AGENDA ITEM REPORT
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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES, BY AMENDING CHAPTER 15, "PARKS AND RECREATION," ARTICLE II, "RULES AND REGULATIONS," SECTION 15-21, "DEFINITIONS," TO ADD DEFINITIONS OF "ELECTRIC BIKE," "MOTORIZED MOBILITY DEVICE," AND "MOTORIZED SCOOTER;" AMENDING SECTION 15-25, "VEHICLES," SUBSECTION 15-25(B), "OPERATION," TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF ELECTRIC BICYCLES, MOTORIZED MOBILITY DEVICES, AND MOTORIZED SCOOTERS IN CITY-OWNED PARKS, EXCEPT AREAS FOR PARKING PURPOSES ONLY; AND AMENDING SECTION 15-37, "VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES." (FIRST READING)
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BACKGROUND:
The City Commission understands the safety hazards associated with electric bicycles, motorized mobility devices, and motorized scooters when the same are left unregulated. Section 15-25 of the City Code of Ordinances (the "City Code"), entitled "Vehicles," includes regulations and restrictions that apply in all City-owned parks, and Section 15-21 of the City Code includes definitions applicable to those regulations in City Code Section 15-25. Section 15-21 defines "vehicle" broadly, but does not expressly include electric bicycles, motorized mobility devices, and motorized scooters. Recent changes to Section 316.20655, Florida Statutes, and regulations imposed by neighboring cities prompted City staff to review the existing code provisions pertaining to electric bicycle regulations.
DISCUSSION:
The unregulated use of electric bicycles, motorized mobility devices, and motorized scooters on sidewalks, bike paths, greenways or trails within City-owned parks can create significant public health and safety risks due to the use of City parks by families, children, and sports organizations, and the higher speeds associated with electric bicycles.
A number of studies, including from the University of California at San Francisco, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Medical Journal JAMA Surgery, League of America Bicyclists, Journal of Clinical Medicine, and the Univers...
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