Students in Martin County schools soon may be able to ride an e-bike on school campuses only if the rider is 16 or older, has a driver’s license and wears a helmet when riding.
That was the consensus of the Martin County School Board March 3, when the board discussed the issue and heard from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. The school board took no vote on the issue. No students or teachers and no one from the public commented on the proposed policy.
“The sheriff’s office is in strong support of any policies you guys would have limiting the use of e-bikes on school property,” Martin County Sheriff’s Lt. David Rosko said.
E-bike legislation, crashes
State legislators are now considering a law limiting the use of e-bikes to people 16 and older, he said. And the sheriff’s office is working with the Martin Metropolitan Planning Organization to limit the use of e-bikes countywide to riders 16 and older, Rosko said.
House Bill 243 has yet to say anything about an age limit, according to a review of the bill, but it would create a task force that could impose an age limit and other requirements such as licensing.
Since July, the Martin County Sheriff’s office responded to 25 e-bike crashes, Rosko told TCPalm. Two of those involved serious injuries, he said by email.
A crash at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Southeast Morningside Drive between a car and an electric bike rider on March 13, 2025. The bicyclist died on the scene, according to rescue officials.
Four other people in crashes declined hospital care, and the rest suffered injuries that were classified as “non-incapacitating,” according to the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office in July started tracking e-bikes crashes.
Stuart police responded to five e-bike crashes between March 1, 2024, and Feb. 28. One involved serious injuries. The others involved scrapes and scratches, police said.
“Most of the injuries we see is the result of no helmets,” Rosko told the school board. “Violations-wise that we see — most of this is going to be intersection-related.”
Some policy details
E-bike riders on school campuses may only be able to ride at 2 mph or under, according to the board discussion.
Under the proposed policy, gas-powered bikes, scooters, skateboards, hoverboards and other “personal transportation devices” would be prohibited from school campuses. Students with a disability who need such as device would be exempt from the policy, according to school board documents available March 3.
A separate but identical policy would govern the use of e-bikes and other devices like skateboards for visitors to Martin County schools.
Rosko also mentioned e-motos to the board. E-motos, which have no pedals and can go up to 80 mph, are legal only on private property, Rosko said.
Sharing plans
The board failed to say when it will take up the e-bike policy again. But it is expected to be before May.
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The next Martin Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board meeting is April 20. Martin County schools Superintendent Michael Maine and two others are planning to attend.
“We will bring forward the board’s thoughts,” Maine told board members.
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882. Reporting by James Call, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida Capital Bureau contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida school district grappling with e-bike policy
