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Mayor: New state e-bike rules due July 1; Pensacola attorney preparing companion ordinance for council
Summary
Mayor Sarno said a new state law expected July 1 will set a 10 mph speed limit for motorized bikes near pedestrians and require trail yielding; he said the city attorney has a near-final draft of a local companion ordinance to bring to council in September.
Mayor Sarno told attendees that, assuming the governor signs the measure, a new state law effective July 1 will set a 10 mph speed limit for motorized bikes on sidewalks or pedestrian areas when a walker is within 50 feet, require bicyclists to yield to pedestrians on shared trails or park paths, and classify violations as a non-moving traffic offense with a $30 fine.
He said the city attorney's office has prepared a near-final draft of a companion local ordinance so the city can make the state provisions enforceable locally; Sarno said the goal would be to present that ordinance to the city council in September.
Why it matters: The change will affect riders of e-bikes and similar motorized devices in parks and on shared paths and will require local code updates for enforcement. The mayor noted some parks have seen motorized vehicles cutting trails and said the city has been preparing regulations and will fold the new state law into the draft companions.
Next steps: Final internal review of the companion ordinance is expected in about a week, city staff said; the administration aims to bring the ordinance to the council in September for consideration.
Speakers quoted: Mayor Sarno.
Ending: City staff plan to finalize the draft companion ordinance and present it to council after internal review and alignment with the new state statute.
