The Key Biscayne Village Council in Florida voted on 19/8 to uphold a ban on electric bikes, a measure that has been in place for over 1.5 years. The emergency ban was enacted following a 2024 accident in which 66-year-old Megan Andrews was killed after being struck by a 12-year-old boy riding an electric bike at a darkened intersection. Andrews' family and neighbors urged the council to maintain the ban, citing safety concerns for children, the elderly, and the community.
During the meeting, numerous residents voiced opposition to lifting the ban. One resident commented, "I can envision bad accidents happening as impatient car drivers try to pass them (electric bikes)".
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Children ride electric bikes in Key Biscayne, Florida, on 27/12/2022, before the ban was enacted. Photo: Key Biscayne Independent |
Children ride electric bikes in Key Biscayne, Florida, on 27/12/2022, before the ban was enacted. Photo: Key Biscayne Independent
Only one individual spoke in favor of ending the ban, arguing, "The ban is not going to solve the problem. The ban is not going to stop people from trying to do what they want".
The village police chief proposed modified regulations, allowing responsible adult use of electric bikes with limits on speed, age, and designated pathways. However, the council voted 4-3 to reject the proposal.
The debate comes amid a series of fatal accidents involving electric bikes and scooters across Miami-Dade County, Florida. On the morning of 19/8, the Florida Highway Patrol reported a Ford sedan collided with an electric bicycle carrying two people. One person died, and the other was in critical condition.
On 15/8, a 14-year-old on an electric motorcycle collided with a cyclist on the Rickenbacker Causeway, killing the cyclist. Earlier in August, an electric scooter rider ran a red light and was killed in a collision with a car.
With no exceptions even for low-speed pedal-assist bikes, Key Biscayne stands out as a rare area where electric bikes remain entirely prohibited—one of only a handful in the US—highlighting growing tensions surrounding electric mobility in close-knit communities grappling with safety, accessibility, and change.
My Anh (NBCMiami)
