ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County School Board could make a big change for e-bikes and e-scooters in time for the first day of school for the 2026-2027 school year.
On Tuesday, board members shared their final thoughts during a work session before they vote on a possible micromobility ban for elementary, middle school, and high school students without a license.
The decision about what to do about e-bikes and e-scooters is a continued conversation at every level, including the Orange County School Board.
“I caution us to take on one more thing that I don’t believe is our responsibility,” said Maria Vazquez, the superintendent of Orange County Public Schools.
Vazquez and some board members want the district to stay out of making micromobility decisions and look to Orange County and municipalities to make their own rules.
“If we had more multi use pathways, this would be more palatable to me, I don’t think these devices belong on our streets, weaving in and out of traffic and I also don’t think they belong on narrow sidewalks where people are walking and running,” said OCPS Board Member, Stephanie Vanos.
But other board members are pushing for change. A draft policy for student use of micromobility devices will go before the board for a vote on July 28, it includes a ban for any students that do not have a valid driver’s license from using any micromobility devices on property owned or leased by the school board which could include for after-school activities.
“I agree that taking kids off the road, especially during rush hour traffic in the morning, will save lives or reduce harm to our kids, and I think that is worthwhile,” said OCPS Board Chair Teresa Jacobs.
Everyone’s goal is to keep the kids safe. Whether it’s an outright ban or maybe educating kids to use them properly, like Metro Plan Orlando is trying to do with a new course offered in Canvas, an online course management system used by the district.
“So within the course, like I said, it is about 60 minutes long, there are 21 or so modules and it covers everything from sort of general rules of the road, knowing how to use bicycle facilities properly… What are the safety features of your device,” said Lara Bouck, the manager of project development at Metro Plan Orlando.
But some school board members think the education will not be enough.
“There is no Canvas course you can give these students that is going to be more exciting and more fun or more scary than putting three kids on a bike and going to do whatever you want,” said Maria Salamanca, an OCPS Board Member.
No decisions were made during the work session, but members are set to vote on the matter July 28, if kids will be able to ride their micromobility devices to school this year.
Regardless of what the school board decides next week, the Orange County Board of Commissioners is also looking at changing the rules around micromobility at their meeting on August 4.