TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – E-bikes are becoming a contentious issue in recent months, with Orange County leaders even considering some strict new rules ahead of the upcoming school year.
But with all this going on, it’s important to remember that state lawmakers have already approved a new bill that would change the rules for e-bikes across the state.
The bill — SB 382 — would make a couple of changes to state statutes regarding e-bikes, including:
- Sidewalk Limits: Riders may not ride an e-bike over 10 mph on sidewalks if a pedestrian is within 50 feet.
- Local Parks: Riders on shared pathways at parks or other recreational areas must yield to pedestrians and give an “audible signal” before passing them.
Furthermore, SB 382 establishes a “Micromobility Device Safety Task Force,” responsible for recommending new rules that could help improve safety for devices like e-bikes.
Such a task force would include representatives from groups like the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida League of Cities, and the micromobility device industry, among others.
Lastly, the bill requires law enforcement in the state to maintain lists of traffic crashes that involve an e-bike, including details like the date of the crash, the class of the e-bike, and the age of the e-bike rider.
These lists will be submitted to the state later this year, and the details will be presented to lawmakers and the governor in October.
So far, SB 382 has been approved by the Legislature, meaning it now awaits Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.
If he signs off on it, the bill is slated to take effect immediately.