ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange County Public Schools is cracking down on e-bikes and e-scooters as the district says enforcement of a new ban begins after Labor Day.
Under the new policy, only students with a learner’s permit or driver’s license will be allowed to ride e-bikes or e-scooters to school — and even those students will need to obtain a permit from their school first. That means elementary and middle school students will not be allowed to ride electric devices to campus at all.
Scott Howat, Chief Communications Officer for OCPS, explained who will still be permitted to ride.
“The only individuals that will be able to ride the electric scooters or e-bikes will be those that have a learner’s permit or have a driver’s license, and they’ll have to receive a permit from their school in order to have the device,” Howat said.
The district says it is not yet focused on writing discipline. Right now, OCPS is prioritizing outreach to families and students about safety concerns surrounding the devices.
The change appears to be working, even before formal enforcement begins. Howat said the district is already getting feedback from school leaders.
“We are hearing from principals that the numbers are down as well,” he said.
Outside College Park Middle School, students were arriving on regular bikes — with no e-bikes or e-scooters spotted in the half hour before the first bell.
Once the ban is in effect, students who break the rules will face consequences. Howat said the district will follow a structured process.
“Once it goes into place, there will be a process where we will give progressive warnings or discipline for those who are still violating the ban,” he said.
Last week, OCPS held a workshop to begin shaping what that discipline will look like. District leaders say a plan will go before the school board at its next meeting on Aug. 25. Once approved, the policy will be added to the student code of conduct.
The specific discipline consequences have not yet been finalized.