How Schools Are Addressing E-Bikes and E-Scooters on Campus

Editor's Note: Originally published June 26, 2026, this article was substantially updated Oct. 12 with new national injury data and insights from NCSSD members on how school districts are addressing e-bike safety during the 2026-27 school year.

As more students ride e-bikes and e-scooters to school, districts are confronting new questions about where the devices can be used, how to enforce restrictions, and what steps can reduce the risk of injuries.

New national injury data and a recent discussion among National Council of School Safety Directors (NCSSD) members highlight both the growing safety concerns and the different approaches districts are taking during the 2026-27 school year.

New Injury Data Highlights E-Bike Safety Concerns

The Consumer Product Safety Commission's latest micromobility report, released in April 2026, estimates that 59,200 e-bike-related injuries were treated in emergency departments in 2024, compared with an annual average of approximately 6,300 between 2017 and 2021. The agency also reported 97 e-bike deaths in 2024, up from 91 in 2023 and 57 in 2022.

Riders ages 15 to 24 accounted for 19% of estimated e-bike injuries, despite representing approximately 13% of the U.S. population.

How NCSSD Members Are Addressing E-Bike Safety

A recent NCSSD member discussion began after one school safety leader reported a noticeable increase in students riding e-bikes to campus and several near-miss accidents. Members shared examples of how their districts are addressing concerns about pedestrian safety, traffic around campuses, and enforcement.

In Manitou Springs, Colorado, students who ride bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, electric motorcycles, and similar devices to school must dismount upon entering school parking lots and walk their equipment to designated bike racks. Students who fail to follow the rules may lose the privilege of bringing the devices onto campus.

The district also raised concerns about students riding electric devices near stopped school buses. Bus drivers have reported students failing to stop when buses have their flashing red lights and stop arms activated. Colorado law requires operators of electric bicycles and electric scooters to stop for school buses displaying these signals.

Other districts have adopted more restrictive policies. In Missouri, the School District of Clayton prohibits electric transportation devices on district property, including parking lots, sidewalks, athletic facilities, and other school grounds. The ban, which took effect July 1, 2026, applies to all individuals, regardless of age, and extends to after-school activities and sporting events.

The district cited concerns about accidents and injuries, particularly during busy arrival and dismissal periods. Clayton has published guidance explaining the policy, its rationale, and enforcement procedures, providing an example for other districts considering similar restrictions.

Another NCSSD member described a similar ban at their district, where parents are required to retrieve prohibited devices brought to school. The member said students largely stopped bringing the devices after several weeks of enforcement, although managing their use at after-school events remains a challenge.

The discussion illustrates how districts are weighing student transportation needs against concerns about pedestrian safety, traffic around campuses, and enforcement. While some districts allow the devices with restrictions, others have opted for outright bans, reflecting the different challenges schools face in managing electric transportation devices on campus.

Additional Research, Legislation, and District Safety Efforts

Student Crashes Raise Safety Concerns

Within days of one another in June 2026, two incidents involving students riding motorized scooters and school buses made headlines.

In Massachusetts, a 12-year-old girl died after the motorized scooter she was riding collided with a school bus. One day earlier in Florida, a student was injured after his e-scooter collided with a school bus.

Research Highlights Risks for Younger Riders

Research has also raised concerns about the risks e-bikes and e-scooters pose to younger riders.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), children ages 14 and younger accounted for 36% of micromobility-related injuries between 2017 and 2022, despite representing approximately 18% of the U.S. population.

Research published in July 2026 by the University of California San Diego (UCSD) found that reported e-bike collisions in California increased from just two in 2018 to 1,506 in 2024. Researchers also found that e-bike riders were more likely to experience moderate-to-severe injuries than traditional bicyclists, with children ages 14 and younger accounting for a disproportionately large share of injured riders.

In Chicago, pediatric emergency physician Dr. Kristine Cieslak of Lurie Children's Hospital told ABC 7 that the hospital sees three to five e-bike or e-scooter injuries each day.

"It could be anywhere from traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, concussions, complex bone fractures of the collarbone, the elbow, the forearm," she said. "In particular with e-scooters, we see the injuries to the face and the teeth when the kids are thrown over the handlebars."

The UCSD researchers concluded that the findings support expanding rider education, helmet use, age-appropriate safety measures, and policies tailored specifically to e-bike riders.

Illinois Enacts Statewide E-Bike Safety Law

Illinois has enacted new statewide safety requirements for e-bikes, e-motos, and other electric micromobility devices, with the law scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

Signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in August 2026, the legislation maintains the state's existing three-class e-bike system while establishing additional age and operating requirements. Riders of Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes must be at least 15 years old, while Class 3 riders must be at least 16.

Higher-powered e-bikes and e-motos capable of exceeding 28 mph will be subject to additional requirements, including a driver's license, title, registration, and insurance.

