The next time Fort Myers Beach Public Safety Committee Chair Dawn Thomas makes her report to the full Town Council she’ll recommend the town rescind its ebike ordinance and allow e-bikes on sidewalks. This has been an issue the Town Council has been considering for over a year.
On Fort Myers Beach all ebikes are currently prohibited from riding on sidewalks. Bikes without any type of motor are allowed. There are some ebikers that believe this needs to be changed, that it’s more dangerous for them to ride on Estero Boulevard (especially between Red Coconut and Times Square) than it is for them to be mingling with pedestrians on sidewalks.
There are three classes of ebikes that are now on the consumer market.
- Class 1 ebike is an electric bicycle that provides pedal-assist only, meaning the motor assists you only when pedaling. A class 1 ebike does not have a throttle.
- Class 2 ebike is equipped with a throttle-assisted motor. Class 2 allows the rider to engage the motor without pedaling, using a throttle. The motor assistance on these bikes also cuts off when the bike reaches a speed of 20 mph.
- Class 3 ebike provides pedal-assist up to a higher speed compared to class 1 and 2 ebikes. The pedal assistance in a class 3 ebike cuts off when the bike reaches 28 mph.
The Public Safety committee will also recommend the Town Council pursue dividing up the sidewalks from Times Square to Red Coconut by. They want the town to draw a dividing line, taking 30% of the sidewalk, closest to the inside, marked for all bike traffic with images that have the bike going with the flow of traffic.
The other 70% of the sidewalk, closest to the Boulevard, would be for pedestrians and show pedestrian markings. There would also be signs showing it’s a shared sidewalk. It’s important to note that Lee County owns the sidewalks on that portion of Estero Boulevard.
The committee will also recommend the town install additional signage close to Margaritaville, and in the highly congested areas, that there is no bike riding on the sidewalk.
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