FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – Fernandina Beach e-bikes and other personal mobility devices will now be under different rules and regulations after city commissioners unanimously passed the ordinance on Tuesday night.
City leaders say the ordinance was a response to mounting complaints about unsafe e-bike riding, particularly involving juveniles throughout the island and downtown area.
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Fernandina Beach Police Chief Jeff Tambasco said the city used definitions for electric bicycles directly from Florida state statutes and tried to mirror state law as closely as possible.
Tambasco said the goal is not to immediately punish riders, but to change behavior. “We’re looking for corrective action,” he told News4JAX back in June, adding the rules are intended to improve safety “to help ensure the safety of our e-bike riders, our walkers, and our overall community that’s enjoying our beautiful city.”
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The ordinance would set speed limits of 10 miles per hour for bicycles and electric bicycles on sidewalks, trails and paths, and 20 miles per hour on roadways.
Tambasco said the ordinance adds additional guidelines for where electric assist can be used:
- Sidewalks: 10 mph, human-power only (no throttle or electric assist)
- Beaches: 10 mph, pedal assist allowed
- Multi-use pathways and trails: 10 mph, pedal assist allowed
The devices are prohibited in city parks and golf courses.
The ordinance was proposed in May after officials said they were receiving increased complaints about unsafe riding, particularly involving juveniles and young adults. Residents have reported riders speeding on sidewalks, doing wheelies and rolling through stop signs.
Police also outlined a revised four-step enforcement plan starting with education—warning and documentation, parent contact for juveniles, a citation that can be waived with a safety course within 30 days, and then $50 fines for repeat violations. The plan would take effect when the law passed.