Cocoa Beach adopts e-bike ordinance after extended public debate, sets local limits and education push

The Cocoa Beach City Commission on a unanimous vote adopted Ordinance 1700, establishing local rules for electric bicycles and similar micro-mobility devices on specified rights of way and directing staff to continue education and enforcement efforts.

The ordinance, introduced as a red-line update to the city code (new section 22-2.5), limits the designated rights of way where the rules apply to a short list of corridors and sets behavioral rules intended to curb reckless riding. Police Chief West Mullins, who appeared as the staff representative on enforcement issues, told the panel the city must “decide where we wanna be on that spectrum” between protecting public safety and avoiding undue infringement on riders’ rights.

Longtime community member Byron Evitz, who served on the e-bike task force, urged a practical approach he summed up as “pass wide, pass loud, pass slow,” and praised a 15-mph cap included in the draft as a reasonable safety standard. “So 15 miles an hour, that’s a win in this amendment,” Evitz said. Task-force discussion also supported a 50-foot proximity rule to prevent riders from raising wheels near people or vehicles.

The commission’s adopted language narrows where the law applies (the draft named corridors such as Minuteman Causeway, Brevard Avenue, Cedar Avenue and Catalina Road) and ties helmet requirements to state law rather than imposing a citywide helmet mandate. Staff and the chief noted that enforcement authority varies by location — motorists and riders on the road are subject to state statutes, while sidewalk enforcement is more limited — and urged the measure be treated as a pilot that can be tweaked after implementation.

Several public commenters and safety advocates pressed for broader education and clearer enforcement. Greg Kern of BikeWalk Central Florida said enforcement capacity matters and recommended combining education, engineering and enforcement as the city implements the ordinance. Commission members and staff announced outreach is already under way through school registration events, and cited Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization resources to provide classroom and community education.

The measure passed with no recorded no votes. Commissioners and staff said they would monitor results and consider adjustments at the second reading or afterward if unintended enforcement issues arise.

What’s next: The commission adopted the red-line version as presented and directed staff and the city attorney to consider suggested tweaks before the next hearing/second reading and to continue the stated education campaign with local schools and community partners.