After a rise in e-bike crashes throughout the district, starting in January new set of rules will be in place for students riding Electric Bikes (e-bikes) to school. 

Just like a car, an e-bike must be registered to park at the school, and students must attend a class that goes over classification and laws around e-bikes. Deputy Marshall Abbott, who taught the class, believes that it will help students and parents follow the law

“The laws have already been in place, now we are just ensuring students and their families are educated about the laws so students can safely get to school,” Abbot said.

 Currently, there are no more classes scheduled, as four have already been taught, but Marshall Abbot believes there will be another class sometime in October and after winter break. 

These new standards enforced at school are the product of the Poway Police Department and PUSD working together to protect students.

 “As far as the school side of penalty for violations, most of it will be communication with families.We just want to keep kids safe,” Principal Richard Nash said. 

Some e-bikes that have been ridden to school qualify as electric motorcycles that are not street-legal. Most electric motorcycles are not street-legal, but some can be made street-legal with modifications, like mirrors, and then registered at the DMV and can be ridden legally with a specific motorcycle license. 

However, some students feel that this new rule is overkill. 

 Most students using e-bikes for their daily commute are aware of the dangers, and many hold themselves accountable, “ I think it makes sense to educate people on e-bike safety, but I think the permits are a bit excessive,’’ senior Borris Ivanov said.