Fernandina Beach Approves E-Bike Crackdown After Warning: ‘Someone’s Gonna Get Killed’

By Mike Lednovich/Editor

FERNANDINA BEACH - The City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a sweeping new ordinance regulating e-bikes and other personal mobility devices, citing growing safety concerns over speeding riders, reckless behavior and near misses involving children on city streets, sidewalks and trails.

Approved 5-0 on first reading, the ordinance establishes speed limits, riding restrictions and enforcement authority for police, while launching what city officials described as an education-first effort aimed largely at younger riders.

The vote comes one week after city officials outlined the proposal amid mounting complaints from residents about unsafe e-bike use, particularly involving juveniles riding at high speeds on sidewalks, the Ron Sapp Egans Creek Greenway and downtown streets.

“This is related specifically to e-bikes and motorized personal mobility devices,” City Manager Sarah Campbell told commissioners. “It creates a section of our code to define these items and conduct, the use of these items in an appropriate and safe manner, giving the police department authority to enforce the regulations.”

Under the ordinance, riders will be prohibited from exceeding 20 mph on roadways and 10 mph on trails, sidewalks and beaches. E-bikes and personal mobility devices will be allowed on sidewalks and multi-use paths only under human power — meaning no throttle-assisted riding on the Greenway or sidewalks. Riders must also obey stop signs and traffic signals, yield to pedestrians and give an audible warning before passing. Violations generally carry a $50 citation.

The commission approved two amendments proposed during the meeting by City Attorney Teresa Prince clarifying that beaches are excluded from park restrictions and explicitly allowing riding on city beaches within municipal jurisdiction at no more than 10 mph.

The issue has become increasingly visible in Fernandina Beach as e-bike ownership has surged among young riders. In an Observer story this week previewing Tuesday’s debate, city officials cited complaints about speeding riders, wheelies, youths riding against traffic and near collisions involving pedestrians and motorists.

Commissioner Tim Poynter said the situation downtown had become dangerous.

“Lately downtown, I see these kids, and they are doing wheelies and standing on the backs of their bikes, and there’s three or four or five going down the wrong way on downtown streets,” Poynter said. “They’re flying down the streets. They’re not stopping at stop signs.”

“I’m worried someone’s gonna get killed,” he added. “They’re kids. They think they’re invincible.”

Mayor James Antun described his own close call.

“I watched just a few weeks ago, a young man, 15, maybe 20 miles an hour, roll right through a stop sign,” Antun said. “If I wasn’t paying attention, he would have been under my car. So I do believe something needs to be done about this.”

Police Chief Jeff Tambasco told commissioners enforcement would begin with a public education campaign before escalating to citations.

“If the ordinance is passed, we plan to do an educational campaign via all of our social media outlets, through print media, also with the television media,” Tambasco said. The department also plans outreach through schools and school resource officers.

“We’re not gonna go out and enforce with giving citations, unless it’s to repeat offenders,” he said. “The first push of this ordinance would be an educational campaign.”

Tambasco outlined a three-step enforcement process: officers would first warn violators and document the encounter, contact parents for repeat juvenile offenders, and ultimately issue citations if violations continue.

“The second violation, if it’s a juvenile, we’re gonna contact their parent and request the parents to come out to the actual location of the stop,” Tambasco said. “The third step would be issuing the actual city ordinance citation.”

Commissioner Genece Minshew questioned how the city would enforce the ordinance without a dedicated traffic unit and whether police had sufficient resources.

Tambasco responded that all patrol officers function as traffic enforcement officers and said the ordinance gives police “a lot more avenues to contact people that are in violation.”

“Right now, there’s not a mechanism to enforce electric bikes doing 30 miles an hour on a sidewalk,” he said. “If this city ordinance was enacted, it would give us that mechanism to enforce that because we can pick up bicyclists on our speed measuring devices.”

Minshew, who ultimately moved approval of the ordinance, also pressed officials on outreach and budget.

“You’re gonna create brochures?” she asked. “You’re gonna create something physical that you can take to people and hand out in schools?”

Tambasco responded simply: “Yes, ma’am,” adding the police department already has budgeted funds available for the effort.

Commissioner Joyce Tuten, who strongly supported the ordinance, said residents had repeatedly contacted her with concerns over e-bike safety.

“I am thrilled to see this ordinance,” Tuten said. “It’s a new technology that is exploding, and we need new rules.”

She also praised restrictions requiring human-powered operation on sidewalks and trails.

“My biggest concern with young kids is they don’t know the traffic laws, and they’re not adhering to safety,” Tuten said. “Somebody’s gonna get hurt, either one of the kids or a pedestrian.”

Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue acknowledged reluctance about additional regulations but said action had become necessary.

“Generally speaking, I don’t favor more laws,” Ayscue said. “But unfortunately, I think we’ve just gotten to a point that we don’t have parents looking after the kids that are actually kinda doing this.”

Several commissioners emphasized the need to coordinate rules with Nassau County because riders frequently cross between city and county roads. Police said an existing mutual aid agreement with the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office already allows city officers to enforce ordinances across jurisdictional boundaries.

Residents speaking Tuesday echoed safety concerns and urged broader public education. Sheila Cocchi described watching neighborhood children riding recklessly, including standing on bike seats and performing wheelies in traffic.

“What I’m seeing mostly is kids that are the most egregious,” Cocchi said. “I don’t think they know the rules.”

Commissioners also directed staff and police to contact local bike shops and rental companies to distribute safety information and educate riders at the point of sale or rental.

The ordinance now advances to a second and final reading before taking effect.