E-Bike Safety & Guidance

Ferndale Families, 

As we prepare to welcome students back to school this week, we know many students will be walking, biking, riding the bus, driving, or using e-bikes and other electric transportation to get to and from school. 

With e-bikes, e-scooters, and similar devices becoming increasingly popular among young people, we want to start the school year with an important reminder about safe and responsible riding. 

This year, we have added clearer expectations for e-bikes and other personal transportation devices to our student handbooks. We have also created a new E-Bike Information & Guidance webpage to help families understand the differences between e-bikes, e-motorcycles, and e-scooters; applicable laws and age restrictions; and expectations for their use on school property. 

If your student plans to ride an e-bike or another personal transportation device to school this year, please take a few minutes before the first day to review these expectations together. A few important reminders: 

• Wear a helmet. Helmets are required for students operating personal transportation devices on district campuses.
• Ride safely and follow traffic laws. Students should yield to pedestrians and avoid speeding, weaving between vehicles or people, jumping curbs, or other unsafe riding.
• Know where riding is allowed. Riding is not permitted on campus sidewalks, grass, athletic fields and courts, or plazas.
• Park and secure devices appropriately. Bikes and e-bikes must be locked at designated bike racks and may not be brought into school buildings. Detached vehicle batteries are also not allowed inside buildings.
• Know what your student is riding. Some devices marketed as “e-bikes” may legally be considered electric motorcycles based on their speed and operation. Different age, licensing, registration, and safety requirements apply to those vehicles.

Our goal is not to discourage students from using e-bikes or other forms of transportation. We want students to have safe options for getting to and from school while making sure they understand the responsibility that comes with operating these devices. 

As you prepare for the first day, I encourage families whose students ride these devices to review our new guidance together and make safety part of your back-to-school conversation. 

Thank you for helping us start the year safely. We are excited to welcome our students back! 

Kristi