New Florida eBike law sets speed limit, establishes taskforce
A Florida eBike law that creates rules for behaviour around pedestrians is set to take effect on July 1. The law also sets the stage for further legislation after data collection and a taskforce meeting.
Senate Bill 382 passed by a unanimous vote of the House on March 9. The Senate approved it on Feb. 25. The Bill requires eBike riders to yield to pedestrians and announce when they pass on a recreational trail or sidewalk. It also requires the eBike rider to slow to less than 10 miles per hour when within 50 feet of a pedestrian on a sidewalk or trail.
While the new law specifies a speed limit around pedestrians, it does appear that more legislation may be in the works.
The other part of the Bill sets up a Micromobility Device Safety Taskforce that will meet and submit a report with recommendations for further legislation by October. The taskforce will be made up of representatives from state transportation agencies, law enforcement, local government agencies, the eBike industry and medical and safety fields.
The taskforce has until Oct. 1 to produce the report.
The final part of the Bill requires Florida Highway Patrol and local law enforcemment agencies to submit a report of all traffic crashes that involve a micromobility device to the state.
The report needs to include the date and time of each crash, the rider’s age, the eBike Class, and if the rider had a valid Florida driver’s license or permit. The report must included data from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 and is due by October. 15.
