Florida lawmakers move forward with e-bike safety bill

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Florida lawmakers are advancing a bill to improve e-bike safety, requiring riders to slow down on sidewalks and shared paths when pedestrians are nearby, as the state leads the nation in cyclist fatalities.

On Thursday, the Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy unanimously voted to advance a bill focused on e-bike safety. The proposed legislation aims to require e-bike riders to reduce their speed to under 10 miles per hour on sidewalks and shared-use paths when people are within 50 feet.

The discussion of safety improvements comes as Florida continues to lead the country in cyclist deaths. In Lee County alone, there were 334 bicycle crashes and nine fatalities in 2024.

Many vehicles commonly referred to as e-bikes are actually closer to electric mopeds or motorcycles capable of reaching speeds of up to 65 miles per hour. The state also aims to clarify how electric transportation fits into Florida’s traffic laws, as confusion grows over where e-bikes should be.

People in Cape Coral, like Mario Failla, say they feel these safety improvements are a good idea, "You don't want to see anybody hurt. That's the bottom line," Failla said.

The state is also considering adding electric scooters to the bill. Lawmakers emphasize that they are not trying to ban these devices but believe that better education and added safety measures are necessary.

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