer streets information. The city is continuing to work with the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and Circulate San Diego to provide safety information and trainings to Carlsbad residents.

July 11, 2023
Item #12 Page 2 of 15
♦ ENGINEERING
Design roads and other infrastructure to support the safe movement of people through all modes of travel.

ENFORCEMENT
* Hold all users accountable for following the rules of the road and engaging in safe behaviors.

School e-bike certification/permit program
The Police Department has worked with all four school districts serving Carlsbad to explore potential programs to help ensure students riding bikes and e-bikes to school are equipped with the skills and knowledge to ride safely on Carlsbad’s streets.

Shortly before the end of the school year, the Carlsbad Unified School District announced a bike permit program that will require students to complete training before receiving stickers allowing them to park their bikes on campus. The Police Department has already announced eight training dates, with more planned prior to the new school year starting in the fall.

The Encinitas Union, San Dieguito Union and San Marcos Unified school districts expressed interest in a similar program and will provide more information when they are ready. In the meantime, the city is working with the districts to promote the e-bike safety classes to their students.

July 11, 2023
Item #12 Page 3 of 15

EDUCATION
350
Business partners
9,557
Commitments from
our community to
keep our streets safe
Cl ;~~~~;;~~?.;. ""~
saw information 8
News stories
3 2 Distributed safety materials at
schoo ls and preschools Ce 00
135,797
Social media
engagements
3 5 Video public service
announcements
Best public safety
campaign in California *
* California Association of
Pub lic Information Officials
--3 t~ • Parent -focused e e e -.,!~ safety trainings AllldlMIII\ 16 Traffic safety events
at local schools

Video public service announcements
The city has produced 35 new public service announcement videos since the emergency began on topics including:
• Carlsbad-specific e-bike laws
• Explaining how to safely use new infrastructure
• Making sure your helmet fits properly
• Personal stories about traffic safety
• Safety tips for riding a bike or e-bike
• Avoiding common causes of collisions
• Safety tips for drivers and cyclists during National Bike Month

Expanded green bike lane treatments
Green paint has been added at the following 36 locations to highlight the areas where bicycle and vehicle traffic may conflict:
• Carlsbad Boulevard at 10 intersections
• State Street and Laguna Drive
• Rancho Santa Fe Road at 14 intersections
• La Costa Avenue and Levante Street
• Poinsettia Lane and Avenida Encinas
• Palomar Airport Road and Paseo Del Norte
• College Boulevard and Cannon Road/Bobcat Boulevard
• El Camino Real and Faraday Avenue
• Poinsettia Lane and Cassia Road
• College Boulevard and Tamarack Avenue
• Carlsbad Village Drive and Celinda Drive/Rising Glen Way • Harding Street and Oak Avenue
• Tamarack Avenue and Jefferson Street
• Chestnut Avenue and Madison Street

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Item #12 Page 4 of 15
ENGINEERING ______________ _
•
42 Road segments
enhanced with green
bike lane markings
32 Crosswalk signal
t imin gs adj usted
Vision Zero
Resolutio n adopte d
...
100+ ..:..

Traffic safety projects underway
Coastal roadway ~
Made short -term changes to
Carlsbad Boulevar d designed to ::=:::::::--:::
slow traffic

This spring, city staff also completed improvements to bike lanes at the following locations:
• Southbound Carlsbad Boulevard, from Manzano Drive to Island Way • Four intersections along south Carlsbad Boulevard
• Jefferson Street, between Las Flores Drive and the Interstate 5 overpass Review of citywide speed limits
The city has started planning for citywide speed limit studies since the California Department of Transportation released an update of the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices based on Assembly Bill AB 43, legislation that gives cities more control over deciding how speed limits should be set. Staff are reviewing contractor proposals and expect to begin initial studies in July to inform staff’s ultimate recommendations to the City Council.

