Electric bikes have surged in popularity in Collier County, but with this rise comes safety concerns.
During their Tuesday morning meeting, Collier County commissioners addressed these issues by changing e-bike regulations.
Michelle Avola-Brown, executive director of the Naples Pathways Coalition, shared her perspective on the dangers of biking in the area.
“I was hit by a car a number of years ago when I was riding,” said Avola-Brown.
She acknowledged the growing trend of electric bikes, but expressed concerns about their safety.
She added, “When a driver who’s probably distracted nine times out of 10 and speeding, and then you’ve got a 30-40 mile an hour e-bike on the road too. It seems like a recipe for disaster.”
Collier County commissioners recognized these concerns and amended a 2022 ordinance to introduce new requirements for e-bike riders.
“We need to blend these, these bicycles, these e-bikes, these motorcycles, whatever we call them, to blend in with the traffic, obey the traffic laws and limit, you know, limit their ability to fly on the sidewalks where there’s not a bike lane,” said Commissioner Chris Hall of District 2.
Under the new ordinance, individuals younger than 16 are prohibited from riding a Class 3 e-bike, which can reach speeds up to 28 miles per hour. E-bike riders on sidewalks must not exceed 15 miles per hour, and those on Class 3 or higher e-bikes must use bike lanes whenever possible.
Avola-Brown views these changes as a positive step, but believes more can be done.
“I think it is a positive step. They felt they needed to do something to address the 40-mile-per-hour electric bike zooming down sidewalks. But I do think it needs to be tweaked, and I think that education is going to be far more important than an ordinance. Education is going to be key to getting compliance,” she said.
Commissioners indicated there will likely be an educational period before enforcing fines for ordinance violations. During this time, the sheriff’s office will work to inform the public about the new regulations.
