Hillsborough moves to crackdown on e-bikes

Driving the news: The ordinance would require e-bikes, motorized scooters and traditional bicycles to cap speeds at 10 mph while on sidewalks, 15 mph on shared paths and trails, and 28mph on roads and in bike lanes.

• It would also ban wheelies, stunts and "street takeovers."

• Local law enforcement could cite riders on the spot and impound the bikes of those caught speeding or doing stunts. After a child's second violation, parents could have to pay fines.
• The county's ordinance would also apply to Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City, wherever they have not set their own rules.

Zoom out: Pinellas County commissioners have also weighed local e-bike restrictions but signaled at a work session this month that they'd wait for state lawmakers to act next year.

• Sheriff Bob Gualtieri told commissioners that statewide regulations are all but guaranteed.
• "There's still a really, really strong interest, and something's going to come back this year," Gualtieri said.

Flashback: Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill in June that passed unanimously in both chambers of the state Legislature and would have regulated e-bike speeds and behavior around pedestrians.

• It also would have created a statewide task force to recommend improvements to state law aimed at preventing traffic incidents, injuries and fatalities involving e-bikes.
• The governor called the bill "a little bit of an overreach," leaving the matter to local governments.

Yes, but: Whatever rules, if any, come out of the Legislature next year will head to a new governor for consideration.

The big picture: A February analysis by the Tampa Bay Times found that 27 people across Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties have died riding e-bikes in the last five years.

• The vast majority — 18 — were in Pinellas. Six were in Hillsborough and three were in Pasco.

What's next: The Hillsborough Commission will take up the proposed ordinance in a public hearing on Nov. 1o.