DeSantis vetoes Florida bill on e-bike speed limits near pedestrians

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has vetoed a bill that sought to regulate the speed of electric bikes (e-bikes) in proximity to pedestrians. The governor argued that imposing such limits would be impractical for cyclists and could result in undue government oversight.

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The governor argued that establishing a speed limit would be impractical for cyclists, in addition to emphasizing the importance of avoiding excessive government surveillance.

DeSantis officially rejected Senate Bill 382, which proposed prohibiting e-bikes from exceeding 10 miles per hour (16 kilometers per hour) when within 50 feet (15 meters) of a pedestrian. In his decision, the governor stated that enforcing such a speed standard would be difficult for cyclists to accurately gauge while operating their vehicles.

Furthermore, DeSantis expressed concern that the bill's proposed fines, exceeding $100 for violations, could lead to increased surveillance of citizens by local governments. He concluded that "for these reasons, I withhold my approval of CS/SB 382 and hereby veto the same."

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I am of the opinion that this standard would be difficult for a cyclist to measure while operating the vehicle.

The vetoed bill, sponsored by Senator Keith L. Truenow, aimed to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for e-bikes and scooters. It mandated that cyclists reduce their speed when approaching pedestrians, yield to them, and provide an audible signal before overtaking on shared paths in areas like parks and recreational zones. The legislation also proposed forming a task force to study and recommend improvements for micromobility safety.

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For these reasons, I withhold my approval of CS/SB 382 and hereby veto the same.