Fort Myers Beach panel backs recommendation to allow bikes, e-bikes on marked shared sidewalks

The Fort Myers Beach Public Safety Committee voted Feb. 20 to send Town Council a recommendation to rescind the town ordinance banning e-bikes on sidewalks and to create marked shared sidewalk lanes from Times Square to Red Coconut.

The recommendation, approved by the committee, asks for temporary painted markings that separate a three-foot bike path (on the sidewalk) from a larger pedestrian space, repeated signage that instructs riders to “go with the flow of traffic,” and a later, more permanent redesign if Lee County resurfaces Estero Boulevard. Committee members described the painted-striping option as a short-term measure and a railing or reconfigured curb-and-bike-lane as a longer-term, higher-cost solution.

The committee’s proposal would allow both regular bicycles and rental e-bikes on the marked sidewalk portion, set a suggested speed limit for sidewalk riding (committee members discussed “no more than 10 miles an hour”), and call for designated “no-ride” zones in high-congestion areas such as in front of Margaritaville and Times Square where cyclists would be required to dismount and walk. The committee also directed staff to produce a small map of the exact locations for the proposed restrictions and to contact rental companies so riders will be informed of the town rules.

Lieutenant Chitwood of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, answering committee questions about enforcement and incidents, said the office had “none that have come up to this level” of formal complaints but noted questions have come to the sheriff’s office about where e-bikes may be ridden. The lieutenant also reported a recent sidewalk bicycle accident involving a rented e-bike in which the rider was injured and transported by ambulance; no other parties were reported injured and no field sobriety tests were done, according to the report to the committee.

Committee members discussed two main design options: (1) a short-term shared-sidewalk marking splitting the width (committee discussion suggested roughly 30 percent of the sidewalk width for bikes and the remainder for pedestrians, with a working number of about a 3-foot bike lane and approximately 5 feet for pedestrians) and (2) a longer-term narrowing of sidewalks to create a protected bike lane in the street with rumble-strip separation. Costs, state and county approval, and maintenance were cited as constraints; committee members noted parts of Estero Boulevard are under state or county control and would require FDOT/Lee County DOT review before permanent work could be done.

The committee recorded a motion that staff prepare the written recommendation and present it to Town Council at its March 3 meeting. A committee member moved. Another member seconded. The chair called for the question and the motion passed on an affirmative voice vote.

The motion includes several near-term and longer-term steps: rescind the local ordinance that prohibits e-bikes on sidewalks (ordinance number not specified), authorize marked shared sidewalks from Times Square to Red Coconut as Phase 1, require periodic signage about riding with traffic and speed guidance, contact rental companies to distribute town rules to customers, and ask to be notified by Lee County when Estero Boulevard is scheduled for reconstruction so the committee can propose a Phase 2 redesign during that work.

Committee members said the markings are intended to encourage voluntary compliance and reduce conflicts between pedestrians and riders; they emphasized signage, outreach to rental firms and measured pilot markings before considering heavier infrastructure such as railings or full street reallocations. The committee will measure sidewalk widths and prepare a map to accompany the written recommendation to Town Council.

What’s next: staff will draft the formal recommendation and supporting materials for the March 3 council meeting, measure sidewalks for exact lane widths, and reach out to rental companies and Lee County for coordination.