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e-bike safety

E-Bike Safety

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Safety for Electric Bicycles, Scooters, and Unicycles

Electric bikes and e-scooters continue to grow in popularity across Northeast Florida, especially among younger riders traveling through neighborhoods and to and from school. As use increases, education and safety awareness remain a priority concern for our communities.

e-bike e-scooter safety tips

Below are free resources to download, print, and share. To support the outreach and education efforts of our Northeast Florida District Two Traffic Safety Team, agencies, schools, and partners, we offer our NEW folded “E-Bike + E-Scooter Safety Tips” bi-fold flyers at no cost. District Two CTST members may click here to order online, while supplies last.

Help encourage safer riding habits and smarter choices, including:
• Helmet use and visibility
• Riding responsibly and obeying traffic laws
• Slowing down around pedestrians
• Hand signals and safe passing
• Staying alert and distraction-free
• Courtesy and shared responsibility on roads, sidewalks, and shared paths

The handout encourages riders to “Ride Smart” by focusing on safe behaviors that help prevent crashes and injuries. The materials are ideal for school programs, community events, youth outreach, law enforcement education efforts, neighborhood initiatives, and safety campaigns.

E-Bike Safety Materials

We have gathered e-bike safety recommendations, tips, and guidelines. Please use and share these materials, videos, and information to help improve safety and encourage safe use of e-bikes and other micromobility devices.

E-Bike Safety Discussion
Basic Safety Tips for Electric Device Users
e-bike safety tip card
4×6 Helmet and E-Bike Safety Tip Card
E-Bikes in Florida: Red-White-Blue Design
E-Bikes in Florida: Red-White-Blue Design [FDOT Target Zero America PDF]
E-bike Safety 8.5x11 Trifold Brochure ATAT thumbnail
E-Bikes in Florida: What Parents Should Know [FDOT Target Zero ATAT PDF]
Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow's Safety Reminders for Electric Bicycles and More
Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow‘s Safety Reminders for Electric Bicycles and More
Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow's Categories for Electric Bicycles and More
Know the Different Categories and Rules for Electric Bicycles & More
TraumaOne's Protect Your Brain E-Bike Safety
Protect Your Brain – E-Bike Safety from UF Health, TraumaOne
E-Bike Safety Road Rules
Classifications of E-Bikes
Fire Hazard Warning
E-Bike Study Jacksonville Beaches TPO 2026 Cover
North Florida TPO Beaches E-Bike Study [PDF]

Beaches E-Bike Study

In July 2026, the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) released this E-Bike Study for Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Atlantic Beach. This study was undertaken in response to the local need for greater clarity, consistency, and safety regarding micromobility operations. It evaluates how E-Bikes and other forms of micromobility are currently being used throughout the Beaches municipalities, what safety issues are emerging, how existing federal, state, and local policies frame micromobility operations, and what strategies may be available to improve outcomes for riders and non-riders alike. 

This study is organized into five sections: 

  • Current Trends in E-Bike Usage
  • Existing Laws and Policies
  • Safety Analysis
  • Public Outreach
  • Recommendations

Since 2023, we have held Districtwide Discussions regarding electric micromobility devices and safety. In 2025, we hosted another e-bike safety discussion with members of our District Two Traffic Safety Team to address ongoing concerns and rising injuries. As the use of e-bikes and e-scooters continues to grow, your participation in these conversations helps shape a more informed and proactive approach to addressing emerging challenges on our roads.

With expert insights and local perspectives, member engagement made this a valuable and productive meeting. A special thank-you to our presenters: Mark Sekelsky and Brian Benwick of the North Florida Bicycle Club; Rebecca Melvin, Trauma Injury Prevention, Education and Outreach Coordinator at UF Health Jacksonville; and Jackie Morrison, Community Health Educator and Safe Kids Northeast Florida Coordinator at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Here are links to the presentation, which includes our presenter’s slides, along with additional resources:

We have been addressing e-bike concerns since the early 2020s. In 2022, we created a presentation on micromobility, discussing terms, usage, and safety challenges nationally and in Northeast Florida. In 2023, we held multiple district-wide meetings addressing roadway concerns and issues regarding micromobility—specifically electric bicycles, scooters, unicycles, and golf carts or low-speed vehicles. Undoubtedly, tackling these safety concerns, from educating the public to tracking e-bike/scooter/unicycle crashes, trauma injuries, and enforcing local ordinances, will take a group effort.

Senate Bill 462 – Transportation was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis. The bill [Chapter No. 2025-149] went into effect on July 1, 2025, and will give local governments the authority to adopt additional regulations related to electric bicycles.

Key provisions of SB 462 include allowing local governments to:

  • Adopt ordinances establishing minimum age requirements for operating an electric bicycle.
  • Require operators of electric bicycles to possess government-issued IDs while riding.
  • Provide training on the safe operation of e-bikes and compliance with relevant traffic laws.

