An Open Letter to NMUSD Regarding Potential E-Bike Policies
We have learned that the Newport-Mesa Unified School District is, with very little public acknowledgment, moving toward sweeping restrictions on student e-bike use. We think the Board needs to hear from the community before that happens.
Today, CMABS sent an open letter to the NMUSD Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Wesley Smith urging them to step back from broad, reactive policy-making. With e-bikes being so popular and such a hot political topic, we are urging policymakers to instead pursue a thoughtful, balanced approach to e-bike safety, one grounded in the District's own existing policies and in the real transportation needs of students and families.
What's Going On
Over the past several months, a small number of students riding e-bikes — and in some cases illegal e-motorcycles that don't even qualify as e-bikes — have behaved recklessly near schools. That behavior is unacceptable, and no one is defending it.
But the response being floated by some Trustees would punish the many for the actions of the few. Remarks by Trustees at the December 2025 Board study session (which we strongly encourage you to watch for yourself) and the January 2026 City/Districts Liaison Committee meeting suggest the District is considering bans or severe restrictions that would affect thousands of students who ride safely and responsibly every single day.
We think that's the wrong approach.
What Our Letter Says
NMUSD's own Administrative Regulations already commit the District to supporting student walking and biking, authorize a safety certification and permitting program for e-bike riders, and recognize student mobility as a good to be supported, not a problem to be eliminated.
A recent City of Costa Mesa survey found that roughly 40% of Ensign Intermediate students, 23% of Newport Harbor High students, and thousands more across the district ride bikes to school. These are numbers any city should be proud of! Our ridership numbers are well above the California statewide average. A hamfisted ban would put all of that incredible progress at risk.
Our letter calls on the Board to:
Affirm student walking and biking, including responsible e-biking, as positive, supported choices.
Implement the safety certification and permitting framework already on the books.
Adopt age-specific guidance without penalizing older students.
Be mindful of and compassionate to the mobility realities of current students and families.
Focus enforcement on genuinely illegal devices (e-motorcycles and mopeds) rather than legal e-bikes.
Partner with cities and professionals on street design improvements that make safe riding easier.
Address reckless behavior directly and proportionally — not by eliminating a mode of transportation thousands of families depend on.
Why This Matters Beyond E-Bikes
This is about more than bikes. It's about whether our community believes students deserve independence, mobility, and the chance to get themselves to school, to after-school programs, and through their days without being chauffeured by adults everywhere.
There is now a significant body of research linking the epidemic of anxiety, depression, and social isolation among young people to the loss of independent mobility and unstructured time with peers. Biking to school together is exactly the kind of real-world, face-to-face experience that builds the resilience kids need. While we support healthy limits, unwise policy could push even responsible students into cars, increase traffic, reduce physical activity, and take away something genuinely valuable.
We are also deeply aware that many families rely on e-bikes — often a very expensive purchase — to bridge the gap between home, school, student activities and jobs when multiple cars or of-age drivers aren’t available to get kids where they need to go. Sudden and draconian changes in e-bike policy could seriously disrupt these families and cause students to miss out on cherished activities.
The District already has the framework for a smart, balanced policy. What's needed now is the will to implement it, and that starts with us.
Three Ways You Can Help
1. Write to Your NMUSD Board Representative
The Board needs to hear directly from parents, students, and community members who understand what's at stake. You can contact your Board representative — or all seven Trustees — and share your thoughts on e-bike policy. Let them know you support student mobility, that you want behavior addressed proportionally, and that broad bans are not the answer.
Board member contact information is available at nmusd.us.
2. Show Up at the Next NMUSD Board Meeting
The NMUSD draft e-bike policy — which has not been released yet — will likely be on the agenda for the Board meeting on Tuesday, March 10. We know that the Board pays attention when residents show up in person. So mark that meeting on your calendar and bring perspective, your experience as a parent or community member, and your voice.
Check the NMUSD’s website for the latest Board agenda when it is available. The agenda will include instructions on how to make a public comment at the meeting.
3. Share This Letter With Your Network
Many parents and community members don't yet know this conversation is happening. If you know families who rely on e-bikes, neighbors who care about student independence, or anyone who should understand what's being discussed, please share this post and the letter. The broader the community conversation, the better the outcome.
Read the Full Letter
We’ve embedded the full letter below. If you would like to share a link with your friends, you can access the letter on the web here.