Oviedo City Council to Vote on E-Bike, E-Scooter Rules

UPDATE: The Oviedo City Council vote has been moved to October 19

OVIEDO, Fla. – Oviedo city commissioners are preparing to cast a final vote Monday on proposed regulations governing e-bikes and e-scooters across the city.

Under the ordinance, riders would be limited to 10 mph on sidewalks and could be barred from using the devices in certain public areas, including parks. E-bike and e-scooter users would also have to yield to pedestrians.

The proposed penalties range from $50 for a first violation to as much as $250 for repeat offenses.

“It is challenging to be out as a pedestrian, even walking your dog, because the kids are not slowing down,” Oviedo resident Harlika Watzman said. “They’re in the middle of the road, they’re on the sidewalks. Some are not wearing helmets, some don’t even have lights.”

Watzman said she favors the restrictions, arguing that fines would help make clear that riders must follow the rules.

“Start with that. There has to be some sort of penalty that shows this is serious,” she said. “This is on the books. We need to follow it.”

Mayor Megan Sladek previously said Oviedo had been awaiting state direction on e-bike regulations. However, she said local officials could not delay action any longer amid growing safety concerns.

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“We’ve got to figure out how to exist in the same space,” Sladek said. “Right now we have e-bikes that are zipping around Center Lake Park, and people who are pedestrians do not feel safe walking there.”

During a work session last month, council members reviewed the proposed ordinance and considered whether to align it with Orange County’s recently adopted micromobility rules.

The measure would also establish an education effort designed to curb unsafe riding. Watzman said public education could resolve many of the issues, although she acknowledged that changing rider behavior will take time.

“I think that is going to hit 80 percent of the problems — the educational outreach,” she said. “It’ll probably take years because there is a learning curve. I think we have to start there for sure.”

The Oviedo City Council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance Monday at 6:30 p.m.