BOCA RATON, Fla. (CBS12) — They can travel as fast as 28 mph, don’t require a driver’s license and have quickly become one of the most popular ways for children and teens to get around.
From neighborhood streets and bike paths to school routes, e-bikes are becoming a familiar sight across Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. But as their popularity grows, so do the crashes, complaints and questions surrounding who’s responsible when something goes wrong.
The CBS12 News I-Team examined recent local crashes, Florida law, court records and enforcement efforts to better understand what’s legal, who’s being held accountable and why Florida’s attempt at a statewide response ultimately stalled.
What’s a legal e-bike?
One of the first things the I-Team found is that many people use the term “e-bike” to describe several different types of electric-powered bikes—even though they aren’t treated the same under Florida law.
At Epic E-Rides in Boca Raton, owner Fari Amirian said helping customers understand those differences has become an important part of the buying process…