Working toward Vision Zero
On March 21, 2023, the City Council approved a Vision Zero resolution, affirming the city’s commitment to traffic safety. City staff will use existing City Council-approved plans and strategies to work toward the Vision Zero goal of zero serious injuries and deaths on city roadways by 2035, the target year established by the State of California’s Vision Zero plan.

Restriped southbound Carlsbad Boulevard from Manzano Drive to Island Way The project is completed and will help address speeding while creating more space for pedestrians and cyclists. The restriped lanes created:
• A shoulder on the west side of Carlsbad Boulevard that can be used by pedestrians • One vehicle lane and a buffered bike lane between Solamar Drive and Island Way • Space for bicycle parking and up to 13 new vehicle parking spots The restriping included new green paint to highlight potential conflict points between cars and bikes at intersections along with other bike lane improvements.

Upgraded high-pedestrian signal locations
The city has reduced vehicle-pedestrian conflicts by allowing pedestrians to begin crossing while motorists still face a red signal. Countdowns display the pedestrian crossing times to reduce confusion and ambiguity. Thirty-two locations have been upgraded, and staff will continue to evaluate whether additional locations are candidates for this phased timing.

Expanded street resurfacing and restriping, reconfiguring arterial streets The City Council approved a plan to resurface and reconfigure the lanes on Carlsbad’s major streets, called arterial streets, on Feb. 7, 2023. The project will seal the roadways to improve pavement condition as part of the city’s pavement management program while improving conditions for all users on the roads. Several sections of these streets will be reconfigured, with the number of vehicle lanes reduced and lane widths made more appropriate for the roadways to help manage speeds, improve the line of sight and access conditions for side street users and further improve conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians. This project will also reduce the city’s long-term pavement maintenance costs.

This program will be completed in phases. The construction contract for the first phase was awarded in June 2023, and construction is anticipated to begin in July 2023. This phase focuses on six of the city’s east/west arterial corridors:
• Olivenhain Road, from the Encinitas city limits to Rancho Santa Fe Road intersection • La Costa Avenue, from the Encinitas city limits near Interstate 5 to Fairway Lane July 11, 2023
Item #12 Page 5 of 15

• Poinsettia Lane, from Carlsbad Boulevard to Melrose Drive, including a reconfigured section between Avenida Encinas and Carlsbad Boulevard
• Cannon Road, from Avenida Encinas to Faraday Avenue
• Tamarack Avenue, from Carlsbad Boulevard to Carlsbad Village Drive including a reconfigured section between Carlsbad Village Drive and Skyline Drive • Carlsbad Village Drive, from I-5 to College Boulevard, with an improved line of sight for side street users
An example of a roadway reconfiguration was completed this spring on southbound Carlsbad Boulevard. The reconfiguration is designed to improve the balance of the roadway for all users while not causing any additional delay for vehicles. This is achieved by keeping the vehicle lanes essentially the same at the intersections. While it helps address the speeding along the segment, the reconfiguration has also greatly improved the conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists along this heavily travelled coastal route.

The other arterial streets to be reconfigured as part of this project are:
• Carlsbad Boulevard, from Pine Avenue to the southern border near La Costa Avenue • El Fuerte Street, from Faraday Avenue to the existing one vehicle lane in each direction south of Rancho Pancho, excluding the segments approaching Loker Avenue to Bressi Ranch Way
• Grand Avenue, from Ocean Street to Hope Way. This would implement the first phase of the Grand Avenue Promenade Project to provide short-term benefits until the final promenade improvements are completed.
• Cannon Road, from Avenida Encinas to El Arbol Drive
Two other arterial streets will be resurfaced and restriped in a subsequent phase:
• Palomar Airport Road, from Avenida Encinas to the eastern city border • Rancho Santa Fe Road/Olivenhain Road, from the eastern city border to the western city border
The schedules for the work on those two remaining project road segments are being developed; the projects are still being designed and will warrant additional public vetting. On several of the segments, the work will require coastal development permits, or coordination with utility projects that require trenching that are planned within the foreseeable future. These projects are to be reviewed by the Traffic & Mobility Commission later this year.

