Bonita Springs council asks staff, sheriff’s office to craft e-bike rules after safety concerns

City councilmembers asked staff to prepare a local ordinance making sidewalk e-bike operation subject to a 15 mph speed limit and to map downtown sidewalks as "pedal-only" zones after months of complaints about device speeds and sidewalk conflicts.

Councilman Corey opened the item asking the city to treat electric bicycles the same as manual bicycles in pedestrian-heavy areas by requiring riders to pedal (not use the motor) in designated zones. Staff told the council state law allows local regulation but requires any local e-bike speed restriction to be set at 15 miles per hour. The staff memo referenced Collier County’s recently amended rules as an example.

During discussion, councilmembers repeatedly emphasized enforcement practicality. Councilmember Jesse (surname not specified) urged the council to consult the Lee County Sheriff’s Office about staffing and enforcement logistics; he warned a citywide sidewalk speed limit could be “unenforceable” without adequate police resources. Other councilmembers suggested starting with a downtown pilot (Terry Street to Bonita Beach Road) and then expanding an approach if it proved effective.

Staff proposed a draft approach: a citywide 15 mph limit for e-bikes on sidewalks, with downtown sidewalks designated as pedal-only zones (and a 15 mph limit where bikes are allowed to remain on sidewalks). Council asked staff to return with a proposed ordinance that includes maps of the affected sidewalks, input from the Sheriff’s Office on enforcement burden and suggestions from FDOT if state rules affect local authority.

Council also discussed micro‑mobility enforcement challenges beyond e-bikes—silent electric dirt bikes and scooters that can exceed safe speeds—and asked staff to consider device classification and age-related rules in the draft ordinance. No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; council direction was to develop proposed language and a map for a future meeting.