Legislation filed in November 2025 was VETOED by Governor Ron DeSantis: CS/SB 382: Micromobility Device

  • Senate Bill 382 [passed by Florida Senate and House, vetoed by Governor] – Micromobility Device; Providing requirements for the operation of electric bicycles; prohibiting the operation of an electric bicycle above a certain speed under certain circumstances; creating the Micromobility Device Safety Task Force adjunct to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; requiring the Florida Highway Patrol and each police department and sheriff’s office to maintain a certain list, beginning on a certain date, etc.

Please take a moment to review the resources, local ordinances, Florida law, and news article links below related to e-bike safety. Check out input from CTST member Brian Benwick of the North Florida Bicycle Club. Also, please read “An Approach to E-Bike Safety” by CTST member Antonia Donnelly.

2026 Florida E-Bike Safety Ordinances, Guidelines, and News

2025 Florida E-Bike Safety Ordinances, Guidelines, and News

E-Bike Safety News in Northeast Florida 2020-2024

Reference Materials for the E-Bike/Scooter/Unicycle Safety Discussion –

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Micromobility

Micromobility

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Micromobility usage is on the rise nationally and in Florida. The FDOT District Two’s Community Traffic Safety Program examined what Micromobility currently looks like in Northeast Florida. In this presentation, we will discuss what micromobility is—and isn’t. We will look at the increased popularity of micromobility nationally and its use in Northeast Florida and consider some of the safety challenges associated with the increased use of micromobility devices while keeping in mind the goal of ZERO fatalities on our roadways.

Micromobility video presentation:

How micromobility is defined is important because the functional and legal definitions determine the rights and responsibilities of micromobility device users operating on public streets and, accordingly, how law enforcement, public safety educators, and transportation planners and engineers can work to help improve safety outcomes.

From an industry perspective, they must be:

  • fully or partially electrically powered.
  • lightweight, under 500 pounds.
  • relatively low-speed—under 30 miles per hour.
Micromobility Device Examples

Examples include powered bicycles, also known as “E-bikes,” standing scooters, seated scooters, self-balancing boards like “Segways” and some “Hoverboards,” non-self-balancing boards, powered skates, and a range of other similar devices.

We highlight Florida Statutes and how micromobility is defined in Florida law. We discuss local regulation and Florida’s “Home Rule” principle. As a result, local governments can prohibit use on trails and sidewalks and regulate “for-hire” devices up to and including prohibition.

Flip through the presentation slides:

In five years, from 2016 to 2019, the use of shared, for-hire devices has increased more than seven-fold. Use accelerates as fleets of scooters and e-bikes are deployed in more cities.

While electric devices differ from “Active Transportation” modes like walking and pedaling a bike, the safety and infrastructure focus are similar. Micromobility devices are treated the same as traditional bicycles from a legal perspective because they generally have similar speed, maneuverability, and weight. Accordingly, strategies to enhance bicyclist safety, as well as strategies to make streets safer for pedestrians, will generally benefit micromobility users as well.

Micromobility Infrastructure Needs
Micromobility Docks, Corrals, Dockless

The infrastructure options to make micromobilty safe and effective are similar to those for cycling —namely, lower-stress facilities. Accordingly, networks that include low-stress facilities such as protected bike lanes, shared-use paths, bike boulevards, and cycle tracks will be more appealing to and improve the safety outcomes of a broader group of conventional bicycle and micromobility users.

Shared micromobility services are not currently as common in Northeast Florida as in other parts of the state. To date, three communities have active contracts with micromobility providers.

Micromobility in Gainesville
Micromobility in Jacksonville
Micromobility in St Augustine

Safety challenges are similar to bicycles. However, an E-bike or powered scooter can attain relatively high speeds faster and with little effort. Lack of experience is another critical factor.

Safety strategies include applying bicycle and pedestrian countermeasures. These include pedestrian safe crossings, low-stress bike infrastructure, and encouraging the use of helmets and safety equipment.

Our Community Traffic Safety Team members play an essential role in developing and implementing strategies to address these safety challenges. This includes working with local governments to include best-practice provisions in micromobility vendor contracts concerning geofencing and management of the public right-of-way; planning, designing, and construction of low-stress bicycle infrastructure to provide for overall mobility advantages; and working with businesses, chambers of commerce, and local law enforcement to provide educational material to tourists and other potentially inexperienced micromobility users.

We hope you take this opportunity to learn about Micromobility. Additionally, check out bicycle and pedestrian safety resources and tips.

“E-scooters, which were a novelty just a few years ago, are here to stay. Everyone deserves to feel safe on the road, and we must do more to prioritize safety for this growing mode of travel.”

GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins