DELAND, Fla. – As electric bikes grow more popular across Central Florida, DeLand police are asking city leaders to clarify local rules and give officers more authority to enforce them, especially in the busy downtown area.
Bicycles and skateboards have already been prohibited on downtown sidewalks for years. Now, the DeLand Police Department is asking the City Council to formally include e-bikes in that restriction and consider changes that would make enforcement easier.
Deputy Chief Adam Kisthardt said officers are concerned about safety, particularly in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic.
“We want to ensure people aren’t riding e-bikes in the downtown area on sidewalks,” Kisthardt said. “That’s very dangerous to pedestrian traffic. We’re also asking that people under 18 would have to wear a helmet for their safety when riding an e-bike.”
Police are also asking the city to lower the minimum penalty for violations from a possible arrest to a $250 fine. Kisthardt said officers have focused on warnings and education so far but are preparing for stricter enforcement.
Part of the challenge, he said, is confusion about the different types of e-bikes and what is legal.
Class 1 e-bikes provide pedal assistance only and can reach speeds up to 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes include a throttle and are also limited to 20 mph. Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 28 mph.
However, some dirt bike-style models without pedals can exceed 30 mph. Under Florida law, those vehicles are not considered e-bikes and are not legal to ride on public roads or sidewalks.
DeLand police said some families may unknowingly purchase these faster, unregulated bikes, believing they are legal.
“They’re essentially like a motorcycle,” said JC, who works at JC Bikes and Boards in DeLand. “They’re fun, but they’re fast.”
Police recently posted a video on social media to educate the public, explaining that bikes without pedals or capable of speeds higher than 28 mph are not legal for public use.
The City Council did not vote on the proposed changes during its most recent meeting. But if approved, the measures would give officers additional tools to regulate what police describe as a fast-growing and potentially dangerous form of transportation.