DeLand city commissioners advanced an ordinance Monday to ban electric bikes and scooters from downtown sidewalks. The ordinance, which must still be heard a second time before being adopted, would also require helmets for e-bike users under the age of 18.
The discussion comes as local and state regulations for micromobility devices are still in flux. Some local governments in Central Florida have e-bike rules in place, like Orange and Osceola counties; others are working to enact their own. In Brevard County on Wednesday, Satellite Beach council members will consider an ordinance to define and regulate “micromobility and related devices.”
Meanwhile, state lawmakers have approved legislation seeking to further standardize regulations. The bill currently awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature would create a new Micromobility Device Safety Task Force, whose members would study and recommend improvements to the state’s regulatory framework.
Lay of the land
Electric micromobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters are small, low-speed transportation devices powered by electricity, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation…