Key Biscayne is one step closer to getting authority to create its own e-bike and electric scooter rules for Crandon Boulevard after a pilot program won passage before a key Miami-Dade Committee.
The Feb. 14 death of a beloved island tutor, Megan Andrews, was mentioned several times during the debate before Chairman’s Policy Council, which took up a watered-down version of the legislation. The measure approved Monday only applies to Key Biscayne and would sunset after two years.
“It gives us some breathing room,” said Village Manager Steve Williamson, who added the next step is a change in state law that would give the island the ability to set age limits on ridership. Efforts to rewrite state e-bike and scooter laws have failed two years in a row.
“It’s an important first step,” agreed Mayor Joe Rasco. The Village Council is set to extend a ban on the devices Tuesday night while it works on a permanent ordinance.
READ: Rep. Lopez vows to pass e-bike legislation and to name it in honor of Megan Andrews
Not every speaker supported the regulation. Matthew Gultanoff, who heads Better Streets Miami Beach, a pedestrian and transit advocacy group, said the legislation was the “camel’s nose under the tent” that would create an unworkable patchwork of regulations around the County. He said the devices that fill a valuable transportation role.
“These devices offer freedom and affordability that wasn’t available before. And if you stopped to consider why people might ride on the sidewalk, it’s because it’s simply not safe to ride on the street. It’s about self preservation,” he said.
Commissioner Raquel Regaldo, who introduced the measure, faced some questions from Commissioner Marleine Bastien, who represents North Miami and surrounding areas. She thought the fines were too high and questioned the scooter ban on Crandon sidewalks.
“That’s why the scope of this was reduced dramatically,” Regalado answered. “We need to see if this can work,” adding the County Commission would get a chance to sign off on any rules Key Biscayne would propose.
Long before the ban, Williamson and Police Chief Frank Sousa said banning the devices on Village roads would force them onto Crandon, but that fear has largely not materialized so far.
For sidewalk use, Village police can write tickets under the state law on Crandon, but officials have said they would prefer the ability to have their own schedule of fines. An unpaid state law ticket would block a young person’s ability to get a learner’s permit at age 15.
The proposed County law would let scooters and e-bikes operate in Crandon bike lanes with a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour.
Commissioner Chair Oliver Gilbert III said the hefty penalties are the point — so that violators understand the consequences. “We’re making it something that naturally shouldn’t be fair,” he said.
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Tony Winton is the editor-in-chief of the Key Biscayne Independent and president of Miami Fourth Estate, Inc. He worked previously at The Associated Press for three decades winning multiple Edward R. Murrow awards. He was president of the News Media Guild, a journalism union, for 10 years. Born in Chicago, he is a graduate of Columbia University. His interests are photography and technology, sailing, cooking, and science fiction.