St. Augustine Beach commissioners have approved a sweeping new set of rules governing e-bikes and other electric mobility devices. The city announced the approval of Ordinance 26-06 on September 10, following a commission vote on September 8 that caps months of debate over how to keep young and inexperienced riders safe on increasingly crowded local roads.
The ordinance, which regulates electric bicycles and other mobility devices throughout the city, was approved, according to News4JAX. The article discusses helmet requirements, speed limits, age restrictions and sidewalk-use rules for e-bikes citywide.
How the Rules Work on the Road
The article discusses roadway and sidewalk use, pedestrian interactions, crosswalks, intersections and school zones. Riders must also yield to pedestrians, slow down when passing them, and give an audible signal before doing so.
The article also discusses other aspects of e-bike use and equipment.
Other Enforcement Topics
The article also addresses enforcement.
City meeting records related to commission proceedings are available from City of St. Augustine Beach.
A Statewide Gap Local Cities Are Filling
St. Augustine Beach's move follows a broader pattern across Florida after Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed Senate Bill 382 in June, a bipartisan bill that would have capped e-bike speeds at 10 mph near pedestrians while creating a statewide crash-tracking system, according to the FOX 35 Orlando. The article provides context on the veto.
Closer to home, St. Johns County commissioners passed an August 2025 resolution involving the county sheriff's office and school district and safety assemblies across 17 middle schools and K-8 academies. The article also discusses nighttime visibility for bicycles and e-bikes.
Local Accidents Fueled the Push
The push for tighter rules has been shaped by a string of serious local incidents. In May, a 6-year-old St. Augustine boy suffered brain swelling and required emergency head surgery after being thrown from an e-bike while riding with his older sister near their home — a case Hoodline covered in June. In August, Nease High School teacher and local performer Derek Coghlan, who has taught English in the district since 1997, was hospitalized in intensive care following a severe e-bike crash in St. Johns County, generating over $30,000 in community medical fundraising, according to the St. Johns Citizen.
The article references Florida Trend reporting and Hoodline's earlier coverage in its broader discussion of e-bike safety.
The article does not address whether other St. Johns County municipalities will harmonize their e-bike rules with St. Augustine Beach's ordinance.
