DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – The Jacksonville City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to pass a new e-bike ordinance aimed at improving safety on city sidewalks and shared pathways.
The bill passed 19-0 after months of debate and revision. Council member Michael Boylan, who championed the legislation, said the process began in October of last year.
“It’s been a journey,” Boylan said. “We started back in October of last year.”
Key provisions
The ordinance establishes a 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes on sidewalks and shared pathways citywide. The bill also requires retailers to provide riders with speed limit information, which the Jacksonville Transportation Planning Department will supply.
Boylan noted that the Duval County Public Schools administration agreed to update its safety education programs to incorporate the new rules.
“As you heard from school board member Melody Bolduc, we also heard from the administration at DCPS — we’re going to actively update their education, safety education programs to incorporate the bill,” Boylan said.
The ordinance also gives individual district councilmembers discretion to use a portion of funds previously allocated under the Safe Streets Initiative — $45,000 per district — to post speed limit signs where needed.
From opposition to support
Not everyone was on board from the start. Councilmember Will Lahnen said he voted against the bill in committee but changed his position after follow-up conversations with the school board.
“I am concerned about the enforcement, but just give my follow up conversations with the school board, I will support it,” Lahnen said. “Again, just something we need to monitor the enforcement of this on carefully as it gets rolled out.”
Councilmember Ron Salem also shifted his stance ahead of Tuesday’s vote.
“I did not support this in committee,” Salem said. “I’ve had additional discussions with JSO, and I do believe it’s a start, and I think we need to start somewhere, so therefore I will be supporting it tonight.”
Colleagues praise Boylan’s persistence
Several council members used their speaking time to praise Boylan for tackling what they called a difficult but necessary issue.
Councilmember Matt Carlucci, who said he spoke from his experience as an insurance agent, called the problem one that was “begging for help.”
“You can’t let the perfect get in the way of the good,” Carlucci said. “Kids get killed on these things, and a life is a very valuable thing.”
Another councilmember shared a personal connection to the issue, referencing a fatal crash involving a teenager at a busy intersection near Jacksonville Beach.
“We had a 15-year-old who was friends with my niece and nephew at the beaches, die at the five-way on Penman, and every time I drive through the five-way, literally every day, I see a cross there,” Councilmember Rory Diamond said.
City Councilman Jimmy Peluso also voiced strong support.
“There is no such thing as a perfect bill and with an emerging technology like these vehicles you don’t always know how to begin operating with it,” Peluso said. “I know in my district I have a lot of concerned parents, a lot of concerned constituents and I’m very grateful that somebody really took the bull by the horns on this.”
Following the vote, Boylan thanked several supporters by name and members of a local bike club who he said encouraged the bill throughout the process.
The bill will become effective upon the mayor’s signature.
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