Coeur d’Alene Police and schools cracks down on electric bikes and scooters as student injuries rise

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Electric bikes and scooters seem like the latest must-have item for kids, but they’re creating a dangerous problem for students in Coeur d’Alene.

The popular devices, often marketed as toys, have become a growing safety concern as more children ride them to school.

“We’re seeing them grow in popularity and prevalence. We’re seeing more and more kids at different grade levels riding them, all the way down to elementary school,” said Thomas Gandy, safety and security director for Coeur d’Alene Public Schools.

This week, Coeur d’Alene Police issued a warning that e-motorcycles without pedals violate city ordinances.

“This year we have seen, I believe, one accident, on average, a week, all involving electronic conveyances, whether it’s a scooter or a bike. And it’s not always school-related, but it’s always juvenile-related,” Gandy said.

One of the biggest concerns with these devices is their potential speed.

“[They are] electric motorcycles. They’re not bicycles,” said Thomas Hylant Van Valkenburg of Lake City Bicycle Co-op.

The school district plans to address violations through education first, but repeated offenses could result in citations.

“They’re just as dangerous as giving your kid any other motorcycle or moped and letting them go wherever they want with it,” Gandy said.

Students who continue bringing illegal electric bikes to school will face progressive consequences. The process begins with a conversation, but persistent violations can lead to tickets issued by law enforcement.

School and police officials emphasize that enforcement will be necessary if education doesn’t work.

“You have to remind them, ‘hey, these are the rules. Here’s how we should keep ourselves safe,'” Gandy said. “If educating people on how to do it safely or properly doesn’t work, then yeah, you might have to go the enforcement route, whether it’s enforcing school rules on behalf of the school or whether it’s enforcing rules of the road on behalf of the police department.”