New Smyrna Beach approves e-bike and scooter restrictions with fines
Katherine oversees editorial operations across all six brands. Before joining The Meridan Group, she spent 14 years at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, where she led the metro desk through its digital transformation. She holds a Master's in Journalism from Northwestern's Medill School.
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New Smyrna Beach commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve restrictions on electric bicycles, scooters and similar devices, with $150 fines for riding violations and a $25 fine for helmet violations involving riders ages 16 and 17.The 5-0 vote followed resident concerns about pedestrian safety and a public forum led by Police Chief Chris Kirk.“The goal is not to prohibit or punish, but to make everybody work cohesively together to enjoy things safely throughout the community,” Kirk told commissioners.Where riding is restrictedThe ordinance included in the city’s Nov. 10 meeting materials prohibits riding e-bikes, motorized scooters, electric unicycles and similar motorized devices within city recreational parks unless signs expressly authorize their use. Riders may dismount and walk their devices through those areas.The ordinance also allows the city manager to restrict devices on sidewalks, bicycle paths and multiuse paths where they pose a potential hazard to pedestrians. Th