Total e-bike ban after a fatality in Key Biscayne, FLA

[kevinmccune]

that type of legislation sounds like the "concerned" moms at pta or town hall meetings most of these probably wouldnt spit on a homeless person that was burning on the sidewalk,always the mantra,"safety" safety" its a miracle us jellyfish are still around, the point is the very wealthy always seem to be able to sidestep the rules,go to an event with a rich man mumbling about bootstraps and skin color and on the other side an ordinary eloquent speaker extolling the virtues of sharing and being responsible with the environment we all share, betcha mr warbucks has a larger crowd. and of course we can always label such"omni" legislation as "concerned karens for socialism"

 

[6zfshdb]

IMO, this unfortunate fatality was caused by a kid on a bike. Why not address the "kid on bike" issue specifically, instead of using a shotgun law to kill ALL electric mobility devices?

Several neighborhoods in my part of the state had a problem with mini bikes and ATV's on town streets and sidewalks. Local laws were passed but largely ignored. As soon as the police began impounding the bikes, the problem disappeared.

 

[jimix]

It's a shame that the leaders in Key Biscayne are such hypocrites that they ban e-bikes and scooters but not cars, which kill many many many more people. Their action is likely to make themselves less safe, as these kids will likely just drive now or get parents to drive them. Of course, Key Biscayne is not known for harboring many intellectual types. The heat makes it harder to think (seriously, studies show people score worse on tests when it is hotter).

 

[indianajo]

I ride an electric bike on sidewalks, especially during rush hour when about 20000 cars an hour use the one lane roads near my grocery store and home depot. When I encounter the extremely rare pedestrian, I wait in a driveway or yard for them to pass. Riding any bike past a pedestrian on a sidewalk can be dangerous. Electricity has nothing to do with the hazard. Speed does, which can be excessive even foot powered.
Key Biscayne has nothing to fear from me. Since the courts exonerated a man who executed a pedestrian for being armed with a bag of candy, I have not traveled in Florida. Nor will I.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

A few thoughts:

Not wearing a helmet doesn't make any accident your fault. And while I am a heretic in many ways I think that it is often reasonable to ride without one.

Sometimes riding on a sidewalk is the only safe option.

The Super 73 is an electric minibike or moped, not an electric bicycle. And I think it reasonable to have distinct regulations for machines that you can easily visually distinguish.

Another story about why We Can't Have Nice Things.

 

[why?]

One of these kids was complaining that he just got his Super 73, and now it’s banned. The Super 73 ”claims” that it has multiple classes, including an “off-road” mode that provides a throttled speed of 28+ mph. It’s one of those mini bike type ”ebikes” with superfluous pedals.

portion of article ..

"Elected officials for two years struggled – without success – to rein in the battery-powered vehicles that can hit speeds of 28 mph. They are mostly operated by children to zip around the community, often ignoring safety rules and menacing pedestrians, residents said."

"Several in the audience held signs reading “ban them,” some saying Key Biscayne had become the Wild West of micro-mobility devices."

"Mayor Joe Rasco, after the meeting, said Tallahassee needs to understand that Key Biscayne is in “a unique situation” with micro-mobility devices. “Not every community can afford these $3,000 vehicles kids are riding,” he said."​

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Would be interesting to know if the parents admitted it was just as much if not more their fault. Even more so if they made it known they were disposing of their son's ebike ... seems like that's the least they could do.

 

[mschwett]

I'm lazy reader so I asked my phone and in British accent this was read audible to me.
Kind of confused now on what is legal age to ride electric bike.

hawaii’s e-bike law is actually pretty unusual - it basically says class 1 allowed everywhere bikes are, they have to be registered with honolulu, you have to be 18 to register, but a 15+ year old can ride it if it’s registered to a family member.

 

[BlackHand]

It's perfectly legal for a 5 year old to ride a 28mph ebike in FL as long as they have a helmet on. Having a throttle means they don't even have to be able to reach the pedals. State law does not provide much

At just over 1.25 sq mi, if they are serious about safety they would ban all vehicles, provide secure parking at the village entrance, and set up free 24/7 shuttles paid for with tourist tax $.

