As of today the answer is no on Fort Myers Beach. While there seems to be a movement to change ordinance 22-04 prohibiting ebikes on sidewalks (and perhaps the beach), it stands for now. No motorized vehicles are allowed on Fort Myers Beach sidewalks. Over on Sanibel that may be about to change.
Ebikes are becoming a popular mode of transportation, especially in high traffic areas such as Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. The big question being asked of these municipalities is should these higher speed vehicles (compared to most regular bikes) be allowed on sidewalks and shared use paths where pedestrians are walking. Both Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel are wrangling with this issue.
There are three classes of ebikes that are now on the consumer market. A 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. A 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. A 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.
On Fort Myers Beach all ebikes are 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 ebikers to ride on Estero Boulevard (especially between Red Coconut and Times Square) than it is for them to be mingling with pedestrians on sidewalks.
On Sanibel, as of today, Class 1 ebikes have been allowed on their shared use paths since 2019. On Monday, Sanibel will consider allowing Class 2 e-bikes on the shared use paths. The Sanibel Parks and Recreation Committee is recommending the City Council approve Class 2 ebikes on the island’s shared use paths. The committee recommended not allowing Class 3 ebikes on the shared use paths. Sanibel has 23 miles of paved shared use paths. The Sanibel City Council will discuss the change this Tuesday at 9AM.
On Fort Myers Beach the issue may come up at an August Town Council meeting. The Public Safety Committee and the Town Council have been discussing whether or not they should change their ordinance to allow ebikes on the sidewalk (and on the beach).
Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers is open to changing the ordinance. “Many of our residents rely on pedal assist bikes to get around the island. The lack of an island wide dedicated bike lane prohibits them from getting around the island without having to get into a car, which is what we do not want. I support promoting alternative modes of transportation to help with out traffic issue. If making the change to the current ordinance encourages and allows our residents to leave their cars at home I would be in full support.”
Dawn Thomas is the Chair of the Fort Myers Beach Public Safety Committee. Thomas says she does not have a problem with bicycles on the sidewalk as long as they are not in motorized mode. “The issue that we have as an island is that once you reach our heavily populated sidewalks, that are congested with pedestrians, we simply do not have room for both bikes and people. But for the majority of the island, there is room for both. The Safety Committee has been hearing many solutions for the biking issue. We’ve talked about creating lanes on the sidewalks, to researching a plan to add a path from mid-island north to accommodate both bikes, rickshaws and golf carts. We want to encourage people to bike and reduce the car traffic and to give people better and more efficient options to travel to the north section of the island during peak times.”
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No bikes should be on any sidewalks they should use dedicated bike lanes only. I’m guessing that none of the bikes are insured that could be a problem if ebikes and pedestrians mix
This is not a guess…Insurance companies will skim part of the premiums and pay lawyers to figure out a way to NOT pay claims.
We need to consider enforcing the rules we have. Many days you see the larger Ebikes on the sidewalk and on the beach, with all the children and walkers this is very unsafe. Some of the suggestions that have been purported on this website should be looked at.
I have been riding ebikes on Sanibel for several years. I have arthritis in my back and knees. Most ebikes come with a bell to notify people ahead your going to pass. A side mirror on the ebike is essential to see what’s coming up behind you.
In the height of the season the foot and bike traffic is heavy in spots. Making sure no car traffic is coming I will go out on the street to pass and return to the path. Most riders on ebikes I see on Sanibel do not speed on the paths. Some places on the paths can be bumpy so most people don’t go 20 miles an hour on the paths. Alot of ebikes can be changed from a class 2 to a class 3 in the settings on the bike. Class 3 eats up the battery fast and most don’t set them to a class 3. Unfortunately my 3 ebikes got washed away during Ian. I hope to get some new ones soon. Most ebikes are made sturdier and can have wider tires than pedal bikes and are more safe in my opinion. I see people riding bikes on the beach and the sand can really mess up the motor and rust out the bike alot quicker. Alot of the side roads on Sanibel are shell roads. It’s easy to have shells puncture the tire tube’s.
Besides the exercise benefits provide it is a great way to explore the island and wildlife. Once you buy an electric bike you won’t ever won’t to ride a pedal bike.
With traffic problems on the island e bikes should be allowed on the sidewalks. Speed limits should be posted for all bikes not just e-bikes.
I do not believe a posted e-bike speed limit will make a difference. Those who are inclined to break the rules will do so, and it would be impossible to enforce.
