Manatee County is considering expanding its e-bike age restriction to cover all classes of e-bikes and e-scooters. Right now the ordinance only bars children under 16 from riding Class 3 e-bikes on public roads and paths. The push for broader rules comes after hospital data showed a 27% increase in critical injuries among riders under 18 over roughly the past two years, with riders ages 9 to 14 making up the largest share.
Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske said the injuries are concentrated in the county’s younger riders, and Commissioner Dr. Bob McCann requested the review after raising concerns at the July 28 commission meeting. The county will host the first of several community meetings on Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon to 2 p.m. at Lakewood Ranch Library. Rather than debating the proposal itself, county staff are asking residents for workable alternatives that account for limited enforcement staffing. Fiske acknowledged that one solution won’t fit every situation.
The Sheriff’s Office is also urging families to check what their children are riding, noting that electric dirt bikes, often called e-motos, generally are not street legal on public roads. If you can’t make Saturday’s meeting, the county is collecting feedback to shape the next round of discussions. What’s your take: should age limits apply to every class of e-bike, or is there a better way to keep kids safe on Suncoast roads?
