Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Micromobility Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sunny Isles Beach commission directs staff to draft e-bike ordinance to curb sidewalk riding
Summary
Commissioners agreed to direct staff to draft an ordinance adding pedal‑assist e‑bikes to the city’s scooter rules, with the same age and identification requirements and an option to ban sidewalk riding; staff will prepare language for first reading in June and second reading in July.
The City of Sunny Isles Beach commission directed staff during a workshop to draft an ordinance that would add pedal‑assist electric bicycles (e‑bikes) to the city’s existing motorized scooter regulations, and to include the option of banning e‑bike use on sidewalks.
Vice Mayor opened the discussion saying the measure was intended to “close the loophole” that encourages riders to switch from scooters to e‑bikes, and asked whether commissioners were “on board with adding the e‑bikes” on a similar timeline as the scooter rules. City Attorney Allan told the commission that state law treats pedal‑assist e‑bikes differently from electric dirt bikes that must be registered and operated like motor vehicles, but said local governments may adopt age and identification requirements and may prohibit sidewalk use. “Wherever a bicycle can go generally e‑bikes can go as well,” Allan said, and added that “if you want them off the sidewalk, you can have them off the sidewalks.”
Commissioner Joseph cited a city survey showing strong resident support for restricting sidewalk riding, saying, “I believe it was 70% that… asked that that happen,” and argued that e‑bikes have produced more pedestrian incidents than scooters. Several commissioners said they preferred consistency with the existing scooter ordinance for messaging and enforcement — matching the same minimum age and requiring identification — while also asking police for input on practical enforcement and on whether any exceptions should apply for public‑safety operations.
The commission reached consensus to have staff draft proposed ordinance language that would: add pedal‑assist e‑bikes to the motorized scooter code, include age and identification provisions consistent with the current scooter rules, and include a ban on sidewalk use for the commission to review. Staff said it would present the draft for first reading in June and second reading in July so the rules could be in place before the school year begins.
The commission did not take a formal vote; the action was a direction to staff to draft ordinance language and return for formal readings.
