Students at Newport Harbor High, Corona del Mar High, and Ensign Intermediate who plan to ride a bike or e-bike to school this fall must complete an online safety course and quiz before August registration or risk losing campus riding privileges.

Newport-Mesa Unified's new Board Policy 5142.04, approved 6-1 in late April, bans e-bikes outright for all TK-8 students and requires mandatory California Highway Patrol safety training for older riders. The district published step-by-step compliance guidance on Sunday, June 28.

What changed

Under the previous rules, students of any age could ride e-bikes to campus. Starting in the 2026-27 school year:

  • TK (transitional kindergarten) through 8th-grade students may not possess or operate e-bikes, e-motos (electric mopeds and similar motorized two-wheelers), or similar devices on school property, including the periphery of campus.
  • High school students (9-12) may bring Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bikes to campus. E-motos remain banned for everyone.
  • An earlier draft would have limited high schoolers to Class 1 e-bikes only; the board loosened that restriction before the final vote.

Steps for families

High school riders (Newport Harbor, CdM): Complete the CHP Electric Bicycle Safety and Training Course online, pass the CHP quiz using the student's NMUSD Google account, then pick up a permit sticker at August registration.

Middle school riders (Ensign): Complete the CHP Bicycle Safety Course online, pass the quiz with the student's NMUSD login, and collect a permit sticker at registration.

Elementary students: No action needed from parents. Students will receive age-appropriate "Walk 'N Rollers" training during the school day.

Three rules apply to every rider: helmets are mandatory, bikes must be walked on campus, and e-bikes must be charged at home. Violations can lead to permit revocation.

Deputy Superintendent Kerrie Torres told Education Week that students who show up without registration will be turned away. "When you hear, 'Oh, kids are crashing on e-bikes,' people believe it's happening elsewhere," Torres said. "But the truth is, it's in our own backyard."

Why the board acted

The policy followed months of community pressure tied to a surge in pediatric e-bike injuries. According to a study published in the journal Injury in December 2025, Rady Children's Health Orange County treated 201 e-bike trauma patients in 2025, up from one in 2021. E-bike crashes became the hospital's No. 1 reason for emergency trauma visits in 2025.

Trustee Carol Crane called the policy a "living document" that can be modified as circumstances change. Trustee Ashley Anderson cast the lone no vote, arguing cities rather than school districts should regulate e-bikes and that a blanket ban could cut off transportation access for some middle schoolers.

What's next

Specific August registration dates for Newport Harbor High, CdM High, and Ensign Intermediate have not been announced. Families should check individual school websites or call NMUSD Student Services at 714-424-5016. The district's dedicated Bike & E-Bike Safety page is live at web.nmusd.us.