Gov. DeSantis vetoes Florida e-bike safety bill, debate continues

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WINK) — Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill late this week that would have created new statewide safety rules for e-bike riders.

The decision comes as Florida continues to see serious e-bike crashes. Many say something needs to change.

Long before the veto, e-bike safety was already a topic of conversation at WINK Listens.

Rick Nowall, a Cape Coral resident, came to share his concerns at our Cape Coral WINK Listens after seeing what he calls dangerous riding on local roads.

"Something needs to be done about the e-bikes," Nowall said.

Those concerns have only grown as Florida has seen serious e-bike crashes.

"I believe this is a worthy topic, along with everybody else that probably feels the same way," Nowall said.

DeSantis vetoed Senate Bill 382, a bipartisan bill that would have required e-bike riders to slow down near pedestrians on sidewalks and give an audible warning before passing. The governor said the bill would be difficult to enforce, especially since many e-bikes don't have speedometers.

Terrence McLaughlin, president of the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, says while they don't have a position on this piece of legislation, that's a fair concern.

"I think our issue partially is that because speedometers are not required on e-bikes, there's really no way to enforce something like that," McLaughlin said.

"To slow down to 10 miles an hour within 50 feet of a pedestrian on a bike path, you know, that's awfully subjective," McLaughlin said.

Nowall tells WINK News that while he has concerns about e-bikes, education is key.

"If she ever decides that she wants one, I'm going to teach her the rules of law. I feel that's my responsibility," Nowell said.

While this bill won't become law, the debate over how to keep Florida's roads, bike lanes and sidewalks safe is far from over. The governor's veto means any new statewide e-bike safety requirements will have to be refiled in a future legislative session.