How Schools Are Responding to Growing E-Bike and E-Scooter Safety Concerns

Editor's Note: This article, originally published on June 26, 2026, was updated on Aug. 31, 2026, to include new information on e-bike policies, rider safety training and enforcement, as well as additional student transportation safety efforts.

Within days of one another, 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. The two incidents come as school districts continue to develop policies and safety measures to address the growing use of e-bikes and motorized scooters among students.

Growing Safety Concerns Around E-Bikes and E-Scooters

The recent crashes also come amid growing efforts by school districts to address the increasing use of e-bikes and motorized scooters among students.

According to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), emergency department visits related to e-scooters increased from 8,566 in 2017 to 56,847 in 2022. During that same period, an estimated 360,800 people were treated in emergency departments for injuries involving micromobility devices, with nearly half involving scooters.

Children have been disproportionately affected. Although youth ages 14 and younger make up about 18% of the U.S. population, they accounted for 36% of micromobility-related injuries between 2017 and 2022. The CPSC also documented 233 fatalities involving micromobility devices during that period, many of which involved collisions with motor vehicles.

New research published in July 2026 also suggests e-bike injuries are increasing rapidly. Researchers from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) analyzed statewide traffic collision data and found reported e-bike collisions in California increased from just two in 2018 to 1,506 in 2024. The study also found 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 Dr. Kristine Cieslak at Lurie Children's Hospital told ABC 7 that they see 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 Moves Toward Statewide E-Bike Safety Law

As e-bike use continues to grow, states are also beginning to expand their regulatory efforts.

In Illinois, lawmakers have advanced legislation that would establish new statewide safety requirements for e-bikes and other micromobility devices. The proposal would maintain the state's three-class e-bike system while creating additional operating rules, age requirements, and registration requirements for certain higher-speed devices. It also calls for expanded public education and safety awareness efforts aimed at helping riders better understand the rules of the road.

Although the legislation applies broadly rather than specifically to schools, it reflects growing recognition that e-bikes and other electric transportation devices present evolving safety challenges for communities, including those serving school-aged riders.

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.

Recent district actions suggest school districts are continuing to adopt more comprehensive approaches. For example, California's San Juan Unified School District recently 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 recently 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.

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.

Since Henderson's Ride Smart Stay Safe program began, officers have conducted more than 200 stops, issued 122 citations, and towed 52 devices. Enforcement can also extend to parents. Police said parents have been cited in cases involving minors riding illegal devices.

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 is taking a statewide approach. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1569 into law, requiring the California Department of Education and California Highway Patrol to develop an e-bike safety program for students in grades 7-12. The program will teach students how to safely operate e-bikes and follow 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 outgoing WCS Superintendent Jason Golden. “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 more districts evaluate how to manage e-bikes and e-scooters on campus, many are looking for practical examples they can adapt. NCSSD members can access a member-contributed e-bike policy in the NCSSD Resource Library to help guide local policy development and discussions.

Whether districts choose to prohibit certain devices, establish operational guidelines, classify e-bikes by type, or require rider education, the recent incidents and emerging research underscore that e-bikes and e-scooters require thoughtful planning. As their use continues to grow, many school safety leaders are treating them as an increasingly important part of broader student transportation and campus safety planning.