The state is also expanding public education efforts through its Ride Safe, Ride Smart, Ride Ready campaign, which includes resources for parents, riders, retailers, law enforcement, and schools.

How Schools Are Addressing the Issue

School districts across the country continue to refine how they manage e-bikes and e-scooters on campus. While many early policies focused on whether to allow the devices at all, more recent efforts have established detailed operational guidelines based on e-bike classifications, student age, riding locations, parking, registration, and safety education.

School Security Leadership previously examined several of these strategies in "E-Bikes on Campus: Common Policy Approaches for Schools," highlighting how districts are tailoring policies to their campuses, traffic patterns, and local transportation challenges.

California's San Juan Unified School District has updated its e-transportation guidelines to differentiate between Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes, establish age-specific expectations, and prohibit certain motorized devices on campus.

Similarly, Florida's Sarasota County Schools has adopted a districtwide electric personal transportation policy that defines permitted devices, establishes operational expectations for riders, and outlines where students may ride, walk, and park their devices on school property.

Nevada Pairs E-Bike Enforcement With Broader School-Route Safety Efforts

In Nevada, concerns about e-bikes and e-scooters are unfolding alongside a broader effort to improve the safety of students traveling to and from school.

During the 2025-26 school year, 427 children were struck by vehicles while commuting to or from school in Clark County. Four students were struck and killed, prompting state and local officials to take additional steps to address school-zone and student transportation safety.

The concerns come as research from UNLV's Traffic Safety Research Group highlights the growing number of e-micromobility injuries in Nevada. Researchers and safety experts have identified rider education, helmet and age requirements, and roadway design as areas that could help reduce injuries.

Nevada enacted legislation aimed at strengthening school-zone safety, while Clark County released a report identifying dangerous routes around schools and recommending improvements. The county's recommendations span education, engineering, and enforcement, including changes to crosswalks and signage, longer school-zone flasher times, and increased law enforcement presence around schools.

E-bikes and other electric devices have become part of that effort. As students returned to school in August, Henderson Police launched its fourth targeted e-bike enforcement initiative, focusing on unsafe riding and illegal electric devices near schools, student gathering areas, and routes students use to travel to and from class.

As of August 2026, Henderson Police reported conducting more than 200 stops, issuing 122 citations, and towing 52 devices through its Ride Smart Stay Safe program.

The initiative is being coordinated with the Clark County School District Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies conducting school-zone enforcement across the Las Vegas Valley.

"If our kids cannot make it to school safely, then we've failed in that," CCSD Police Chief Jeff Clark said.

States and School Districts Expand Rider Safety Training

While many districts have focused on policies and operational guidelines, rider education and skills training are also receiving greater attention at both the state and local levels.

California has enacted legislation requiring the California Department of Education and California Highway Patrol to develop an e-bike safety program for students in grades 7-12. Signed into law in August 2026, Assembly Bill 1569 calls for instruction on safely operating e-bikes and following traffic laws.

The law also encourages parent-teacher organizations to partner with law enforcement agencies to hold e-bike safety demonstrations on school campuses or at community facilities.

Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, Williamson County Schools announced it will require students who want to ride e-bikes or other motorized vehicles to campus to complete a district-approved safety course.

As part of the requirements, students in grades 3-12 must complete the training with a parent or guardian. Students must then register their devices with the school and display a school-issued identification tag. Schools will maintain registration information for each device, including its type, manufacturer, and model.

“For months, we’ve partnered with local municipalities and law enforcement to find new ways to help families understand the risks of electronic transportation,” said Jason Golden, who was superintendent of Williamson County Schools at the time. “This is a true community effort to keep students safe, and these training sessions are an important next step.”

The requirements are part of the district's updated Student Transportation Policy, which was approved by the school board on June 15.

Other communities are also expanding rider education. In California, San Dieguito Union High School District now requires students to complete bike safety training before bringing a bike or e-bike to campus. After completing the training, a parent or guardian can request a district-issued bike tag allowing the student to bring the device to school. More than 2,700 middle school students participated in the training at the start of the school year.

While not a requirement, the Citrus Heights Police Department and San Juan Unified School District recently partnered to offer an e-bike safety course covering traffic laws, helmet use, bicycle inspections, and safe riding practices for students and families. The efforts reflect a growing shift toward combining policy with education rather than relying on enforcement alone.

E-Bike Policy Resources for School Safety Leaders

As districts evaluate how to manage e-bikes and e-scooters on campus, practical policy examples can help guide local decision-making. NCSSD members can access a member-contributed e-bike policy in the NCSSD Resource Library.

The examples highlighted throughout this article show that managing electric transportation devices involves more than deciding whether to allow them on campus. Districts must also consider student transportation needs, traffic conditions, enforcement, rider education, and coordination with local law enforcement.