Since Dec. 1, 41 incidents involving e-bikes and scooters have resulted in injuries in Orange County. For one Lake Nona mother, whose teenage son was struck and killed while riding his e-bike on Mother's Day, something needs to change. What Orange County leaders are considering.
With summer break approaching, the Oviedo Police Department is taking a proactive stance on e-bike safety — and they want kids and parents to know the rules before someone gets hurt.
City code already bars bicycles, scooters, and skateboards on downtown sidewalks, and commissioners are considering whether to explicitly add e-bikes to that list.
MetroPlan Orlando is moving forward with a pilot program to give middle and high school students free e-bike safety training, responding to growing community concern about collisions and risky riding behavior.
Florida lawmakers moved ahead Thursday with a proposal to get cyclists on e-bikes to slow down around pedestrians and make other safety improvements, although many suggested the effort should cover people using electric scooters as well.
Orange County Public Schools has received reports of unsafe incidents involving e-bikes and scooters. These concerns have prompted discussions on how to protect students and others nearby.
Multiple students in Oviedo were recently cited after police say complaints from the community led to an enforcement effort at Jackson Heights Middle School this month.
Tonight, the Winter Garden city commission is set to vote on an ordinance that would restrict e-bike use on the West Orange Trail, a popular spot for walking, jogging, and biking.
E-bikes and other micromobility devices are popular, but Orange County commissioners say more residents are complaining about safety issues with the people using the bikes. Now the county is trying to figure out what it can do about it.
“What we’re seeing are kids in packs of e-bikes, ignoring the rules of the roadway,” said Winter Springs Police Chief Matt Tracht. “You have to stop at stop signs. You have to operate it like you’re operating a vehicle.”
Here's why an Orange County woman is advocating for increased safety education for children who use electric vehicles to get to school.
DeLand city leaders are tackling what they call a growing problem with teens and e-bikes. City commissioners tell News 6 a new ordinance is coming that could regulate how and where riders can use e-bikes.
The city of Edgewater is moving forward with a ban on e-bikes and electric scooters in public parks and on sidewalks, joining a growing list of Central Florida communities taking a tougher stance on the increasingly popular devices.
