Orange County commissioners were scheduled Tuesday to consider a new ordinance that would cap e-bike and e-scooter speeds at 10 mph on sidewalks and 28 mph on roads, part of a broader crackdown on stunt riding, street takeovers and reckless use of the devices across unincorporated parts of the county.
The proposal, previewed by the Orange County Government newsroom, would update county regulations covering electric bicycles, motorized scooters and other micromobility devices. According to the county, the ordinance addresses definitions, where the rules apply, requirements for operation and parking, and enforcement provisions that include civil citations and penalties.
As reported by cfpublic.org, the proposed speed limits would be set at 10 mph on sidewalks and shared-use paths and 28 mph on roads, road shoulders, bike lanes and bike trails. The rules would also prohibit using the devices for street takeovers or stunt driving, and cfpublic.org reported that violators could face penalties ranging from fees to impoundment of the device itself.
Parents Could Face Penalties For Repeat Teen Violations
Under the proposal, parents or guardians of riders under 18 who repeatedly violate the ordinance may be subject to penalties, at the discretion of the responding officer, per the same cfpublic.org account. The county's proposal also creates a new device category — the e-moto — defined as a vehicle without fully operable pedals, powered by more than 750 watts and capable of exceeding 28 mph. Those e-motos would not be allowed on county sidewalks, bike paths or trails and would instead need to be licensed, registered and insured for use on public roads, the outlet noted.
Earlier reporting from mastnewsroom.com indicated the new ordinance would apply only in unincorporated Orange County, not within the county's municipalities. That same reporting noted roughly 11,800 students currently use an e-bike, e-scooter or similar device to commute to school — a figure that underscores why officials have zeroed in on speed limits and enforcement for younger riders.
Injury Data Behind The Push For New Rules
The push for tighter regulation comes as emergency-room visits tied to e-bikes and e-scooters in Orange County rose 273% from 2022 to 2025, according to mynews13.com. The same report found that 54% of those 2025 emergency-room visits involved patients 19 or younger, with the largest single age group being riders between 10 and 14 years old.
Separately, the Orange Observer reported that Lauren Torres said e-bike injuries doubled each year between 2017 and 2022, while e-scooter injuries rose 45% over that same stretch, according to orangeobserver.com. Nationwide, children under 14 account for 34% of all e-bike and e-scooter injuries, the same outlet reported.
Other Orange County Cities Have Already Moved On Their Own Rules
Orange County is not alone in tightening the rules of the road for micromobility. Winter Park commissioners unanimously approved their own ordinance restricting the devices, with changes taking effect immediately, according to the Orlando Sentinel, which reported civil penalties of $35 for a first violation and $75 for later ones.
Oviedo has also proposed limiting speeds to 10 mph and potentially banning the devices from certain public places, including parks, with fines ranging from $50 for a first offense up to $250 for repeated violations, per clickorlando.com. Ocoee has already gone further, unanimously approving new rules that set a 10-mph speed limit on sidewalks or within 50 feet of pedestrians and ban stunt riding, wheelies and racing on public property, according to Orlando Weekly. Winter Garden passed its own e-bike ordinance in January, according to mastnewsroom.com's earlier report.
What The Orange County Proposal Would Change
Beyond speed limits, FOX 35 Orlando reported that the proposed ordinance would define different classes of e-bikes and e-scooters, ban carrying passengers on devices designed for a single rider, and require operators to yield to pedestrians. The station also reported the proposal would prohibit minors from operating e-bikes and e-scooters altogether, and that violations could result in civil citations, with law enforcement officers able to impound devices involved in infractions.
FOX 35 Orlando reported that Tuesday's meeting also included discussion of proposals to expand alternative transit options throughout the county, as officials continue addressing safety concerns tied to the growing use of micromobility devices across the region.
