FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla – Fernandina Beach leaders said e-bikes are becoming a growing safety concern downtown, with complaints about riders speeding, doing wheelies and blowing through stop signs.
In response, the Fernandina Beach City Commission approved an e-bike ordinance on a first reading this week, moving the proposal one step closer to becoming law. A second and final vote is scheduled for the commission’s June 16 meeting.
City leaders said the ordinance followed a surge of complaints from residents about unsafe riding, especially involving kids and young adults riding at high speeds on sidewalks.
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“They’re just a little more aggressive. You’re not paying attention to these stop signs, which concerns a lot of the folks in the neighborhood because they don’t want to hurt anyone,” Fernandina Beach residents Sarah and Robert Schraven told News4JAX.
The Schravens said they’ve watched riding behavior change over the last five years and have raised their concerns with the city. They said they’ve seen riders continue through intersections without stopping and perform stunts like wheelies.
Fernandina Beach police said the ordinance is intended to set clear rules and give officers enforcement authority, while starting with an education-first approach.
According to the city’s communications manager, Mary Hamburg, the Fernandina Beach Police Department has already begun educating the community on the proposed changes.
The department recently had a meeting with over 700 Fernandina Beach Middle School students and will be distributing brochures throughout our public facilities.
According to Fernandina Beach police, the ordinance would limit e-bikes to 20 miles per hour on roadways and 10 miles per hour on the beach and throughout the city’s trail system. If it receives final approval, e-bikes and other mobility devices would still be allowed on sidewalks and multi-use paths, but only under human power — meaning riders could not use throttle power on sidewalks or the Egans Creek Greenway.
Police said enforcement would roll out in three steps:
- Officers would issue a warning and document the encounter
- Contact parents for repeat juvenile riders
- Then issue a $50 citation if violations continue
Some residents told News4JAX they believe the city should do more, including contacting parents immediately when juveniles are stopped.
We also heard concerns from a local bike shop employee who said enforcement could be complicated without clear attention to e-bike classifications and what specific devices are capable of.
Fernandina Beach officials have said local outreach will be a key part of the city’s approach, including working with schools and sharing safety information through city and police communication channels.
The local ordinance debate comes as a state bill could soon add new e-bike rules across Florida. SB 382 is awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature and would create a 10 mile-per-hour sidewalk limit when pedestrians are nearby, while requiring riders on shared paths to yield to pedestrians and provide an audible warning before passing.