Coronado High School students caught breaking e-bike rules could soon take a safety class instead of going to traffic court.

The Coronado Police Department and Coronado High are developing a citation diversion program, as first reported by the Coronado Eagle & Journal's Islander Times on Wednesday, Oct. 14. CPD Motor Officer Jon Swankosky said students who receive e-bike tickets could complete a four-hour course run by the San Diego Bike Coalition.

The course would combine practical riding exercises in a parking lot with a classroom session. Students who pass a final test would have their ticket dismissed, "as opposed to having to go to traffic court," Swankosky told the Islander Times.

CHS Assistant Principal Richard Ayala said the program is still in early talks. He said nothing is finalized but that everyone involved supports giving students a chance to learn rather than pay a hefty fine.

The proposal arrives as Coronado ramps up its response to e-bike safety concerns. The Coronado Unified School District board held a first reading of a new e-bike policy on Tuesday, Oct. 13, as we reported that day.

Surrons and speed

Swankosky identified Surrons as a major concern. The electric vehicles can reach 45 mph and are often mistaken for e-bikes. He called them "actually motorcycles" and said they are dangerous. Surrons spotted on campus could be locked up by school staff, he said.

He plans to address the difference between e-bikes and electric motorcycles at future school orientations. Swankosky said common violations include three riders on a two-person e-bike, unbuckled helmets and running red lights.

CHS security guard Marcia Morris described the daily scene at the school entrance. "I've had kids fall off their bike, I've even had a kid run over my big toe," Morris told the Islander Times.

Local and statewide data

E-bike collisions have been a persistent concern in Coronado. Since 2021, 72% of e-bike collisions in the city were caused by the operator, often due to unsafe speeds, according to a council report cited by San Diego Documenters. As of November 2024, local police had issued 162 warnings and 23 citations and seized nine unsafe bikes, San Diego Documenters reported.

Statewide, e-bike collision injuries in California jumped from two in 2020 to 1,566 in 2024, according to a UC San Diego study cited by Insurance Journal.

Vidanya Gehani, a Coronado High sophomore and president of the school's Arrive Alive Club, said the responsibility extends beyond students. She told the Islander Times that better signage near high-traffic areas and more consistent enforcement would help.

No timeline has been set for the proposed safety course.