Naples council directs staff to draft e‑bike and micromobility rules after safety and tour concerns

City staff presented a draft ordinance at the March 16 workshop proposing to restrict bicycles and electric bicycles on city sidewalks and in business districts except where a designated on‑road bicycle route exists, prohibit micromobility service providers (Veo/Bird style) and reserve language to regulate tour companies.

Dan Orenstein, city engineer, told council the draft would: bar bicycles and e‑bikes from sidewalks in business districts; allow bicyclists to use sidewalks only where no on‑road bike route exists; exempt specified routes (Gordon River Greenway and Baker Park path); and prohibit commercial micromobility providers and tours pending legal review. Council members raised enforcement, signage, and technical questions: how to define a “designated bicycle route,” whether class‑based age restrictions should apply (the county limits Class 3 e‑bikes to riders 16 and older), and how to handle workers who commute by e‑bike.

Public safety and education advocates asked the council to pair any ordinance with outreach and enforcement: the Naples Police Department and Naples Pathways Coalition recommended education, distribution of lights and helmets, and targeted enforcement against high‑speed modified e‑bikes. Police Lieutenant Michael Riley said the department already runs outreach and bike‑safety events for commuters and workers.

On tour companies, the city attorney advised that an outright ban could be legally vulnerable and recommended a permit‑based regulatory approach tied to the city’s right‑of‑way authority. Council asked staff to return with draft permit language that could include caps on number of operators, limits on daily tours and group size, route restrictions, single‑file operation, liability insurance requirements and minimum equipment (helmets/lights). Several council members also asked staff to include enforcement, data collection and an age/class framework for e‑bikes in the draft.

Council reached consensus to direct staff and the city attorney to draft ordinance and permitting language and to return with proposals that include enforceable safety measures and an implementation timetable for council review.