The Village of Key Biscayne had been looking for a provision that would allow local governments to regulate the use of electric bicycles and scooters based on age for a long time. On Thursday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that will allow local governments to do so. After the tragic death of Megan Andrews, a resident of Key Biscayne, on February 14, 2024, the measure had previously been unsuccessful in the Legislature; however, this session became more urgent as a result of the tragic event.
Representative Vicki Lopez, a Republican from Miami, was the one who shepherded the measure, which was tucked away within a state transportation bill. Lopez made a commitment to get the measure passed after Andrews was killed in a collision with a scooter on a residential street.
According to a statement released by Lopez, “This legislation will save lives and prevent future tragedies by ensuring the safety of pedestrians and roadways.” An assistant stated that she intends to communicate with the Andrews family in order to inform them that the measure has been passed into law. In the month of April, the bill was approved by both houses of the legislature with a unanimous vote.
Immediately after the accident, the Village Council of Key Biscayne passed a ban on electric bicycles and scooters. Prior to this, the council had delayed taking action despite the growing body of evidence indicating that these devices posed a significant risk. The majority of the riders on the electric bicycles and scooters were children.
It was always within the Village’s legal authority to enforce state laws that prohibited the devices from being used on sidewalks and to regulate their use on local streets; however, it was unable to regulate them according to age. In order to make age-based usage rules possible, officials attempted to have the state law changed. Because the Village did not have the authority to prohibit the use of electronic devices on Crandon Boulevard, Manager Steve Williamson and Police Chief Frank Sousa were concerned that a complete prohibition on local streets would encourage children to use the roadway, thereby increasing the risk of injury or death.
The “micromobility” devices have been generally absent from the sidewalks and streets of the Village ever since the ban was implemented, even in the absence of the new law. The new law, which will take effect on July 1st, will consequently make it possible for the Village to loosen its prohibition. Nevertheless, it is not entirely clear how much of a desire there is to permit older riders to once again use the devices on the streets of the Village.
Tony Winton is the president of Miami Fourth Estate, Inc. in addition to playing the role of editor-in-chief for the Key Biscayne Independent. His previous employment at The Associated Press spanned three decades, during which time he was honored with multiple Edward R. Murrow awards. He served as president of the News Media Guild, a union representing journalists, for a period of ten years. Columbia University is where he received his degree, and he was born in Chicago. His interests include sailing, cooking, science fiction, and photography and technology. He also enjoys using technology.
