You Asked for It: Riding Smart

Safety and legal guidelines for electric rideables

Older children, teenagers and young adults zipping by on electric bikes, electric scooters or motorized bikes are becoming a common sight within our communities. What rules and regulations should drivers, parents and kids be aware of regarding these rideables?

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Media Relations Manager Christian Hancock, there is no specific legislation pertaining to electric rideables, and, therefore, operators are expected to follow the same traffic laws concerning bicycles, as detailed in Florida State Statute. While state statute requires youths under the age of 16 to wear a helmet, no licensing requirements exist for electric bikes, scooters or motorized bicycles.

Where speed limits are concerned, Hancock shared the following: “There are no specific speed limits for bicycles, again, riders are expected to follow the rules of the road occupying lanes of travel as it relates to speed and traffic control devices.”

Readers can review the state’s bicycle regulations in the Florida State Statutes at the following link:
www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.2065.html