With e-bike accidents on the rise, Fort Lauderdale is now looking at regulating the speedy power bikes to boost safety on sidewalks and roads.
Commissioners are expected to approve the new rules for e-bikes and other micromobility devices before the end of the year.
Penalties would result in a $250 fine for the first offense and $500 for subsequent violations.
An e-bike, or electric bicycle, has an electric motor and rechargeable battery that helps power your ride. Some e-bikes have a maximum speed of 20 mph while others can reach speeds of 28 mph.
The new rules would apply to e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, hoverboards and Onewheels.
In city parks, riders would be prohibited from park pathways and recreational trails, athletic fields and turf areas, plazas and promenades.
During a recent commission discussion, Transportation and Mobility Director Milos Majstorovic recommended riders be allowed to cruise along city sidewalks, the Riverwalk and park roads too as long as they did so in a safe manner.
Commissioner Pamela Beasley-Pittman questioned who would be determining whether they were riding in a safe manner.
“That would be up to the judgment of a police officer,” Majstorovic said.
Mayor Dean Trantalis interjected.
“Where are these police officers?” he asked. “Do you think we’re going to station police officers on all of our sidewalks and our parks? There’s not going to be a police officer anywhere. And you’re going to see these e-scooters or these e-bikes just pushing pedestrians off the sidewalk.”
Miami Beach and Sunny Isles don’t allow e-bikes on their sidewalks, the mayor noted.
A man rides an e-scooter on the sidewalk on Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 8, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Commissioners Steve Glassman agreed.
“I’m agreeing with what I’m hearing on the dais,” he said. “I don’t think we should have it on the sidewalks.”
Trantalis made it clear he did not think e-bikes should be allowed anywhere in city parks.
“I don’t think we should have them in the parks at all,” he said.
The mayor suggested riders park their e-bikes at the entrance to the park and walk instead of riding through the park.
“Walking is a better compromise than putting pedestrians’ lives at risk,” he said. “I’m totally against this. We have to protect pedestrians.”
“We’ve got to be very careful about that,” Trantalis said. “This only would contribute to it.”
After hearing the feedback, Majstorovic pivoted, saying the city could prohibit e-bikes and other micromobility devices from riding in parks and on sidewalks if that was the direction of the commission.
“It’s enforcement,” Trantalis said. “Unless someone gets hurt, the police are not going to be called. The police have better things to do than to worry about bicyclists. People who walk don’t want to be dodging motorized vehicles, including scooters and bikes.”
A man rides an e-scooter along Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 8, 2026. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The city is considering the following requirements: Minimum age of 16 years to ride; operators must carry government-issued photographic identification; all devices must be registered with the city and display a registration decal at all times.
Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen recommended the minimum age for riders should be lower than 16.
Some members of the city’s Parks, Recreation and Beaches Advisory Board also had concerns about prohibiting riders under the age of 16, city records show.
“There are just a lot of younger people that ride them all over neighborhoods,” Sorensen said. “There are 12- and 13-year-olds riding them. I think it should be lower.”
Sorensen was late to the meeting and not present for the earlier discussion.
Trantalis shared his concerns with Sorensen.
“I’m very concerned about kids being irresponsible and taking these e-bikes and rampaging through neighborhoods and through parks,” the mayor said. “I can just see it would be an absolute nightmare. And no one’s there to enforce it. We don’t have police officers who are going to be looking for bicyclists who are underage or acting inappropriately. This discussion was to keep them off sidewalks and to keep them out of parks.”
Sorensen said he agreed with that idea, but argued that kids under 16 should be able to ride too.
“A lot of young families use these safely in the neighborhood,” he said.
Commissioners are expected to renew the discussion in the coming months.
City staff provided the following information about restrictions enacted by three other cities in South Florida.
Miami Beach
Sidewalk: Prohibited
Park/path restrictions: Beachwalk, South Pointe Park, Baywalk, Lincoln Road Mall
Minimum age: None
Photo ID required: No
Fine: $129 per violation
Adoption date: May 2024
Sunny Isles Beach
Sidewalk: Prohibited
Park/path restrictions: Prohibited
Minimum age: 16
Photo ID required: Yes
Fine: $250 first offense; $500 subsequent
Adoption date: July 2026
Wellington
Sidewalk: 15 mph on sidewalks and pathways
Park/path restrictions: Town Center, neighborhood parks, Heart Trail, bridle trails
Minimum age: 15
Photo ID required: Yes – school ID accepted
Fine: Non-criminal traffic infractions
Adoption date: August 2026
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan