BOE looks to ban e-bikes on campus

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

“I know at the lower elementary school, that e-bikes in recent years have really become more popular. We’ve certainly have had some concerns with students riding their e-bikes on the property, sort of some unsafe behaviors when leaving especially when there are cars picking up, and the lack of helmets and things,” MES Principal Megan Manetta said. “It’s definitely been a point of concern for myself and the staff for a while, so when we started talking about this policy I really thought that 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 sending district for prospective MHS students, in which a student suffered an injury on an e-bike.

Heights BOE approved an e-bike ban on school property during its Aug. 26 meeting. The policy prohibits “low-speed electric bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, motorized bicycles, motorized scooters and motorized skateboards” on school property at any time.

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

The revised policy states, “Students are not permitted to bring any motorized bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, scooter, low-speed electric scooter, motorized skateboard, motorized roller skates, hoverboard, golf cart, or any other motorized mode of transportation on school grounds.”

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

The policy will be up for its second reading at the board’s next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m. in the MHS Charles Raffetto Media Center.

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