WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Electric bikes and scooters continue to be a hot topic in Florida, especially in Central Florida.
Electric bikes and scooters have become something of a hot commodity over the last few years, but their popularity has come with some backlash as several municipalities, including Winter Garden, have made moves to try to regulate who can use them, and how.
What You Need To Know
Winter Garden City Commissioners unanimously voted to approve an ordinance regulating the use of e-bikes and e-scooters in city limits
The ordinance lays out rules in terms of speed, ages and safety measures for riders of e-bikes
Winter Garden bike shop Wheel Works owner Dennis Jones believes regulations are necessary, but says education is key
The ordinance goes into effect immediately and will be enforced by the Winter Garden Police Department
“The price has gotten to where it’s more economical and people can afford an e-bike,” said Dennis Jones, who owns Wheel Works in Orlando. “Unlike before (when) they were rather expensive and not real reliable.”
And while Jones agrees that regulations are needed, he believes an emphasis needs to be placed on teaching riders how to operate their e-bikes safely.
“We want to educate people on the use of e-bikes and the legality of where to ride it and how to ride it,” he said.
The Winter Garden City Commission held a second reading of the city’s ordinance to regulate the vehicles Thursday night.
The ordinance includes restrictions that require e-bike cyclists to be at least 15 years old, wear a helmet, and stay at 10 miles per hour or below when riding on the sidewalk or off-road.
But some in the city were hoping to hit the brakes on the push for regulation and spoke out against the move during Thursday’s meeting.
The City Commission, however, voted in favor of the ordinance, with commissioners saying they believe the ordinance is in the best interest of everyone’s safety, especially young people.
“It might not be perfect, but ultimately, safety is the most concerning and we have had a lot of near misses and some kids have been hit,” said District 1 Winter Garden City Commissioner Lisa Bennett.
The commissioners said hoping for state laws to be put into place to make the rules the same from city to city — as did Jones.
“I can be OK here and I can go to the next town and not be OK,” Jones said. “So, there’s going to be a lot of confusion. So, I think that the state definitely needs to make one overall policy for everybody.”
Winter Garden’s new ordinance will require that e-bikes operated between sunset and sunrise must be equipped with a lamp on the front that is visible from a distance of at least 500 feet, and a lamp and reflector on the rear, each exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 600 feet.
It will also require that all safety lights remain active and operational when the e-bike is in use between sunset and sunrise.
This ordinance goes into effect immediately, and will be enforced by the Winter Garden Police Department.
The ordinance also calls for all e-bike operators to carry a government-issued photo ID and present that identification upon lawful request of a law enforcement officer.
Punishment for violating the rules include a possible civil penalty and a $100 fine.