ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – E-bikes and e-scooters could soon be off-limits for some Orange County Public Schools students.
School board members are set to review a draft policy Tuesday that would ban elementary students from bringing or riding e-bikes or e-scooters on school property. A final vote could come as early as next week.
Under the draft, middle and high school students would still be allowed to use the devices on campus, but only if they follow specific rules. The district’s proposal outlines requirements for where the devices can be used and stored, along with additional expectations for student riders.
The discussion follows growing concerns about safety and injuries tied to the devices. Leaders have said there were 41 incidents from December through May in Orange County involving e-bikes and e-scooters that resulted in injuries.
One of those incidents turned deadly. Colton Remsburg was riding an e-scooter in Lake Nona on Mother’s Day when he was hit and killed.
His mother shared a statement with News 6 about the proposed changes, saying in part: “This kind of grief is unbearable. A ban alone is not enough. Education, accountability and honest conversations are what will ultimately save lives.”
Some school board members have indicated they would support going further.
“I would stand for banning all of them, I would be completely okay with doing a full ban,” one member said during a previous board meeting.
Parents, however, are split on whether an elementary ban is appropriate.
One parent, Zahra Hernandez, said a ban would feel “restrictive” and “sad for that age group.” Another, Miguel Hernandez, questioned why students couldn’t use traditional bikes instead of electric devices.
The Orange County School Board is expected to vote on the policy at its July 28 meeting.
For middle and high school students, the draft includes a list of rules that would still allow e-bikes and e-scooters under certain conditions. Click HERE to see them.