OVIEDO, Fla. – With less than a week before the start of the school year, the City of Oviedo is holding sessions to inform families about e-bike regulations and safety.
On Thursday, Oviedo officers will answer questions about the devices and provide information about electric micromobility laws. The discussion is designed to help caregivers determine if their child is riding a true e-bike as defined under state law.
According to Florida State Statute 316.20655, an e-bike must not exceed 750 watts and have a maximum speed of 28 mph.
“We just want to inform parents about what a true e-bike is,” Officer Lindsay Varkony-Selmer said. “If it’s capable up to 2,000 watts, it’s not truly an e-bike. It’s an electric motorcycle.”
Riders 16 and under must wear a helmet on an e-bike, which can be operated on public roads and sidewalks.
In January, multiple students in Oviedo were cited after police said complaints from the community led to an e-bike enforcement effort at Jackson Heights Middle School.
“The officers went out there and focused on the ones that would go really faster up in the 40, 50 mile an hour range,” said Lt. Egert. “Sometimes just looking at the bike or e-bike or motorcycle, you just know whether it’s legal or not. If it has no pedals, it’s not a bicycle; it’s a motorcycle.”
E-bikes that exceed 28 mph and don’t have pedals are legally considered electric motorcycles, or E-Motos, according to police. Riders on electric motorcycles are required to have a registration and a license with a motorcycle endorsement.
Thursday’s e-bike information session runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the Oviedo Police Department, located at 300 Alexandria Blvd.