Orange County leaders in Florida plan a new wave of rules for e-scooters and e-bikes. They see more crashes, more complaints, and steady growth in the number of riders. The county wants clear standards that protect people without taking away a popular way to move around town.
Recent meetings of the County Commission and the local school board placed small electric vehicles near the top of the agenda. Commissioners heard stories about near misses on crowded sidewalks. School leaders raised alarms about students weaving through traffic on powerful e-bikes. Parents say they feel nervous at drop-off and pickup time. In the end, the message to county staff is simple. Draft stronger rules and bring them back soon.
Why Orange County is acting now
Electric scooters and e-bikes now appear on almost every busy street in the Orlando area. Riders use them to reach work, classes, parks, and transit stops. Many models reach 20 to 28 miles per hour with little effort from the rider. That speed creates tension in spaces that people once used only for walking and jogging.
At the same time, county staff have tracked injuries and written complaints from residents. Common trouble spots include shared-use trails, tourist districts, and roads near schools. People report riders who cut across crosswalks at high speed or pass within inches of children and older adults. Some students ride in groups and treat school parking lots like practice tracks.
Other communities see the same pattern. For instance, East Grand Rapids has started its own safety push, as covered in this article on e-scooter safety in East Grand Rapids. Orange County leaders watch these moves and want local rules that match the growing use of these devices.
In public comments, officials say they do not want a full ban. They want order, predictability, and fewer injuries. That goal sits at the core of the new policy effort.
What changes leaders are discussing
County Commissioner Nicole Wilson has taken a visible role in this work. She and other commissioners describe a basic framework that staff now study and refine. The early list contains a few ideas that most residents can understand at a glance.
To start, leaders talk about helmet rules. State law already requires helmets for younger riders on certain devices. County officials want stronger language that covers e-scooters and fast e-bikes in more settings. They focus on younger teens, who face high risk on busy roads and in crowded school zones.
Next, they discuss age limits for shared paths and higher speed machines. The county may restrict younger children from using certain models on streets or trails. Rental programs and retailers would receive clear age guidance that matches public rules.
They also want simple speed caps for sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes. Ten miles per hour appears often in county guidance for shared paths. Leaders may write that limit into law for e-scooters and e-bikes on sidewalks and narrow trails, where space is tight and reaction time is short.
On top of that, they call for better visibility at night. That means front lights, rear lights or reflectors, and brighter clothing in dark conditions. Many crashes happen in the early morning or evening, so a basic light setup can change outcomes in a big way.
Alongside these ideas, the county looks at public education. Staff study campaigns that teach young riders about braking distance, lane position, and basic traffic rules. Schools and community groups could host events before any new law takes effect, so riders hear the message early.
What the current rules say
Right now, riders in Orange County follow a mix of Florida law and existing county guidance. State statute 316.2065 treats bikes, e-bikes, and e-scooters as vehicles on the road. Riders must obey traffic lights, stop at stop signs, and yield in crosswalks. They must use a white front light and a red rear light or reflector at night.
Florida uses a three class system for e-bikes. Class 1 and class 2 models assist up to 20 miles per hour. Class 3 models assist up to 28 miles per hour. Riders under 16 must wear helmets on e-bikes by law. Adults have no statewide helmet mandate but still follow the same traffic rules.
County guidance says many e-bikes can use both roads and sidewalks, with a suggested 10 mile per hour cap on sidewalks. E-scooters share many of the same spaces and expectations. More powerful devices such as mopeds and e-motorcycles need registration, plates, and a license with a motorcycle endorsement. Those machines follow higher posted limits and stay on the road.
Local officers say many problems come from a smaller group of riders who ignore basic rules. They point to red light running, wrong way riding, and use of phones while moving. Clearer rules and better education may reduce those behaviors over time.
Why schools sit at the center of the debate
Orange County Public Schools feel the sharpest impact of these trends. Every year, more students buy or borrow e-bikes and e-scooters. Many families see them as practical tools for short trips. Buses and cars do not cover every need, so small electric vehicles fill the gap for some teens.
Risk rises when those same students mix with heavy drop-off traffic. Cars, buses, and walkers share the same space for a short time each school day. Fast e-bikes and scooters change that mix. A teenager can enter a crosswalk at the last second or swerve between cars. One mistake can lead to a serious crash.
School board members describe growing concern about liability and student safety. They want clear county rules that support any code of conduct on campus. That shared interest with county leaders adds pressure for a countywide framework that schools can point to when they set their own policies.
What riders and parents should do next
New rules will take time. Staff must gather crash data, map problem areas, and compare models from other counties and states. The commission will hold public hearings before it votes on any ordinance. Residents, school leaders, and business owners will have several chances to speak.
Riders do not need to wait for that process. They can adjust habits now. That means slower speeds on sidewalks and crowded trails. It means full stops at lights and signs, even when the device feels small and quick. It means lights at night and enough space for people on foot.
Parents can set clear rules for children who ride e-bikes and e-scooters. A helmet every time. No passengers on one small deck or saddle. No racing in parking lots or near campus. Simple limits reduce risk long before a deputy writes a ticket.
Orange County e-scooter and e-bike rules will change. Leaders agree on that point. The exact wording still sits in the future. The goal already stands in full view. Safer streets and shared paths for everyone who walks, rides, or drives.