 

[PedalUma]

There is a change happening just as with horses and cars just over 100 years ago. Change often means conflict. They need to remove car infrastructure and install bike infrastructure.

But the auto-evolution was not exactly smooth. In 1903, it was announced in a Marin County newspaper that the conservative Rev. Crosby had asked the Board of Supervisors to enact an ordinance excluding autos from Marin County.
“It has its drawbacks and limitations,” he said of the car. “It will maim people. It has a future, but it’s place is not in Marin.”

When Petaluma met the ‘Horseless Carriage’

After initial resistance, Petalumans took to the automobile despite predictions of its eventual demise.

www.petaluma360.com

 

[Mr. Coffee]

At just over 1.25 sq mi, if they are serious about safety they would ban all vehicles, provide secure parking at the village entrance, and set up free 24/7 shuttles paid for with tourist tax $.

Key Biscayne is, for all practical purposes, a wealthy suburb of Miami. And it is about a 55 mile drive from there to North Key Largo, the northernmost of what is considered the "Florida Keys".

 

[PatriciaK]

There is a change happening just as with horses and cars just over 100 years ago. Change often means conflict. They need to remove car infrastructure and install bike infrastructure.

But the auto-evolution was not exactly smooth. In 1903, it was announced in a Marin County newspaper that the conservative Rev. Crosby had asked the Board of Supervisors to enact an ordinance excluding autos from Marin County.
“It has its drawbacks and limitations,” he said of the car. “It will maim people. It has a future, but it’s place is not in Marin.”

When Petaluma met the ‘Horseless Carriage’

After initial resistance, Petalumans took to the automobile despite predictions of its eventual demise.

www.petaluma360.com

View attachment 171490

Bike infrastructure is not going to prevent 12 year olds from riding too fast for the conditions. I just don't know what those parents are thinking, providing kids with mini motorcycles capable of killing people, and turning them loose on the streets and sidewalks without any supervision. They ought to be held liable.

 

[Slaphappygamer]

Never went to Key West Florida.
If there local government can ban ebikes they are serious about safety I wonder what the consequences for drunk ebike riding and you kill a flamingo or pelicans.

Ban flamingos, of course!

 

[PedalUma]

I just don't know what those parents are thinking

There is talk around here of rider education. But schools are overburdened as it is. The next county South, Marin, has a sales tax that supports it. A state rep. there who covers up the coast wants to ban throttles for those under 16, but ghost pedaling does the same thing.

 

[Readytoride]

Rome said:
Never went to Key West Florida.
If there local government can ban ebikes they are serious about safety I wonder what the consequences for drunk ebike riding and you kill a flamingo or pelicans.

I'm guessing the above post was erased or changed, but just in case folks are wondering about the Florida keys (which are all so radically different they could be individual countries): Key West lives on bikes. Regular and electric. Easiest and fastest way to get around that Island. Electric carts are everywhere, too. Scooters as well. Cars there are a pain and streets are designed with stop signs at every corner.

Key West will never ban ebikes. Their entire economy is tourist driven, and ebike rentals and sales are part and parcel of this island's life.

 

[Readytoride]

PedalUma - that's a very pretty staged photo. Very interesting , too, since a pair put to a wagonette isn't supposed to be coachman driven as this photo implies. It's a sporting vehicle that is supposed to be owner driven. The leather top (used for bad weather) behind the driver's seat is a dead giveaway that this vehicle is only driven by the owner, not staff.

The car is very elegant as well. Any idea the make and model and year, especially as the steering wheel is on the right hand side? Had to be prior to 1915 if this is a US photo.

 

[why?]

It's perfectly legal for a 5 year old to ride a 28mph ebike in FL as long as they have a helmet on. Having a throttle means they don't even have to be able to reach the pedals. State law does not provide much

Neither a 5 year old or a 12 year old can pedal speed a kids bike at 28mph. Even 15mph is fast enough for kids that aren't yet a teenager.

We don't know how fast the 12yr kid was going when he hit her, but even 12mph could have resulted in her death. Dads don't set a good example when they only do rolling stops at a STOP sign.

Was training in a schoo bus driver and had to tell him way too many times to bring it to a complete STOP or you won't pass your bus driver test.

 

[LimboJim]

...sensible outlaws.

