Over the past two years, Florida Tech administration and the Student Government Association (SGA) have closely collaborated to monitor and review the on-campus use of micromobility transportation devices (MMTDs) such as electric scooters, electric skateboards and e-bikes. During this time, the university has implemented policies, education efforts and safety measures intended to reduce risk.
Despite these efforts, significant issues remain—and in several areas, have increased. These include improper storage and charging, operational safety issues, theft, and broader national trends affecting campuses across the country. Among those trends are:
- A rise in lithium-ion battery fires and incidents of spontaneous combustion, including reports of hundreds of residential fires in New York City linked to MMTDs.
- A growing number of CPSC safety notices, warnings and large-scale recalls for consumer products with lithium-ion batteries.
- Sharp increases in micromobility-related injuries nationwide, with national data showing e-bike injuries doubling annually and e-scooter injuries rising by nearly 45% annually.
- Growing rates of serious injuries tied to micromobility crashes, including long bone fractures and paralysis-associated trauma seen in clinical studies nationwide.
- Ongoing theft concerns affecting campus safety reporting and community impact, including increases in reported electric scooter and e-bike thefts at universities.
While Florida Tech and its Student Government Association recognize the benefits associated with MMTDs, the cumulative safety risks now clearly outweigh those benefits.
As a result and with the support of the SGA, Florida Tech will revise its Micromobility Transportation Device Policy to prohibit the presence and use of these devices on all university property. The revised policy, and the enforcement of it, goes into effect July 1, 2026.
This advance notice is being shared to ensure students, staff and faculty members who own and have operated MMTDs on campus are given adequate time to plan and adjust for the upcoming academic year.
ADA-approved mobility assistance devices used by individuals with disabilities will continue to be permitted. Contact the Office of Accessibility Resources or Human Resources with questions. If you have further questions, please contact the Division of Student Affairs at VPSA@fit.edu.
