ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s an issue Orange County commissioners say they’re seeing pop up across their communities: growing concerns over e-bikes and other micromobility devices.
During the county meeting Tuesday, leaders discussed putting together a safety study for such devices, including checking on what could be enforced on a county level. The issue of micromobility devices—such as e-bikes, e-scooters, and kick scooters is causing a stir of problems; Commissioner Nicole Wilson said she has heard from her constituents. This led her to bring the discussion to Tuesday’s commissioners meeting about possible safety requirements, a study, or enforcement.
“I heard a lot of issues and concerns about the use of micromobility vehicles, motorized vehicles on sidewalks, trails, on the roads. It didn’t seem like we had a lot of safety mechanisms in place,” said Wilson.
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Trooper Steve says although there are no age restrictions, there are still rules. “As an e-bike rider, you should be in that bicycle lane. We have to remember a sidewalk is designed for a pedestrian,” he said.
Different classifications for e-bikes also mean they have different maximum speeds, ranging around 20 mph. Some leaders mentioned the safety issues they’ve seen or dealt with, like deaths or those not wearing safety helmets.
“These kids can jailbreak the scooters. I don’t know how they do it, but they’re able to take off speed safeguards and get them to go 40 mph,” said Commissioner Mike Scott.
After almost being hit by an e-bike while on a morning run, Linda Shibley, who is in her 70s, created a change petition about the matter that’s garnered over 900 signatures. She hopes for an aggressive county ordinance.
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“When you have someone 60, 70, 80 years old that’s struck by one of these vehicles, they won’t just bounce up and continue their walk. Their lifestyle will be totally devastated,” said Shibley.
This discussion, leaders say, will be the first of many for a long-term solution—talking of meeting with more county administration, the sheriff’s department, and the school board to gather more information on potential policy options on a county level, even a possible certification.
“Rather that looks like something that is an enforceable action or something we can do with installing signage, installing additional raised crosswalks,” said Wilson.
Shibley believes, “Now is the time Orange County steps up.”
The Orange County mayor said leaders will start to have more conversations with different agencies to see what can be done on a county level, and will meet back in the spring to discuss it more.
Orange County is not the only local government looking at this issue. News 6 has reported that the city of Edgewater considered a ban on e-bikes on sidewalks and public parks, but eventually voted against it, and in Flagler County, the city of Palm Coast was looking at an ordinance that would allow law enforcement to issue fines and even impound e-bikes.