BOE tries to ban e-bikes on campus – Star News Group

MANASQUAN — At its Aug. 20 meeting before the upcoming school year, the Manasquan Board of Education (BOE) introduced a policy revision that would ban the use of electric bicycles by students at both Manasquan High School (MHS) and Manasquan Elementary School (MES) . ) campuses.

“I know from primary school that e-bikes have really become more popular in recent years. We’ve definitely had some concerns with students riding e-bikes on property, kind of unsafe behaviors when leaving, especially when there are cars taking and the lack of helmets and things,” said MES Director Megan Manetta. “It’s certainly been a point of concern for me and the staff for a while, so when we started talking about this policy, I really thought this was an opportunity for us to make a good decision for what we have under our control under our jurisdiction. .”

According to Superintendent Robert Goodall, the BOE received information from Spring Lake Heights Elementary School, a referral district for prospective MHS students, where a student sustained an injury on an electric bicycle.

The Heights BOE approved a ban on e-bikes on school property during its Aug. 26 meeting. The policy prohibits “slow-speed electric bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, motorized bicycles, motorized scooters and motorized skateboards” on school property at all times.

Before starting his first school year as MHS principal, Matthew Kukoda said, “I would say that e-bikes and other motorized vehicles have become the preferred method of transportation for students before they get their license. We wanted to ensure the safety of the students, so we thought that by keeping them off campus, it allows the safety of the students and the safety of our parents, teachers and guests to be paramount.”

The revised policy states: “Students may not bring any motorized bicycle, moped, scooter, electric moped, motorized skateboard, motorized roller skates, hoverboard, golf cart, or any other motorized transportation on school grounds.”

While motorized electric vehicles are slated to be banned with the policy change introduced, non-motorized bicycles and other vehicles are allowed on school grounds and as a means of transportation to and from school, according to the revised policy.

The policy will be taken up for second reading at the next board meeting on Tuesday, September 17th at 6pm in the MHS Charles Raffetto Media Center.

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