EDGEWATER, Fla. – The Edgewater City Council unanimously voted against a proposed ban on e-bikes and electric scooters in public parks and on sidewalks, as other Central Florida communities have taken a tougher stance on the increasingly popular devices.
A second and final vote on the ordinance took place on Monday night at City Hall. If passed, the rules would have taken effect immediately and carried fines of up to $500 per violation.
[WATCH BELOW: Can you use e-bikes on Florida’s hiking and biking trails]
City leaders said the decision comes after months of complaints from residents concerned about safety and speed, particularly in areas where children and pedestrians gather.
But for frequent riders, the move feels like an overcorrection.
“They’re popular and it’s very good for me just to get around,” said Michael Garza, an Edgewater resident who uses an e-bike to run errands. “You can go a pretty long distance. I haven’t really seen any kind of problems with it.”
Jane Brummett, another Edgewater resident, called the proposal unnecessary and unfair, especially for seniors who use e-bikes for mobility.
“That is crazy,” Brummett said. “Take your elderly, they’re lucky to get to go on a new bike and go down a sidewalk and still feel like they’re part of life. Why ban them?”
Similar restrictions have already gone into effect in nearby Flagler County and Palm Coast, where officials cited a spike in crashes and lawbreaking. In May, News 6 also reported on an Orange County woman who is petitioning for e-bike safety training in schools after her teenage son was hit while riding.
[WATCH BELOW: News 6 coverage of Palm Coast, Flagler County cracking down on e-bikes]
You can read more about the growing debate over e-bike safety, and how other Florida cities are handling enforcement at ClickOrlando.com.