Miami commissioners unanimously approved a ban last week that prohibits e-bikes and electric scooters from riding on city sidewalks. The rule takes effect the first week of November.
Under the new ordinance, riders must use a bike lane or the street. Speeds are capped at 20 miles per hour. Miami Police Chief Edwin Lopez said violators could face a $100 citation, but he described tickets as a last resort. Officers will first try to win compliance through education, he said.
The measure was championed by Commissioner Rolando Escalona, who worked with Lopez on social media to highlight crashes at a busy Miami intersection. The push follows several incidents involving e-bikes and scooters across South Florida. Earlier this month, a 26-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run crash near Northwest Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street.
At the meeting, resident Matthew Gultanoff asked commissioners to clarify that the speed limit applies only to city-controlled roads, not county or state roads. Resident Johnathan Barahona, who walks to work, said he supports the change because he often has to watch for riders approaching from behind.
For residents, the change means pedestrians should expect fewer fast-moving riders on sidewalks, while riders who commute by e-bike or scooter will need to adjust their routes.