Tamarack Avenue traffic calming
New speed tables (raised portions of a roadway), striping and signs for the raised crosswalks between Skyline Drive and Adams Street are now scheduled to be completed in August, following unanticipated delays in supplies and contracting. The installation of the additional new rectangular rapid flashing beacons is still planned for late summer.

Planned projects
In addition to our work on the actions described above, city staff continue to make progress on over 100 other traffic and mobility related projects already planned over the next 15 years, estimated at a cost of about $350 million.

July 11, 2023
Item #12 Page 6 of 15

Enhanced enforcement of traffic laws continues, with a focus on high collision areas, reported areas of concern for residents, as well as times where heavier than usual traffic is expected, like holidays.

Legislative advocacy for e-bike licensing
The city supported two bills related to e-bike safety this year; however, only one of the bills is currently advancing in the legislative process:

1. Assembly Bill 1188 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, which would direct the California State Transportation Agency to develop and distribute, on or before Sept. 1, 2024, the Bike Smart Handbook, a bicyclist and e-bike safety handbook based on evidence-based practices and emerging trends. This bill did not pass out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and will not be moving forward this year. The bill may be reconsidered when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2024.

2. Senate Bill 381 by Sen. Dave Min, which would require the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University to conduct a study on electric bicycles to inform efforts to improve the safety of riders and pedestrians, on or before Jan. 1, 2026. This bill passed out of the Senate and has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Transportation.

Injury collisions
Injury collisions across all modes of travel were down by 19% during the first six months of the emergency compared to the same time the previous year. Looking at bikes and e-bikes only, injury collisions were down 13%.

While these numbers are encouraging, the city recognizes that six months is a short period of time when it comes to analyzing traffic data for trends or lasting change. City staff are continuing to monitor injury collisions across all modes of travel and will provide an additional update to the City Council in the fall, after data from a full year is available.

Continuing the sta
te of emergency
The California Emergency Services Act allows cities to proclaim a local emergency when needed to protect public safety in extreme circumstances. Carlsbad’s emergency proclamation went into effect Aug. 23, 2022, and was ratified by the City Council Aug. 30, 2022. California Government Code Section 8630, subdivision (c), requires the City Council to review the need for continuing the local emergency at least every 60 days.

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Item #12 Page 7 of 15
ENFORCEMENT _____________ _
6,895
Enforcement actions
as of June 22, 2023
234 DUI
arrests
Warnings vs. citations Citations by mode

The City Council extended the state of emergency on Oct. 18, 2022, Dec. 6, 2022, Jan. 24, 2023, March 21, 2023, and May 16, 2023. The proclamation of local emergency will expire on July 15, 2023, at 5 p.m., unless it is extended or terminated by the City Council.

Staff recommend continuing the state of emergency until Sept. 8, 2023, at 5 p.m., to allow the city to continue its emergency efforts to remove conditions of extreme peril related to traffic safety. A proposed resolution is attached as Exhibit 1.

Fiscal Analysis
No additional funding is required related to the actions in this report.

On Aug. 30, 2022, the City Council authorized the Deputy City Manager of Administrative Services to appropriate $2 million from unspent funds from the fiscal year 2021-22 General Fund budget to address the traffic safety emergency.

To date, more than half of this amount has been allocated to the ci ty’s emergency response:
$907,806 has been spent, and $488,341 is currently encumbered, meaning it has been dedicated to a specific contract to complete planned work, leaving $650,078 available to fund continued implementation of the Safer Streets Together Plan.

Next Steps
Staff will continue to carry out the Safer Streets Together Plan as directed by the City Council. If the City Council extends the local emergency, staff will continue to respond to the local emergency as directed by the City Council.

