Sanibel City Council directs staff to move forward with e-bike ordinance
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
mbradbury@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel City Council directed staff to move forward with developing an ordinance for electric bicycles, as well as implementing a registration program for class two and three e-bikes.
The council voted on requiring class two and three e-bikes be registered for all ad valorem property taxpayers, on island employees and Sanibel residents last week. There would be no registration fee.
“We have done things in a pilot program. This is a step. We can look again at the end of season to see what works and what doesn’t based on a season of watching this. It is best to do something rather than nothing and see how we learn from what this something is. It is not an easy task,” Councilmember Holly Smith said.
Councilmember Laura DeBruce excused herself from the conversation, as she owns an e-bike company.
Sanibel Recreation Center Director Andrea Miller said council discussed an e-bike registration program at the June 2 meeting, which has not changed since that time. She said the program does not include required registration for class one e-bikes, which are permitted for residents, on-island employees and non residents 16 and older.
Miller said non residents and rental purposes would not be allowed for class two and three e-bikes.
She said they would handle all of the e-bike registrations at the Rec Center and all applicants would sign a shared use path code of conduct document.
“We would verify residency, or proof of on island employment,” Miller said.
Mayor Mike Miller said his concern came from statements that this type of program lead to frustration for visitors, who would not be permitted to use the shared use path with class two or three e-bikes. He said the sentiment made was that Sanibel would be a complicated visitor destination.
The other lies in safety — forcing class two and three riders onto the roads that do not have shoulders.
Miller said he could support it if nonresident property owners were included.
“I think about my neighbors that are snowbirds. They love Sanibel as much as we do, and come here as often as they can. I would not see them not permitted simply because they don’t qualify as residents. With that modification I can support that,” he said.
Other council members said they grouped snowbirds into residents, as they are property owners.
Vice Mayor John Henshaw said he had concern in respect to no registration being required for class one e-bikes.
“It would be nice that all are registered,” he said.
Henshaw said he saw registration as a benefit, as they can educate the community about the correct behaviors.
Sanibel Police Department Police Chief said everything about e-bikes is difficult to enforce.
“We will do the best we can,” he said adding that the Rangers are ambassadors. “What they tell me is that most folks want to see something where (we) take action against bad behavior. It’s a challenging issue for about seven years now.”
The current e-bike ordinance will continue to be enforced until the new ordinance is developed and approved.