Sidewalks and shared paths off U.S. 1 aren’t just seeing walkers, runners and bikes pedaled by the rider.
Throughout the island chain, more motorized bikes are traveling at considerable speeds up and down the sidewalks. With e-bikes emerging in recent years, young riders are now turning to the more popular electric dirt bikes. Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies and school resource officers are working to educate the public while addressing the illegal off-road dirt bikes, as evidenced by a recent pursuit involving young riders on March 27.
Around 11:30 p.m., deputies were attempting to pull over two electric dirt bikes riding on the sidewalk off U.S. 1 near MM 86. The bikes had no lights and weren’t stopping for deputies.
The chase led deputies into the Indian Mound subdivision, where one of the riders ended up crashing and suffering minor injuries to his knee. Deputies apprehended the teenager, a 17-year-old from Wisconsin, who reportedly had a blood alcohol level of .138. (For those of legal drinking age of 21, the limit is .08.) He was taken to the Plantation Key jail and charged with DUI, fleeing and eluding and resisting arrest. The electric dirt bike was confiscated for evidence.
Classified as off-road vehicles, electric dirt bikes are not eligible for registration, aren’t equipped with operable pedals and are capable of speeds of more than 28 mph.
“They’re designed to be used off-road and on trails. They’re not legal and can’t be used on the bike path, edge of the road, on the shoulder, on the highway or on side streets,” Sheriff Rick Ramsay told Keys Weekly. “We’re trying to do everything we can to educate the public and let parents know not to buy these, as they are illegal. And people will get in trouble. We won’t tolerate it.”
At the same time, the sheriff’s office is navigating incidents pertaining to e-bikes, which have pedals and are allowed to use sidewalks and bike paths. Despite having the ability to reach speeds of almost 30 mph, the state classifies them as bikes — and not motor vehicles — so long as their motors are under 750 watts. An operator may ride an electric bicycle where bicycles are allowed, including streets, highways, roads, shoulders, bicycle lanes and bicycle or multiuse paths.
The state has three classifications for e-bikes. Class 1 e-bikes work when riders pedal and do not exceed 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes do not exceed 20 mph but have a throttle to work without riders pedaling. Class 3 e-bikes have a pedal system, no throttle assist and can reach speeds of up to 28 mph.
‘The laws of bike paths, we could say Onewheels or little scooters aren’t allowed, but they’re not the problem. The problems are the e-bikes and dirt bikes because they’re so darn fast.’ — Sheriff Rick Ramsay
Florida law requires manufacturers and distributors to place a permanent label on each e-bike showing its class, top assisted speed and motor wattage. Florida law also says a person may not tamper with or modify an e-bike to change its motor-powered speed capability or engagement unless the classification label is replaced to reflect that change.
Florida law does not set one single statewide minimum age for riding an ebike. However, local governments have the ability to adopt their own minimum age requirements for e-bike use.
The Florida Legislature took up the issue of e-bikes during its 2026 session – but the version of Senate Bill 382 that currently awaits Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature after passing unanimously in both the House and Senate is significantly watered down from earlier drafts.
The new law would require riders to slow to 10 mph when within 50 feet of pedestrians, and require riders to yield and signal on shared paths. It creates a Micromobility Device Safety Task Force, charged with submitting a report with further legislative recommendations to the governor, Senate and House by October 2026, and requires law enforcement to more closely track and report crashes related to e-bikes.
While unanimously approved, it’s drawn questions of enforceability, particularly in crowded areas when violators are assessed a mere $30 noncriminal violation.
Ramsay said he hopes the Florida Legislature enacts more laws that improve safety and help law enforcement. In the meantime, riders should follow all normal traffic laws or face being fined — or worse — as one Big Pine Key teenager found out on March 4.
A deputy was making a turn onto Key Deer Boulevard from U.S. 1 at about 6:50 p.m. when two e-bikes drove through the intersection, causing the deputy to brake to avoid a collision. The deputy attempted to stop the two riders, but they drove south. One of the riders attempted to cut through a gravel parking lot and crashed. That driver was arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding.
“A lot of parents are buying what kids want, and we are trying to navigate it during a challenging time,” Ramsay said. “There are very few regulations in that industry that’s opened up so fast, and the Legislature has not kept up with it. So much is happening so fast, and they don’t want to deal with it, probably because of the big industry, the big money and lobbyists working behind the scenes to not get legislation passed.”
Ramsay said officers are trying to protect young riders as well as citizens who are operating vehicles who’ve had close calls with these faster electric bikes at intersections. Ramsay said they’ve been hearing from members of the public who have concerns surrounding the overall safety of these new electric powered bikes.
“It’s a quality-of-life issue,” he said. “The laws of bike paths, we could say Onewheels or little scooters aren’t allowed, but they’re not the problem. The problems are the e-bikes and dirt bikes because they’re so darn fast.”
