Key Biscayne bans e-bikes and scooters

Two days after a beloved island tutor was killed in a collision with an e-bike, Key Biscayne’s Council banned all micro-mobility devices, effective immediately. 

With the family of the deceased Megan Andrews in the front row, the Council’s unanimous vote was deemed a public safety emergency. 

Meanwhile, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner ruled the death “accidental,” said police spokesman Det. Argemis Colome. “Homicide detectives have determined there is no criminal intent,” he said in a statement.

The emergency ordinance is in place for up to 60 days, but council members plan to make the ban permanent in March, with the additional sanction of impounding the devices. Tickets will start at $250 for a first violation and $500 subsequent violations. 

As school let out Friday afternoon, police talked to teenagers on scooters in front of St. Agnes Catholic Church – but were not writing tickets. Some students walked their e-bikes or scooters, while others were still zipping around the Village Green or across Crandon Blvd.

Andrews, 66, was killed in a collision with an e-bike operated by a 12-year old boy. The case remains under investigation by Miami-Dade traffic homicide detectives. A candlelight vigil was scheduled at Woodcrest Road and Hampton Lane where the accident occured.

Elected officials for two years struggled – without success –  to rein in the battery-powered vehicles that can hit speeds of 28 mph. They are mostly operated by children to zip around the community, often ignoring safety rules and menacing pedestrians, residents said. 

Several in the audience held signs reading “ban them,” some saying  Key Biscayne had become the Wild West of micro-mobility devices.

“I think you failed us, you failed the community, you failed the family and you certainly failed Megan,”said Mark Fried, a prominent resident and friend of the Andrews family, squarely pointing a finger at the Council and the administration. 

Village Police Chief Frank Sousa and Manager Steve Williamson initially opposed ideas to ban the devices, opting for education. They said a ban would increase danger by sending the devices onto Crandon Boulevard, which is outside the Village’s power to regulate. They launched a lobbying effort to win jurisdiction over the thoroughfare. 

Sousa also said previously his department of 39 officers did not have the manpower to enforce a total ban. A ban in Village parks proved ineffective. 

“We’re ready to enforce,” Sousa said after the meeting. “I echo what the community said today.”

“It takes all of us,” Sousa continued. “It’s not just a police issue. Yes, we are the ones that hand out the citations that we need parents, residents, everyone to come together and help us out.”

Commissioner Raquel Regalado told council members she will double her efforts to give the municipality power to regulate the devices on the main road. 

More than 100 residents packed the Council chambers with the crowd flowing out to the foyer and onto the streets. 

Emotions ran high with many choking back tears – including former Mayor Mike Davey —  about the loss of Megan Andrews. “This one really hurts,” he said.

State Rep. Vicki Lopez, who introduced an e-bike bill in 2023 only to see it die in committee, said she told her Tallahassee colleagues that Andrews’ death was on their hands. “I was so distraught. This was a needless death,” she said. 

Prominent attorney Eugene Stearns pointed the finger at the state Legislature, which he said is failing to act because of lobbyists for the scooter and e-bike industry. 

Key Biscayne was always able to ban e-bikes, but it couldn’t fine-tune the rules, such as regulating them by class or driver age. And while officers could issue state traffic citations, that could result in underage drivers losing their ability to get learners permits. 

Mayor Joe Rasco, after the meeting, said Tallahassee needs to understand that Key Biscayne is in “a unique situation” with micro-mobility devices. “Not every community can afford these $3,000 vehicles kids are riding,” he said. 

At one point the meeting was on the brink of getting out of control.

Police had to escort Karla Vigil-Berger out of Council chambers when the crowd started shouting her down when she voiced opposition to the ban, saying Andrews’ death was due to her not wearing a helmet.

“Everybody wants to take the easy way out. The solution is to educate and set goals,” said Vigil-Berger, who has three teenagers with e-bikes.

Hours after passage, news of the ban did not go over well among the pre-teen crowd.

“We wasted a lot of money on our bikes,” said Facundo Saez, 12, stopping at the 7-11 after school.  “I think this is unfair for kids because you’re adults, you guys don’t use them.”

His buddy, Oliver Waicman, also 12, was riding a Super 73. “I just got this bike four days ago and now it’s banned,” he said.

Min Xi walked his 11-year-old disabled daughter on a modified electric bike from the Key Biscayne K-8 Center. He said the bike is never used as an e-bike but simply as transportation as he walks beside her.

“I’m hoping to get an exemption for her,” Xi said. 

The Key Biscayne Chamber of Commerce put out a statement for residents who use the devices for transportation, advising them that Bus Route 26 runs on a 30-minute loop from Brickell along Crandon. The Village will also be adding a ninth Freebee vehicle.

The ban certainly will affect business at Key Cycling in the Galleria Shopping Center, said Manager Guerold Cajina.

“I don’t think this is a solution. If someone gets hit with a golf cart, are you going to ban golf carts?” he said

Many MAST Academy students, he said, use e-bikes to get to school. Cajina said he knows dozens of families of such students and the ban is sure to add traffic to Crandon.

“You are talking at least 25 cars in the morning and then again in the evening, in and out of Key Biscayne,” he said. 

Editor’s Note: This updates with quotes from parents, children, bike shop and Chamber of Commerce. 

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