Great name for a band?

 

[None]

If you can afford a Super73 for your child, you can afford your insurance go up ten fold when accident occur and deemed your child responsible. That should have parents think twice before buying an ebike.

I'm not a proponent when it comes to mandatory insurance for ebikes,
but parents should be held accountable for the actions of their own child;
especially when traffic laws are not obeyed while operating vehicle on public roads.

 

[m@Robertson]

Worth mentioning is this is just the latest (and certainly the most unfortunate) salvo in an ongoing war against ebikes in that community. The press linked in this thread did mention an earlier fight, which I remember reading about back when it happened.

The whole civil financial responsibility thing is already 100% in place. Its just not reported on. The poor child who passed away on a Rad Runner was a passenger, and it has been reported the parents of the young rider paid a very large sum to the parents of the passenger. But ruinous financial settlements don't allow for shrieking headlines so we don't see them. So as usual no need for new laws in that regard. Just better journalism and more careful reading of what we are given.

 

[EMGX]

In Washington and maybe in most states there are already moped laws that with requirements and restrictions. Electric vs ICE are both covered in Washington without respect to whether or not the moped has pedals or if the physical shape is that of a bicycle, motorcycle or scooter. I don't know about Florida specifically but at least in Washington the existing laws are already in place and just need to be enforced. It doesn't appear that a Super 73 meets the moped safety equipment requirements so in practice it, and other "ebikes" with similar performance capabilities, shouldn't be allowed on paths/bikeways/trails nor should they be allowed on roads since they don't meet safety equipment requirements. In addition riders are required to wear a DOT approved helmet, not just a bicycle helmet.

And what's with blaming the victim because she wasn't wearing a helmet, if a runner or walker suffered a similar fate would they be blamed for not wearing a helmet also? How would you even know if the outcome would have been different if she was wearing a helmet? Local, state and federal authorities have the right and responsibility to regulate based on many factors, there isn't a reasonable expectations that "electric micromobility" devices should be excluded from regulatory oversight.

Moped Resource Sheet(RCW 46.04.304) "Moped" means a motorized device designed to travel with not more than three wheels in contact with the ground and having an electric or a liquid fuel motor with a cylinder displacement not exceeding fifty cubic centimeters which produces no more than two gross brake horsepower (developed by a prime mover, as measured by a brake applied to the driving shaft) that is capable of propelling the device at not more than thirty miles per hour on level ground. Examples: Use Cannot exceed 30 mph (RCW 46.04.304) May not be operated on a bicycle path or trail, bikeway, equestrian trail, or hiking or recreational trail (RCW 46.61.710) Cannot be ridden on sidewalks (RCW 46.61.710) Cannot be operated on fully controlled limited access highway(RCW 46.61.710) May park in valid moped (MP) parking (WAC 504-15-240) Removal of any muffling device or pollution control devise is unlawful (RCW 46.61.710)Licensing Valid Drivers License needed (RCW 46.20.500) Must be registered and display a valid license plate(RCW 46.61.710, RCW 46.16A.200 and 405) Insurance not required Equipment Requirements 2-3 wheels (RCW 46.04.304) Electric or liquid fuel motor (cylinder displacement of less than50cc, no more than 2 brake horsepower) (RCW 46.04.304) Must meet FMVSS for motor -driven cycle (RCW 46.61.720)which requires: o Two mirrors CFR 571.111 (RCW 46.37.530 and 46.37.539)o Brakes CFR 571.122 (RCW 46.37.527)o Controls CFR 571.123o Head light CFR 571.108 (RCW 46.37.523-524)o Tail light CFR 571.108 (RCW 46.37.050)o Brake light CFR 571.108 (RCW 46.37.525 & 070)o License plate light CFR 571.108 (RCW 46.37.050 and RCW 46.16.240)o Red reflector to the rear CFR 571.108 (RCW 46.37.525)o Tires CFR 571.119 & 120 (RCW 46.37.539)o Horn (RCW 46.37.539)o Muffler (RCW 46.37.539) The operator and any passenger are required to wear a USDOT approved helmet meeting the requirements outlined in 49 CFR571.218 (RCW 46.37.530). Windshield or eye protection (RCW 46.37.539)