MPCSD School Board adopts new policy prohibiting most E-bikes from school grounds

At its regular meeting on November 13, 2025, the MPCSD School Board unanimously adopted a new policy regarding E-bikes & E-motos. The issue has been brewing for months as the popularity of e-bikes/e-moto — most of which are illegal for riders under 16 — has soared at MPCSD’s only middle school campus, Hillview.

School and district leaders had noticed that the rising popularity of e-bikes and e-motos among the student population was unfortunately accompanied by an increase in unsafe student riding behaviors. With hundreds of students walking and riding traditional bicycles amidst heavy car traffic, this dynamic setting is not conducive to the safe operation of motorized vehicles by students. While the district has consistently worked to educate students and partner with law enforcement, it became clear these measures alone were not sufficient.

Beginning at its October 9, 2025, meeting, the board held three public discussions about a potential policy. Menlo Park and Atherton Police School Resource Officers attended the October 9 meeting and offered support for a policy that would limit students e-bike use. The officers helped Superintendent Gracia educate the board and community on the different classifications of e-bike and laws surrounding them.

Parents and community members shared support for board action through public comment and with board members via email. The Board directed the superintendent to craft a policy that balanced continued support for active transportation and reducing car trips with prioritizing student safety. By allowing pedal-assist class 1 e-bikes, the policy bans the most popular and also most dangerous of the bikes. However, the board made it clear that they would continue monitoring behavior and the staff time needed to implement the policy, and could make changes in the future.

Board Member Jed Scolnick said in the November 13 discussion, the community members who have reached out have been 100% behind a school policy. While not wading into law enforcement or city jurisdiction, MPCSD is exerting new rules at its campuses to try and disrupt the dangerous behaviors it sees, which it believes is in the best interest of all students’ safety.

Superintendent Kristen Gracia explains: “Our rationale was informed by data, trends, and serious concerns about student safety. Therefore, this policy is a necessary step to directly safeguard the physical safety of our MPCSD students, who are all under the age of 16.”

The district’s new policy statement specifies:

“Students and minors under the age of 16 are prohibited from bringing Class 2 or Class 3 e-bikes, e-motos, e-scooters and e-boards to campus. Class 1 e-bikes that have an affixed label, permanently placed by the manufacturer or retailer are permitted on campus. Class 1 e-bikes that have a throttle, the capability to use the motor beyond 20 mph, exceed legal power limits of 750 watts, or have been modified, are prohibited on campus.”

After an information phase to let families plan around the new policy, it will be enforced beginning on December 1. Any e-bike (or e-moto) found on campus in violation of this policy will be locked and held by the school. The e-bike (or e-moto) must be retrieved by a parent/guardian. Further consequences and/or support will be implemented as needed. The district will partner with law enforcement when warranted in accordance with the law. Evading the policy by parking off-campus is strongly discouraged.

“This policy is the first and necessary step in approaching this topic, making it possible to further this work in even more powerful and supportive ways for our community,” said Superintendent Gracia.

InMenlo file photo (c) 2021