Environmental E valuation
The allocation of funding for anticipated actions intended to mitigate the emergency, which includes infrastructure and safety improvements and education and enforcement efforts focusing on safe driving behavior, are a Class 1 categorical exemption under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15301 – Existing Facilities. Specifically, Section 15301(c) exempts existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities (including road grading for the purpose of public safety), and other alterations such as the addition of bicycle facilities, including but not limited to bicycle parking, bicycle-share facilities and bicycle lanes, transit improvements such as bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, street trees and other similar alterations that do not create additional automobile lanes.

The anticipated improvements to the city’s existing mobility network under this action will improve public safety and address the critical issues raised in the emergency declaration. Actions are anticipated to involve negligible expansion of the current facilities and infrastructure beyond existing and will not result in additional automobile lanes. The actions are not expected to increase vehicular use of a roadway, will occur within the existing public right-of-way and will not change the overall facility use of the mobility network. No exception to the exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies.

For the reasons stated above, the action is categorically exempt from CEQA under CEQA Guidelines Section 15304(e), which applies to the minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment, and CEQA Guidelines Section 15304(h), which covers the creation of bicycle lanes on existing rights-of-way.

Exhibit

1. City Council resolution
July 11, 2023
Item #12 Page 8 of 15
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-195

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,

CALIFORNIA, EXTENDING THE PROCLAMATION OF BICYCLE, E-BICYCLE AND

MOTORIZED MOBILITY DEVICE SAFETY LOCAL EMERGENCY IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD UNTIL SEPTEMBER 8, 2023, AT 5 P.M., UNLESS OTHERWISE

EXTENDED OR TERMINATED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, on Aug. 23, 2022, the Carlsbad City Manager/Director of Emergency Services proclaimed a state of local emergency in response to an alarming increase (233%) in collisions involving bikes and e-bikes since 2019; and
WHEREAS, on Aug. 30, 2022, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, adopted Resolution No. 2022-214, ratifying the Proclamation of Local Emergency (Attachment A); and WHEREAS, California Government Code Section 8630, subdivision (c), requires the City Council to review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the City Council terminates the local emergency; and
WHEREAS, on Oct. 18, 2022, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, adopted Resolution No. 2022-214, extending the Proclamation of Local Emergency; and WHEREAS, on Dec. 6, 2022, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, adopted Resolution No. 2022-277, further extending the Proclamation of Local Emergency; and WHEREAS, on Jan. 24, 2023, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, adopted Resolution No. 2023-039, further extending the Proclamation of Local Emergency; and WHEREAS, on March 21, 2023, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, adopted Resolution No. 2023-090, further extending the Proclamation of Local Emergency; and WHEREAS, on May 16, 2023, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, adopted Resolution No. 2023-131, further extending the Proclamation of Local Emergency; and WHEREAS, the Proclamation of Local Emergency will expire on July 15, 2023, at 5 p.m., unless earlier extended or terminated by the City Council; and WHEREAS, the plan to address the local emergency is being reviewed and implemented and there remains a bicycle, e-bicycle and motorized mobility device safety local emergency throughout the City of Carlsbad.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows:

Exhibit 1
July 11, 2023 Item #12 Page 9 of 15

1. That the above recitations are true and correct.

2. That the Proclamation of Local Emergency issued by the Director of Emergency Services (Attachment A) is extended and shall expire on September 8, 2023, at 5 p.m., unless otherwise extended or terminated earlier by the City Council.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 11th day of :!!!,!y, 2023, by the following vote, to wit:

AYES:

NAYS:

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT:

Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Luna.

None.

KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
July 11, 2023 Item #12 Page 10 of 15
_-kfflv--=----
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-214

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,

CALIFORNIA, RATIFYING THE PROCLAMATION OF BICYCLE, E-BICYCLE

AND MOTORIZED MOBILITY DEVICE SAFETY LOCAL EMERGENCY IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA DATED AUG. 23, 2022, BY THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES; AND, AUTHORIZING THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO APPROPRIATE $2 MILLION FROM UNSPENT FUNDS FROM THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 GENERAL

FUND BUDGET TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S COORDINATED EFFORTS TO

INCREASE ATTENTION AND RESOURCES ON A RANGE OF SOLUTIONS

INCLUDING INFRASTRUCTURE, SAFETY, ENFORCEMENT AND SAFE

DRIVING AND RIDING EDUCATION
WHEREAS, on Aug. 23, 2022, the Carlsbad City Manager/Director of Emergency Services proclaimed a state of local emergency in response to an alarming increase (233%) in collisions involving bikes and e-bikes since 2019; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Emergency Services found:

1. Conditions or threatened conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property have arisen within the City of Carlsbad caused by the increased prevalence of e-bicycles (e bikes), other similar electric or motorized mobility devices, and traditional bicycles on city streets, which has led to increased collisions resulting in injury or death.

2. In 2019 there were 30 collisions involving bicycles or e-bikes reported in Carlsbad.

3. In 2020 there were 62 collisions involving bicycles or e-bikes reported in Carlsbad.

4. In 2021 there were 100 collisions involving bicycles or e-bikes reported in Carlsbad.

5. To date in 2022, 57 collisions involving bicycles or e-bikes were reported in Carlsbad.

6. U.S. traffic fatalities began climbing in 2020 and the deadly trend is continuing.

7. According to estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. roadway deaths rose 10.5% in 2021 and an additional 7% during the first three months in 2022, the highest number for the first quarter in two decades.

8. The increase in deaths is due to speeding, impaired or distracted driving and other reckless behavior.

9. E-bikes are faster and heavier than traditional bicycles and e-bike injuries are more likely to be more severe and require hospitalization than traditional bicycle injuries.

10. E-bikes and similar electric or motorized mobility devices are increasingly used by school age children to go to and from school and for other activities on local streets.

11. Schools in the Carlsbad Unified School District opened on August 24, 2022, joining the other schools in Carlsbad and additional education facilities in the region that have already Attachment A
July 11, 2023
Item #12 Page 11 of 15
opened or will be opening in the coming days, causing increased traffic on local streets and the potential for additional bicycle, e-bike or other vehicular collisions.

12. To counter the increasing number of bicycle or e-bike collisions, the Carlsbad Police Department increased enforcement and education efforts and, in April 2022, the city adopted an ordinance regulating mobility devices, including e-bikes.

13. On June 22, 2022, the Carlsbad Police Department hosted an interagency traffic enforcement day in Carlsbad where 240 traffic citations were issued.

14. Despite these efforts, the city continues to experience e-bike or bicycle collisions with vehicles, including two fatal collisions occurring within the past 17 days.

15. The city needs to continue these efforts and proactively seek out and implement additional measures to reduce the number of collisions involving bicycles or e-bikes while also educating the residents of Carlsbad about the dangers of impaired or distracted driving on our local streets and roads.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows:

1. That the above recitations are true and correct.

2. The Proclamation of Local Emergency issued by the Director of Emergency Services is ratified (Attachment A) and the City Council adopts the findings and determinations made by the Director of Emergency Services in Support of the Proclamation.

3. The Proclamation of Local Emergency is extended and shall expire on Oct. 22, 2022, at 5 p.m., unless otherwise lawfully extended, or terminated earlier by the City Council.

4. That the Director of Emergency Services, or a designee, is directed and authorized to address any and all impacts and conditions caused by the emergency and to obtain any and all aid and assistance from local, county, state, or federal agencies, including but not limited to aid and assistance pursuant to the California Disaster Assistance Act, California Government Code Section 8690 et. Seq.

5. That the City Manager and Purchasing Officer, as a result of this Resolution ratifying the Proclamation of Local Emergency, are authorized to make purchases of supplies, equipment, or contractual services in the open market at the lowest obtainable price as set forth in and in compliance with Carlsbad Municipal Code Sections 3.28.110 (A) and, where appropriate, 3.28.120.

