Friday, October 16, 2026
By Outer Banks Voice on June 23, 2026
At a special meeting on Tuesday, June 23, the Dare County Board of Education approved a policy that prohibits the operation of E-Bikes on school property or at school-related activities. Attachment | Dare County Schools
The regulation was quickly approved during a Second Reading of the policy. The First Reading was held at the June 8 Board of Education meeting. The language in the policy cites the “board’s commitment to safety,” as a well as “the risk of injury to students and others” posed by E-Bikes.
The policy stipulates that although operating E-Bikes is prohibited on school property, students can possess E-Bikes there long as they are walked and parked or stored in designated areas on school property.
The policy also states that there are “consequences” for violating E-bike regulations, and during the meeting, Ed Board Vice-Chair Ron Payne asked if there will specific penalties imposed for those violations. Dare County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight responded that the penalties will be included in the Code of Conduct. Dare County Board of Education Policy Manual
The adoption of E-Bike policy for the Dare County Schools comes amid growing momentum for stronger regulations. In April, Dare County prohibited the operation of E-Bikes at Dare County Parks & Rec parks, citing “safety issues” that included reckless speeding and spinning tires.
On June 11, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office announced it was “increasing patrol presence to monitor E-Bike use to ensure safety for everyone,” noting that the department “receives numerous complaints throughout the county.”
And officials in several Dare County municipalities have said they are monitoring state legislation that could give them more authority and pave the way for new local E-Bike ordinances.
Comments
Linda Lou
I paid a lot of money for my child’s e-bike so he can safely get to school. He will continue to ride it, INCLUDING on school property and I dare someone to seize it!
Retired Teacher
WOW! Lots of support there for the school system and authority mom…..(said very sarcastically) I bet your child is one of the entitled ones…
Students can still ride e-bikes to school. Just get off and push them on school property. Safety for all is #1. Thank you, school board, for protecting all our students, staff and visitors.
Craig
I remember having to pedal my bike to school. Now get off my yard!
JF
@ LindaLou… Great job setting an example for your child. Maybe if parents did a better job at discipline, we wouldn’t be in this situation…
Robert
Strikes me it is much better to some exercise rather than become a fat lump on an electric bike.
Liz
@Linda Lou
Geez! Read the policy and calm down. It’s not the end of the world. Your angry attitude isn’t going to help your kid. The policy says, “students can possess E-Bikes there as long as they are walked and parked or stored in designated areas on school property.” In other words, your kid can still ride his bike to and from school. What’s the problem?
@Craig
Not matter what you think, it’s not a question of “get off my lawn!” It’s a question of some kids ride stupidly and dangerously. Since e-bikes can go between 20 and 28 mph, it’s easier to ride that way than on a pedal bike. Some kids will still ride stupidly and dangerously, just not on school property.
Marta
This is the second step to regulating e-bikes in Dare County. They are now no longer permitted on Parks and Recreation facilities and Dare County School campuses. Thank you Dare County Commissioners.
Now we arre ready for step #3, our streets and highway. Children without driver’s licenses or helmets are traversing our streets and Highway at speeds up to 35 mph. Some of these children are engaging in stunts while riding in traffic.
Hopefully our commissioners, sheriffs and state legislators will tackle this e-bike problem as well.
.
Jay
Craig you had it easy. I had to pedal my bicycle barefoot up hill both ways!
Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice
With baseball cards in the spokes, no doubt.
Retarded Teacher
I see too many kids risking life and limb on these contraptions, kudos to the Board.
Bud
Have a blast on my e-bike. Runs 45mph on road, 40mph on beach. Much Fun!
James
Regulation of ebikes is 100% necesarry. Taking a deeper look will also add insight on the type of Regulation needed. For instance, bikes without pedal assist should require more Regulation because it is then called a motorcycle. Also taking into account thw type of throttle for safety reasons is another big one and finally min/max speed is a regulations that must be imposed for safety. If your going to do it, DO IT RIGHT DARE.