Tampa Riverwalk and Hillsborough River by felixmizioznikov via iStock for WMNF News.
Listen:
The Tampa City Council has voted down an ordinance that would ban wheelies and large groups of bikers on the Tampa Riverwalk, Bayshore, and other trails.
Public response during Thursday’s meeting was mostly against the ordinance, citing potential racial profiling and a lack of data.
It comes as police and some city council members say they’ve heard complaints from people about large groups of bikers, often young, riding fast and doing tricks.
Police officers say they face limitations on how they can enforce solutions.
Carl Brody is an Assistant City Attorney.
“Not addressing it is allowing a dangerous condition to continue to be in place,” Brody said.
But many members of the public worried the ordinance would unfairly target minorities and teens.
Yvette Lewis, the president of the NAACP in Hillsborough County, spoke during public comment.
“I have been working diligently with Tampa Police Department and this city to build trust back between the African-American community and them. But y’all keep erasing or eradicating it based on these knee-jerk reactions,” Lewis said.
Emily Hinsdale spoke during public comment.
“Over a hundred people have died on Hillsborough County roads so far in 2025, 18 percent of those on City of Tampa-owned roads. And today we are here to prohibit wheelies,” Hinsdale said.
The city council voted down the current form of the ordinance, with one council member proposing a public workshop discussing an ordinance in April.