Ocoee city leaders are considering an ordinance to regulate micromobility devices, such as e-bikes and electric scooters, following a rise in crashes, injuries, and fatalities across the U.S. The first reading of the ordinance passed Tuesday night, with the second reading scheduled for July 7. Ocoee police Chief Vincent Ogburn brought the proposal to city commissioners. “I think it’s a county-wide issue. We’ve recently seen a huge uptick in the amount of micromobility devices such as the electric scooters, electric bicycles, and it’s just out of control. This is an ordinance that’s put in place where we can kind of enforce these violations, or stop them and educate them,” Ogburn said. Ocoee resident Jeri Comeau shared her thoughts on the matter. “We can’t tell them, ‘Hey, you know, be careful, blah blah blah,’ because they’re gonna do what they want to do,” Comeau said. City leaders said the ordinance would allow them to at least cap riding speeds and address safety hazards. “You don’t ride them down the sidewalk at 20 miles an hour. You’re a certain age; just like your bicycle laws, you should have a helmet on your head. Doing wheelies, going through an intersection is not how you ride them either. You have to obey the laws, you have to respect pedestrians that are on the sidewalk as well,” Ogburn said. The proposed ordinance includes specific regulations, such as prohibiting the operation of micromobility devices on sidewalks or shared-use paths at speeds exceeding 10 miles per hour. Violators would face fines and penalties. “We just want people to be safe and if you’re going to buy them, ride them the right way. We’ve had several crashes with these e-bikes. Thankfully, none seriously hurt, but they could hurt somebody,” Ogburn said. The second reading of the ordinance is set for July 7.
OCOEE, Fla. —
Ocoee city leaders are considering an ordinance to regulate micromobility devices, such as e-bikes and electric scooters, following a rise in crashes, injuries, and fatalities across the U.S.
The first reading of the ordinance passed Tuesday night, with the second reading scheduled for July 7.
Ocoee police Chief Vincent Ogburn brought the proposal to city commissioners.
“I think it’s a county-wide issue. We’ve recently seen a huge uptick in the amount of micromobility devices such as the electric scooters, electric bicycles, and it’s just out of control. This is an ordinance that’s put in place where we can kind of enforce these violations, or stop them and educate them,” Ogburn said.
Ocoee resident Jeri Comeau shared her thoughts on the matter.
“We can’t tell them, ‘Hey, you know, be careful, blah blah blah,’ because they’re gonna do what they want to do,” Comeau said.
City leaders said the ordinance would allow them to at least cap riding speeds and address safety hazards.
“You don’t ride them down the sidewalk at 20 miles an hour. You’re a certain age; just like your bicycle laws, you should have a helmet on your head. Doing wheelies, going through an intersection is not how you ride them either. You have to obey the laws, you have to respect pedestrians that are on the sidewalk as well,” Ogburn said.
The proposed ordinance includes specific regulations, such as prohibiting the operation of micromobility devices on sidewalks or shared-use paths at speeds exceeding 10 miles per hour. Violators would face fines and penalties.
“We just want people to be safe and if you’re going to buy them, ride them the right way. We’ve had several crashes with these e-bikes. Thankfully, none seriously hurt, but they could hurt somebody,” Ogburn said.
The second reading of the ordinance is set for July 7.