Jacksonville City Council Notice Meeting on E-Bike Safety Legislation - August 17, 2026

Councilmember Boylan convened a notice meeting to discuss proposed e-bike legislation, aiming to establish reasonable safety rules for e-bike users, pedestrians, and motorists. The bill was developed with input from the Office of General Counsel, local stakeholders, and a review of ordinances from other Florida jurisdictions. Key topics included speed limits on sidewalks, a minimum age for operators, enforcement mechanisms, and the role of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) in supporting the ordinance.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mary Noonan presented findings from a recent study of crashes at the Beaches, noting difficulty in identifying e-bike incidents from JSO reports (hand-sorted ~500 reports). She emphasized the need for law enforcement education to improve crash data collection and noted many crashes involved riders under 18.
• Ernest Smith (Chair, Urban Core CPAC) questioned the enforcement "teeth" of the ordinance, asking how JSO would enforce new rules given their primary crime-fighting responsibilities. He suggested community service officers could assist.
• Tanner Pletzky (Junior Bike/Ped Coordinator) supported the bill as a tool for public education, noting that lack of a city ordinance contributes to misuse. He cautioned that 20 mph on sidewalks is still very fast and distinguished between bike lanes/roadways and sidewalks/shared use paths. He also noted that many e-bikes sold directly to consumers are intended to be modified, undermining class classifications.
• Lauren (from Bike Walk Jacksonville) expressed general support but raised concerns about the proposed 10 mph speed limit, noting that even regular cyclists average 10–15 mph. She urged that the bill not burden lawful e-bike users and suggested that many reported issues stem from e-motorcycles rather than true e-bikes.
• Matt (from Planning Department) suggested tying the bill to the city's Vision Zero effort and supported the proposed definitions (Class 1, 2, 3). He noted that Class 3 e-bikes (up to 28 mph) might be better excluded.

Discussion Items

• Bill Overview (Corey Milo, Office of General Counsel): The ordinance defines e-bike classes, shared use paths, and sets regulations: e-bikes may operate on bike lanes, paths, sidewalks, and roadways; on sidewalks and shared use paths, a 10 mph speed limit applies, and riders must yield to pedestrians and provide an audible signal when passing. No person under 11 may operate an e-bike; helmets required under 16; passengers only if bike has designated seat; proper lighting; and a prohibition on modifications that exceed manufacturer speed. Enforcement is a class C offense (fine up to $100, up to 60 days incarceration, though incarceration not intended). A parental responsibility clause was included.
• JSO Concerns: Councilmember Boylan reported that JSO stated they cannot support the bill if it retains (1) the 10 mph speed limit on sidewalks (preferring the current state statute of 28 mph) and (2) the age restriction. JSO indicated difficulty in estimating riders' ages and preferred no age limit, leaving that to parental responsibility.
• Councilmember Reactions:
  • Councilmember Salem opposed an age limit, stating it is a parental responsibility and citing examples of mature 9-year-olds and reckless 16-year-olds. He supported removing the age limit.
  • Councilmember Peluso agreed with removing the age limit, but stressed retaining helmet requirements under 16 and ensuring scooter/bike share companies update their apps with new rules.
  • Councilmember Boylan shared three personal incidents (crashes, reckless riding) to illustrate the need for education and enforcement.
  • Councilmember Pulusso (joining late) indicated a preference for a single bill covering both e-bikes and scooters but deferred to the current singular focus.
• Speed Limit Compromise: Councilmembers discussed adjusting the sidewalk speed limit from 10 mph to 20 mph, which aligns with the typical maximum speed of Class 1 and 2 e-bikes. Councilmember Boylan committed to discussing this compromise with JSO.

Key Outcomes

• Age Limit Removed: The proposed minimum age of 11 will be struck from the bill, based on JSO's opposition and council consensus that it should be a parental decision.
• Speed Limit Under Negotiation: Councilmember Boylan will revisit JSO to propose a 20 mph speed limit on sidewalks as a compromise on the sidewalk speed limit. The bill currently proposes 10 mph; council favored 20 mph to align with state statutes and e-bike capabilities.
• Enforcement & Education Enhancement: Councilmember Boylan will work with JSO to incorporate an optional safety class (similar to Fernandina Beach's model) that allows violators to attend a training video instead of paying a fine.
• Future Scope: The bill will remain focused solely on e-bikes, but councilmembers agreed to consider later legislation addressing scooters and e-motorcycles, potentially using this ordinance as a template.
• Next Steps: Councilmember Boylan will direct Corey Milo to draft a substitute bill reflecting the above changes, then reintroduce it after confirming JSO's position on the 20 mph speed limit.