This week the Sanibel City Council advanced an ordinance (in a 5-0 vote) to allow Class 2 ebikes on Sanibel’s 26 miles of shared use paths. Class 2 ebikes can go up to 20 MPH.
Class 1 ebikes (pedal assist with no throttle) were already allowed.
The Sanibel City staff will now take a look at the condition of the entire shared use path and recommend speed limits. They’ll be looking at how wide the paths are, where there may be sharp turns, and where there may be blind spots. They’ll use that research to recommend speed limits for the bikes. The two speeds being discussed at the council meeting were 15MPH and 20MPH.
It’s important to note that Sanibel has its own police department, although at the City Council meeting Sanibel Police Chief William Dalton did seem a little skeptical on how bike speed limits would be enforced. Councilman John Henshaw wants the city to look into purchasing electronic devices to let riders know how fast they were going. Dalton said he wasn’t aware those were available for bikes but he would look into it.
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council is expected to consider changes to its ordinance, possible as early as August. Currently only pedal bikes are allowed on Fort Myers Beach sidewalks. No motorized vehicles of any variety are allowed on Fort Myers Beach sidewalks. It’s an issue that really divides walkers, bike riders and rivers (especially between Red Coconut and Times Square).
The shared use paths on Sanibel are wider than most of the sidewalks on Fort Myers Beach. Some of the shared use paths on Sanibel include middle lines to help keep foot and bike traffic flowing.
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