Newport Mesa Bans E-Bikes on Elementary Campuses

0:00It's April 23rd. This is California News today, driven by AI. Newport Mesa Unified School District just voted to ban electric bikes from all elementary and middle school campuses starting in the 2026. 27 school year. High schoolers can still use certain models, but only after getting a parking sticker and completing a safety course run by the district. The decision came Tuesday night after months of talk, including a post-pom in back-and-march. People say this makes them the first district in Orange County to pull the plug on e-bikes for younger kids. Parents showed up fired up, arguing some families rely on them just to get to school on time. Kids spoke too, insisting safe riders like them get lumped in with the troublemakers. This all heats up amid recent scares, like an Orange County teen arrested for allegedly smashing into an 81-year-old teacher on his e-bike, and bolting leaving her in critical condition. Plus, charges against the dad for modding his 12-year-olds bike illegally, with investigators

1:01seizing over half a dozen more tampered rigs from a school campus. As e-bikes debates rage across Southern California, districts like this one are drawing hard lines to keep campuses safe, and we'll see of others, follow suit.