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City advances first reading of ordinance setting e‑bike rules, 20 mph roadway limit and beach/trail restrictions
Summary
On first reading the commission approved an ordinance to define and regulate electric bicycles and personal mobility devices, setting a 20 mph roadway cap, 10 mph on trails and beaches, human‑powered limits on sidewalks and trails, and an educational enforcement rollout before citations.
The City Commission approved the first reading of Ordinance 2026‑08 to amend the city code to define electric bicycles and other personal mobility devices and to create enforceable rules for their use.
Manager Campbell and City Attorney Prince summarized the ordinance's key provisions: all riders must obey traffic control devices; a 20‑mph speed limit would apply on roadways and a 10‑mph limit on trails and the beach (the commission clarified that 10 mph applies on firm sand); sidewalks and multi‑use paths would require human‑powered operation only; city parks would generally prohibit such devices unless signage indicates otherwise, with beaches explicitly excluded from the term "recreational park" to allow limited beach operation under the 10‑mph beach rule. Violations could be cited as careless driving or with a $50 citation for other infractions, and an appeal process to the chief and special magistrate was included.
Police Chief Tambasco said enforcement will begin as an education campaign: officers will make initial contact, log name/time/date in the computer‑aided dispatch system and only issue citations for repeat offenders. Chief Tambasco outlined a three‑step approach for juveniles (education/contact, parent notification on repeat offense, then citation) and said patrol and bicycle officers will increase presence on the Greenway and beach. "We're not going to go out and enforce with giving citations, unless it's to repeat offenders," the chief said.
Commissioners raised enforcement and coordination concerns: ensuring outreach to schools and rental/bike shops, possible county coordination for roads that alternate city/county jurisdiction, accommodating ADA pedal‑assist devices, and whether signs on the Greenway and other access points need updating. Multiple commissioners and two public speakers supported the ordinance as a necessary safety measure for pedestrians and children.
A motion to approve the ordinance at first reading, including staff's two proposed edits (clarifying beaches and the recreational‑park definition), passed 5‑0. The ordinance will return for a second reading.
