by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
City Council members on Tuesday, March 3, again discussed the use of E-bikes on Sanibel. Currently, only Class 1 bikes are allowed on the shared-use path, and the Council on Tuesday wanted to discuss Class 2 and Class 3 E-bikes.
“We call this a shared-use path. If we bring on the onslaught of E-bikes, it will be a bike lane,” Council member John Henshaw said to start the discussion. He then added, “If we open it up to other classes, we’re creating an attraction, and we don’t want more attractions.” Henshaw thinks many people will come over the causeway just to ride their E-bikes on the shared-use path.
“We’re putting our residents in danger,” Henshaw continued. “I’m very adamant about being against expanding [the E-bike classes]. Somehow, we have to control that. Those riding Class 2 and 3 bikes aren’t spending money on our island; they’re passing through. It’s going to be a disastrous event with many unintended consequences if we don’t deal with this today.”
Council member Richard Johnson said the focus should be on operator behavior, not the E-bike itself. He said people are using them for transportation. “We have a traffic problem on our island. Residents have found a way to get around the island. I want to advocate for our residents,” Johnson said.
Henshaw suggested requiring E-bike owners to obtain a license or pass, free for residents but at a cost for others. That allows an opportunity to educate riders when they get their license.
Mayor Mike Miller added that the paths are already crowded with Class 2 and 3 vehicles, and reminded Council members that they had previously voted to pause enforcement.
Police Chief Bill Dalton said the Rangers are not seeing overwhelming bad behavior. But during public comment, a citizen who said he lives on the bike path and spends a lot of time on his front porch noted that if the city wanted to deputize him to give tickets to E-bike speeders on the path, he could make the city a lot of money.
Dalton elaborated: “The majority of our accidents are self-induced. I don’t see speed as being the main issue,” and noted that enforcement has remained a challenge since the outset.
Rangers can issue an NTA (Notice to Appear), requiring the rider to pay a fine or appear in court, though Dalton said this has only happened once.
During further public comment, another citizen stated, “I’m surprised you’re even having this discussion because if these bikes were gas-powered, it would be no question. There’s no difference.”
Citizen Chet Sadler said they should strike the word “E-bike” and replace it with “motorcycle.”
Sadler, representing the Committee of the Islands, said two years ago, COTI did a survey and received 140 responses; 75 percent of them were against E-bikes. “In two years, we have had one citation? How can that be?” he asked. “There are a lot of tools out there that can be used for enforcement.”
Council unanimously voted (with Council member Laura DeBruce recused from both the discussion and the vote) to ask the City Manager to evaluate how Sanibel might provide registration for residents and businesses to control Class 1, 2, and 3 with the idea that Class 2 and 3 E-bikes will be allowed if they are registered.
This will come before the City Council again.
2026 Proposed Florida Legislation Related to Electric Bikes (E-Bikes)
The 2026 Legislative Session has seen two bills filed that, if approved, would regulate the use of electric bikes. The current version of House Bill 243 – Electric Bicycles and the current version of Senate Bill 382 – Electric Bicycles propose to:
• Require E-bike riders on shared paths to yield to pedestrians and to signal when passing, setting speed limits near pedestrians, creating a task force to improve regulations, and mandating that law enforcement report crashes.
• Prohibit persons operating an E-bike on an area designated for pedestrians from exceeding 10 mph when riding within 50 feet of a pedestrian.
• Create an Electric Bicycle Safety Task Force that is to recommend improvements to state law for the regulation of E-bikes to encourage the safe operation of E-bikes and prevent accidents/injuries. Specifically, the Task Force would be mandated to produce a report to the Governor and Legislature by October 1, 2026, with their recommendations.
• Establish requirements for law enforcement agencies/departments to record/report traffic crashes involving E-bikes. Reports are to include:
· Date/time of crash.
· The E-bike class that was involved in the crash.
· The age of the operator.
· If the operator had a valid driver’s license or permit at the time of the crash.
• Require each law enforcement agency/department to submit a report for all E-bike crashes that occurred within the jurisdiction from the time the law is enacted through September 30, 2026. The report must be submitted to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles by October 15, 2026.