6. That the Deputy City Manager of Administrative Services is authorized to encumber $2 million from the Fiscal Year 2021-22 General Fund balance to support the City's coordinated July 11, 2023
Item #12 Page 12 of 15
efforts to increase attention and resources on a range of solutions including infrastructure, safety, enforcement and a focus on safe driving behavior education.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 30th day of August, 2022, by the following vote, to wit:

AYES:

NAYS:

ABSENT:

Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Norby.

None.

Hall.

MATT HALL, Mayor
for
FAVIOLA � Clerk Serv"l�:;Manager
(SEAL}
July 11, 2023
Item #12 Page 13 of 15

PROCLAMATION OF BICYCLE, E-BICYCLE AND

MOTORIZED MOBILITY DEVICE SAFETY LOCAL EMERGENCY

IN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS, the California Emergency Services Act, including California Go
vernment Code Section 8630, and th e City of Carlsbad’s Emergency Services Ordinance, including Carlsbad Municipal C ode Section 6.04.100(A)(1), empower the City Manager, as the City of Carlsbad’s Director of Emergency Services, to proclaim the existence of a local emergency, subject to rati fication by the City Coun cil, when the re exists, or there is threatened to exist, conditions of extreme peri l to safety of persons and property within the City of Carlsbad.

WHEREAS, the Director of Emergency Services finds:

1. Co nditions or threatened conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property have arisen within the City of Carlsbad caused by the increased prevalence of e-bicycles (e-bikes), other similar electric or motorized mobility devices, and traditional bicy cles on ci ty streets, w hich has led to increased collisions resulting in injury or death.

2. In 2019 there were 30 c ollisions involving bicycles or e -bikes reported in Carlsbad.

3. In 2020 there were 6 2 collisions involving bicycles or e -bikes reported in Carlsbad.

4. In 2021 there were 100 collisions involving bicy cles or e- bikes reported in Carlsbad.

5. To date in 2022, 57 collisions involving bicycles or e -bikes were reported in Carlsbad.

6. U.S. traffic fatalities began climbing in 2020 and the deadly trend is continuing.

7. According to estimates by the National Highway T raffic Safety Administration, U.S. roadway deaths rose 10.5% in 2021 a nd an additional 7% during the first three months in 2022, the highest numb er for the first quarter in two decades.

8. The increase in de aths is due to speeding, impaired or distracted driving and other reckless behavior.

9. E-bikes are faster and heavier than traditional bicycles and e-bike injuries are more likely to be more seve re and re quire hospitalization than tr aditional bicycle injuries.

10. E-bikes and si milar electric or motor ized mobility devices are i ncreasingly used by school age children to go to and from school and for other activities on local streets.

11. Schools in the Carlsbad Unified School District will be o pening on August 24, 2022, joining the other schools in Carlsbad and additional education facilities Attachment A
July 11, 2023
Item #12 Page 14 of 15
July 11, 2023
Item #12 Page 15 of 15
Bicycle, E-Bicycle and Motorized Mobility
Device Safety Local Emergency

Page 2 ends

in the region that have already opened or will be opening in the coming days, causing increased traffic on local streets and the potential for additional bicycle, e-bike or other vehicular collisions.

12. To counter the increasing number of bicycle ore-bike collisions, the Carlsbad Police Department increased enforcement and education efforts and, in April 2022, th.e city adopted an ordinance regulating mobility devices, including e-bikes.

13. On June 22, 2022, the Carlsbad Police Department hosted an interagency traffic enforcement day in Carlsbad where 240 traffic citations were issued.

14. Despite these efforts, the city continues to experience e-bike or bicycle collisions with vehicles, including two fatal collisions occurring within the past 17 days.

16. The City Council of the City of Carlsbad is not in session and will not hold its next meeting until August 30, 2022.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS PROCLAIMED that a bicycle, e-bike, and motorized mobility device safety local emergency now exists throughout the City of Carlsbad, California.

IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that during the existence of the local emergency, the powers, functions and duties of the emergency organization of the City of Carlsbad are those prescribed by state law, by ordinances and resolutions of the City of Carlsbad and by the City of Carlsbad Emergency Plan.

IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERED that all City of Carlsbad officials and employees cooperate and coordinate efforts with officials and employees of other political subdivisions and officials and employees of the state and federal government in bringing the conditions underlying the local emergency under control.

IT IS FURTHER PROCLAIMED AND ORDERE emergency shall
continue to exist for the next 7 days, and thereafter y r tification of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, until its termination is proclaime b the City Council.

Dated: _ __ ?_...~~f\J-=-:,,6)""'-=2=2=-
adwick, City Manager &
Director of Emergency Services
July 11, 2023

RECOMMENDED ACTION

1. Receive a report on actions taken to date relating to a local traffic sa
fety emergency proclaimed Aug. 23, 2022

Three Es of Traffic Safety

ACTIONS TO DATE
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EDUCATION
2,769,566
Views
News stories
Ce oo
135,797
Engagements
9,557
Commitments
Best public safe~y .
campaign in Cahforn1a

Carlsbad Unified School District
Encinitas Union School District
San Marcos Unified School District
San Dieguito Union High School District
St. Patrick’s Catholic School
Home schools
295 Participants

ENGINEERING
42 Road segments
enhanced with green
bike lane markings
Vision Zero
1• ■ •'1.
32 Crosswalk signal
timings adJ. usted
Resolution adopted
Coastal roadway
Made short-te 1rm changes to
0 100+ -
Carlsbad Boulevard designed to .--....._ __
slow traffic .-0-22..---..-~-----=-:: Traffic safety projects underw ·ay

ENFORCEMENT
6,895
Enforcement act ions
as of June 22, 2023
234 DUI
arrests
Warnings vs~ citations Citations by mode
29 38
36 26
44 30 28
29 0
5 10
15 20
25 30
35 40
45 50
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb
2021-2022 2022-2023
11 ALL MODES INJURY COLLISIONS
19%
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THE COAST NEWS GROUP

THE COAST N EWS I THE I NLAND EDITIO N
Teen dies from injuries after e-bike collision in
Encinitas
by Laura Place 0 June 25, 2023 ® 16663
ENCINITAS - An Encinitas teen who was hospitalized Thursday with severe injuries sustained in a traffic collision while riding an e-bike has passed away, family members confirmed Saturday.

LOCAL
Deadly e-bike crash
prompts safety concerns in
Encinitas
b\': Jaime Chambers
p;,sted: Jun 28. 202:l / 11: 11 Pl\! PDT
Gpclatecl: Jun 28, 202:l / 11: 11 l'\1 PDT
~ /~M GOVERNMENT BUSINESS COMMUNITY

CITY NEWS
Fon t Size: D II D Share & Bookmark .. Feedback ~ Print E-bike safety and local state of emergency resolution passed to bolster City"s efforts to protect Encinitas bike riding community Post Date: 06/29/202310:57 AM
To enhance enforcement capabilities, public educational programs and reduce reported collisions , the City of Encinitas' City Council ratified a declaration of a local state of emergency for bicycle, e bicycle and motorized mobility device safety on June 28, 2023. This local state of emergency is in response to the growing number of reported bicycle collisions. "The health and safety of our residents is always the city 's number one concern ," stated Mayor Tony Kranz . "With this local emergency declaration , we are redoubling our efforts to lower the number of reported bicycle collisions while we continue to educate the public on proper bicycling safety protocols and safe driving habits. "
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E-BIKES
'We're all grieving': City of Encinitas
declares local emergency after deadly
e-bike crash
The city's mayor, Tony Kranz, told NBC 7 this has been a topic of discussion for some time in the coastal city, but the recent death of a 15-year-old who was riding his e-bike made this decision critical.

RECOMMENDED ACTION

1. Receive a report on actions taken to date relating to a local traffic sa
fety emergency proclaimed Aug. 23, 2022

Carlsbad City CouncilJuly 11, 2023

Carlsbad City Council
July 11, 2023