WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) -E-bikes have become a fast and popular way to get around Walton County, but county leaders say they also come with growing safety concerns.
Tuesday, commissioners took their first look at a proposed ordinance aimed at making e-bikes safer on county trails, sidewalks and other public spaces.
The draft would ban Class 3 e-bikes from county trails, set minimum ages for riders, require some riders to carry identification and require DOT-approved helmets on Class 3 e-bikes. It would also prohibit dangerous riding behaviors like weaving, racing and distracted riding.
“The concern is there for safety,” said Dan Curry, the Walton County District 1 commissioner. “A lot of these folks, again, didn’t have helmets on. It looked like kids. There’s a lot that needs to be considered in this ordinance instead of just pushing something through just to push it through.”
Under the proposal, children under 15 could only ride Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Riders under 16 would not be allowed to operate a Class 3 e-bike.
“I think that’s a good rule,” said Jace Lee, an e-bike rider visiting from Kansas City, “they can go pretty fast, so putting an age limit on it would stop 11, 12, 13-year-olds from riding 20, 25 miles per hour down the street.”
Before the proposal moves forward, commissioners say they would have to figure out how it would be enforced.
“What are we going to get, you know? Are the deputies going to get on e-bikes or radar detectors?” said Curry, “So I just don’t know how they’re going to do that.”
Commissioners plan to work through the details before taking any action.
“There’s so much that needs to be defined in this ordinance that wasn’t. I feel we need to take a step back and at least have the sheriff’s department sit at the table with us,” Curry said.
Commissioners expect to revisit the proposal in the coming months.
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