E-bikes present real danger for school safety

The Coeur d’Alene School District announced Wednesday it is increasing safety and traffic law enforcement around campuses as more students use electric bikes, scooters and other high-powered electric vehicles.

District leaders say many of these devices look like bicycles but function like electric motorcycles, and they are contributing to more accidents and unsafe riding near schools.

“We’re seeing more and more kids at different grade levels riding electric vehicles, including elementary students,” Thomas Gandy, director of safety and security for the Coeur d’Alene School District, said in the news release. “Unfortunately, that also means we’re seeing more injuries and unsafe behavior.”

School resource officers are responding to roughly one accident per week involving electric scooters or bikes, most involving minors. In response, the district is increasing monitoring and enforcement in school zones.

“These vehicles are not toys,” Gandy said. “They’re just as dangerous as giving your kid any other motorcycle or moped and letting them go wherever they want with it.”

District rules on and around school grounds

• Sur-Ron–style electric motorcycles, non-pedal scooters and similar vehicles are not legal on school grounds or on public roads, sidewalks or trails in Coeur d’Alene.

• Only pedal-equipped e-bikes with a maximum speed of 15 mph are allowed on school grounds.

• Riders must wear properly fitted helmets and walk their e-bikes or scooters once on campus.

• Riders must obey traffic laws, posted signs and crosswalks and keep speeds low near school entrances.

•  Distracted riding — using phones, earbuds or similar devices — is prohibited.

The district is educating students and families about these rules and will escalate to enforcement when necessary.

“The process starts with a conversation,” Gandy said. “If educating people on how to ride e-vehicles safely and properly doesn’t work, then we might have to go the enforcement route, whether it’s enforcing school rules on behalf of the school or the rules of the road on behalf of the police department.”

Idaho law and city ordinances

• Motorized vehicles on public roads require a valid driver’s license, registration and insurance.

• Non-pedal electric motorcycles and scooters do not meet state safety standards and are prohibited on public roads, sidewalks and trails.

• Only pedal-equipped e-bikes with a top speed of 15 mph are permitted on public roads and bike paths.

“We want to prevent injuries before they happen,” Gandy said. “Safety is not optional. We want every student to arrive at school safely and go home safely every single day.”

In October, the Coeur d'Alene City Council approved regulations on the use of motor vehicles on trails and paths designed for pedestrian and bicycle traffic and to prevent harm to the health, safety and welfare of the public.

Electric-powered transportation like scooters, skateboards, bikes and motorcycles “can exceed speeds that are safe for both the operator of these devices and the public using the trails around them," according to a staff report.

City Attorney Randy Adams said the city received complaints about bikes, electric-assisted bikes and other electric vehicles on pedestrian paths.

The proposed ordinance sets a maximum speed of 15 mph for all vehicles, including electric-assisted bikes and other electric vehicles, on trails and paths.

    Safety and traffic law enforcement is being increased around Coeur d'Alene School District campuses as more students use electric bikes like these pictured here.