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Electric bikes and scooters are showing up more and more on our roads and sidewalks. It is crucial for parents, law enforcement, schools and the Collier
County community to work together in promoting e-bike safety, ensuring that children understand safe riding practices and follow the law.
As E-Bikes
As E-Bikes
f you’ve noticed more e-bikes Safety around school buses is critical.
cruising around Collier County If you’re on a sidewalk or in a bike lane
Ilately, you’re not alone. Electric- and come across a stopped school bus with
Take Off,
powered bicycles are becoming a common T ake Off , its signal out, you must stop too. Don’t go
sight on our roads and sidewalks. They’re a around the bus until that signal is off and

So Does THE Need
fast and convenient way to get around. And it’s safe to proceed.
as e-bike use increases, so does the need So Does THE Need In parks and on recreational trails,
for awareness and safety. That’s especially remember to yield to pedestrians and give
important now with more and more them a warning before passing.
for Safety.
teenage riders out during busy morning and for Safety . At intersections, e-bike riders on the
afternoon hours. sidewalk must follow pedestrian crossing
We may start seeing even more signals. If there’s no pedestrian signal,
e-bikes on our roads and sidewalks as many young people may follow the traffic light for the direction of travel.
have received them as gifts during the holidays. That seasonal If your e-bike has more than 750 watts of power, you can’t use
bump makes safety education even more important for new and it on sidewalks, bike lanes or shared roadways in Collier County.
inexperienced riders. Those higher-powered bikes belong on the road and must follow
Last year, Collier County commissioners passed new the same rules as motor vehicles.
ordinances to help keep everyone - riders, motorists and The growing popularity of e-bikes in our community has also
pedestrians - safe on our roads and sidewalks. led to an increase in crashes over the past year. Because of this rise
Here are some important things you should know: in crashes, it’s more important than ever for riders to make safety a
E-bikes fall under three different classes: A Class 1 e-bike priority. That includes following safety laws and riding cautiously.
gives the rider the added benefit of an electric, motor-assisted Florida law and the county ordinance require riders under the
experience while pedaling; a Class 2 e-bike comes equipped with age of 16 to wear a helmet. Adding front and rear lights can also
a throttled controlled motor and doesn’t require pedaling when in make you more visible and prevent crashes.
use; and a Class 3 e-bike is pedal-assisted, similar to a Class 1 but To learn more about e-bike
can reach speeds up to 28 mph. safety-including about e-motors and
If you’re riding any type of e-bike on the sidewalk, you must electric scooters-visit the Collier
keep your speed under 15 mph. That’s about as fast as a light jog. County Sheriff’s Office website
If you’re younger than 16, you’re not allowed to ride a Class www.colliersheriff.org or click on
3 e-bike at all. These bikes can reach higher speeds and require this link www.colliersheriff.org/
more responsibility. my-ccso/operations-department/
Class 3 riders over 16 must use the bike lane when it’s special-operations/traffic-safety/
available—and again, don’t exceed 15 mph. Sidewalks are off- e-bike-safety.
limits for solo Class 3 riders unless you’re with a child. You can also check out CCSO’s
If an adult is operating an e-bike while accompanying a child Sworn Statement podcast, which
or children under 16 years of age who are riding on the sidewalk, devotes an entire episode to e-bike
they too can lawfully ride on the sidewalk to not separate from safety. In it, we break down the rules and regulations for e-bikes,
the child and must not exceed a max speed of 15 mph e-scooters and e-motos, share tips for staying safe, and explain how
to protect your ride from theft.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts or stream it on SoundCloud.
38 www.LifeInNaples.net