A growing epidemic of accidents among children using e-bikes and other electric-powered micromobility devices is causing the Wellington Village Council to step in. Local leaders narrowly approved new regulations this month for the popular modes of travel that they believe will put children’s safety first.
The council considered two ordinances aimed at cracking down on usage of the devices among young children at a meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11. One of them amends an existing ordinance by updating golf cart penalties and creating a new section regulating micromobility devices on public rights-of-way. The other creates new regulations that restrict where bicycles, scooters and non-human-powered micromobility devices can be used within Wellington and expands deputies’ authority to enforce these new rules.
A micromobility device is a small, lightweight vehicle used for short-distance travel. Non-human-powered micromobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters have been increasing in popularity, especially among children. Depending on the type, they can reach speeds up to 28 miles per hour.
The growing number of accidents from the use of these new modes of travel resulting in injury and death has caught many lawmakers’ attention. Earlier this year, Florida lawmakers passed a bill that created new safety regulations for the devices. It would have required riders on shared pathways to yield to pedestrians and give an audible warning before passing; limit speeds to less than 10 miles per hour when within 50 feet of a pedestrian on a sidewalk and other pedestrian-only areas; designate violations as non-criminal traffic infractions; create a micromobility device safety task force; and require law enforcement agencies to track micromobility crashes. However, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the bill over surveillance and enforcement concerns.
The council approved the first reading of the two ordinances in July. Under the new ordinances, riders on non-human-powered micromobility devices would need to carry a government-issued ID; speed is limited to 15 miles per hour on sidewalks, canal rights-of-way and designated multimodal paths; violations are designated as non-criminal traffic infractions; and the use of all micromobility devices at village facilities is prohibited.
After the first reading, staff re-added the prohibition on the use of non-human-powered micromobility devices by those under the age of 15 and removed the provision accepting student IDs. Staff explained they modified the ordinance to only allow government-issued IDs, so law enforcement officers can identify a rider, their address and verify their age. Other modifications included clarifying these rules to only apply to public rights-of-way and not gated communities or other private areas.
A number of residents spoke during the public comment section of the meeting, showing their support and opposition to the ordinances. Some said that officials should focus on educating young riders on safety rather than not allowing them to use the devices entirely.
“I’m not asking you to ignore the dangers of [micromobility devices], I’m asking you not to ignore the opportunity to teach young people how to handle those dangers,” said Jennifer Mayfield, who read a letter written by her daughter. “I agree… that e-bikes and scooters are already part of daily life in Wellington. Kids use them to get to parks, practice, friends’ houses and other places in our community — they are not going away.
However, those in support of the new rules said that the danger of injury and death among children was too significant to allow them to use these devices.
“I would love to see a ban on e-bikes flat out — that’s my personal opinion,” Lauren Brody said.
The age restriction was a main point of contention among the council, especially with Mayor Michael Napoleone.
Napoleone opposed the ordinance on creating regulations for the modes of travel during the first reading. He said that the age of 15 does not automatically make someone safer when using something like an e-bike.
“Before we take the easy way out by banning them from everyone… I think we do the hard work on education and enforcement, and see if we can affect behavior change,” Napoleone said.
Others on the council disagreed, explaining that sometimes education is not enough, and the age restriction added to the ordinance gives deputies better means of enforcement.
“It is our job to make sure that our most vulnerable are safe, and it is our job to make sure that we put the rules in place to assure that,” Councilman Johnny Meier said.
Village officials can create education programs for rider safety, but they can only incentivize participation. Given this limitation, those who supported the age restriction said they need to step in and find other ways to try to increase safety.
“I get very concerned when people say to us that the government should not be involved in the parents’ lives,” Vice Mayor Maria Antuña explained. “Unfortunately, at times, the parents are not involved in the child’s life, and this is the consequence of what happens.”
The council approved the ordinance regulating micromobility devices on public rights-of-way and updating golf cart penalties 3-2, with Councilman Stephen Levin and Napoleone dissenting.
The council subsequently unanimously approved amending existing ordinances to limit the usage of micromobility devices at Wellington facilities and expanding law enforcement authority to enforce the new rules.