Class 1 yes class 2 iffy, class 3 no they go fast enough to be on street with current speed limit.
And signs along the way for tourists, walkers, bike riders showing simple rules/tips/guidelines to read as you travel. Small simple colorful signs.. Non residents may not know the rules.
I would love to know Greg and Scotts position on e-bikes
Greg stated on BTR that he currently rides his e-bike on the sidewalk in violation of the law.
Let’s make our island bike friendly after all it cuts down on our traffic. All we need is a speed limit. Many seniors use e-bikes due to back issues, arthritis………using pedal assist makes it easier. The DANGER of riding in the bike path is overwhelming. Grandmas and Grandpops out there do you really want your grandkids in the danger on the “bike path”? There are just few idiots on e-bikes that have made this trouble for all who bike. We just need speed limit signs that’s all. Do we really want to be known for the most bicycle casualties ?
Should be just a speed limit (say 9mph)… a non-ebike is just as dangerous as an ebike when going 15 mph…
Keep motorized bikes off the sidewalk. It is hard enough navigating a regular bike on the sidewalk with pedestrian traffic.
So then how hard would it be for navigating in the traffic? Do you believe that’s a save alternative?
I have forwarded an idea I saw elsewhere for an e-bike path on the beach made of the plastic mats similar to the handicap mats. They could be put up away from the water so less chance of little kids blindly running in front of bike. The paths can be pulled up if storm approaches. We would only need these from red coconut to downtown. I hope the town considers this idea. Since our tax money is going to replenish the beach we should gain use of the beach.
I have a Class 2 E-bike and love it!!
The town should straight away prohibit Class 3 e-bikes.
E-bikes should be allowed on the beach, only from Red Coconut to Santini Plaza; Red Coconut South only ( Red Coconut to Pier/downtown, via beach too many people for any bikes). Conversely, E-bikes should be allowed on the sidewalk from Red Coconut to downtown, with a painted stripe.
Ironically, I picked up a curiosity on Sanibel: When passing pedestrians on a bike, you say, ” Passing on your right.” This alerts the walkers of an oncoming e-bike behind them.
Tough Love! As I am pro-business, the town should prohibit e-bike rentals altogether. Residents and snowbirds will be respectful of speed and pedestrians; tourists will not. And yes, we need enforcement, unfortunately.
Bottom Line: there is no traffic if you are on your bike or boat, only in your car
If pedestrians and bikers simply followed the laws of which side of the road or sidewalk to traverse on, it would greatly reduce most danger and potential accidents.
That is also accurate; tourists, sadly, do not know how to cross the road, and this causes some traffic issues.
I agree
I like the idea of no rentals. My niece was an ER doc in a beach town in Washington state. She was always treating compound ( bone projecting through the skin) leg fractures because tourists don’t follow simple instructions when renting powered scooters.
It’s weird to me that bicycles are allowed on the sidewalk at all. Bicycles should have their own use path on the roadway, separated from cars by more than just a white line. That keeps everyone safe (and doesn’t require any hairsplitting on what kind of bicycle it is, since even regular bicycles can easily reach speeds of 30 mph simply by pedaling).
Have you ever biked in the bike path for the full length of the island Season and non season ? You risk your life every time. Like so many I am always courteous to all pedestrians. Any apprehension you have can be put to rest with a speed limit sign.
The e-bikes need numbered plates.
Why? Just one more expense/”tax” essentially.
I was in key west, and they have a line drown down the middle of some of their sidewalks.And it gives a speed limit, and this is for walking on this side and the other side is for bikes. The ebikes need to be responsible enough to slow down when they’re around people and to be respectful of people. It’s gonna affect a lot of things because a lot of us live at the other end of the island and we’re not gonna come down there during season and I spend a lot of money on the island. I love it here. I feel like I’m responsible about things. And I think that people should be able to get down there.Some way and the bikes are a great way of doing it. Maybe we make one side of the road dedicated to E bikes only and pedestrians and 1 side is only for pedestrians. I don’t know. I just think there’s gotta be a solution.Electric bikes are apart of our future.
I so agree that one side of the road is for bikes and the other for pedestrians. This seems so simple and doesn’t cost money.
Maybe the town should consider some sort of speed limit for ALL bikes on the sidewalks?
Totally agree. This would solve the problem and we’d have less bicycle casualties and fatalities.