Aditi Varman | The Chronicle
The morning rush at Mason High School (MHS) isn’t just filled with yellow buses and cars anymore; it now includes a growing wave of students pedaling electric bikes and motorcycles. While these rides give students freedom and speed, they’ve also created an obstacle for bus drivers, who say the mix of traffic has made morning drop-offs more difficult and sometimes unsafe.
Gabe Noertker, a MHS student who regularly rides an electric bike, said he first became interested in regular biking years ago but upgraded to an e-bike more recently.
“I’ve had a regular bike since I was nine, but I got my electric one this past summer,” Noertker said. “It just felt like the next step because it makes getting around town so much easier.”
For Noertker, the best part of riding is the social aspect. He said that biking has become a way for him to spend time with others while exploring new places.
“What I enjoy most is riding with friends,” Noertker said. “We’ll just hang out around town, and it gives us something fun to do together.”
While riding with company is one of his favorite parts of biking, Noertker said he has also experienced firsthand dangers while out on his bike.
“I’ve had a couple of close calls that shook me up,” Noertker said. “Like hitting my brakes too hard and being close to running into other trees and cars. I know that one wrong move can end really badly, so I always try to be careful.”
To prevent more harmful outcomes, Noertker said he makes sure to dress carefully and use basic protective gear whenever he rides.
“I usually wear long sleeves and pants, and I always put on my helmet and gloves,” Noertker said. “It just makes me feel a lot safer knowing I’m prepared.”
When asked about potential rules for student e-bike riders, Noertker said he thinks there are practical concerns, especially around bringing bikes to school. He explained that theft and traffic safety would be the biggest issues.
“Leaving bikes outside all day doesn’t seem like the best idea since they could get stolen,” Noertker said. “And if students do ride to school, I think it’s really important that they follow traffic laws closely and stay alert.”
Beth Ackley, a MHS bus driver, said she has personally seen the growing number of students riding electric bikes each morning. Given her experience with driving, Ackley said she understands the challenges and risks that come with sharing the road with two-wheelers.
“Lately, it seems like I spot a new group of riders almost every morning,” Ackley said. “It’s definitely changed the way we bus drivers have to watch the road.”
Ackley said the growing number of bikes isn’t just noticeable; it’s also led to some close calls. One incident in particular stood out to her as a reminder of how unsafe bus and bike interactions can be.
“I recall one situation last year when an e-bike came barreling through one of my drop-offs near the high school. The students were almost ready to walk onto the sidewalk when thankfully they noticed what was happening and suddenly stopped,” Ackley said. “Not only was it an unsafe situation for the students but it was unsafe for the E-biker as well.”
Ackley said it’s important to recognize how situations like these can change in an instant. Her experience shaped her perspective on electric bikes and the dangers of her encounter.
“The E-Biker didn’t bother stopping at the intersection he was crossing at and I seriously doubt he could see around my big bus,” Ackley said. “You can never be too safe because you never know what could have been lurking around the corner of that intersection.”
Ackley said she feels there should be safety measures to prevent future accidents. She offered some guidance to student riders on steps they can take to stay more cautious on the road.
“Biking in general can be dangerous. Bikes should travel on the roadway and avoid sidewalks altogether,” Ackley said. “I personally think it’s a good idea [for bikers to] wear bold colors, flags, or vests to make [themselves] more visible to all vehicles and people.”
MHS principal Ben Brown spoke about the concerns of the unpredictability of two-wheel riders. He said the main issue is how bikes interact with the flow of traffic around the school because even small differences in visibility can create safety risks.
“The biggest issue we’ve noticed is that e-bikes are so small that drivers don’t always see them until the last second, which makes it stressful for bus drivers trying to pull out safely,” Brown said.
Brown’s worries echo what some of the bus drivers themselves have experienced in the parking lot. He said that this type of behavior significantly increases the potential for accidents.
“A few of the drivers have said that bikes appearing suddenly in the lot makes them nervous during morning drop-off.”
In addition to the visibility issues, Brown said that this situation raises multiple other risk factors.
“One of the main concerns is that students on e-bikes sometimes weave between buses, which creates a blind spot for drivers and raises the risk of accidents,” Brown said.
To address this, Brown noted that the school has considered many possible responses. One idea that has surfaced, based on input from bus drivers, is requiring students to use headlights on their e-bikes to improve visibility during early mornings. If the situation worsens, he said, new policies may need to be put in place to protect both bus drivers and students.
“Drivers have come to me asking me to mandate that students riding electric bikes utilize a headlight, and that could be a possible regulation we make in the future if the situation continues to get out of hand,” Brown said.
Still, Brown said he recognizes why students enjoy using two-wheelers and understands their appeal. At the same time, he said safety must remain the top priority for both drivers and students.
“Currently we don’t have any policies around [two-wheelers], honestly I think they’re cool, but moving forward we may need to create clearer rules so that buses and bikes can safely share the same place,” Brown said.
