Rather than ban e-bikes outright, Pinecrest took what officials call an education-first approach, combining speed limits with mandatory training to reduce conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists, and micromobility users.
The Village of Pinecrest's new micromobility ordinance, passed in May 2026, requires riders younger than 16 who operate Class 2 e-bikes to complete free safety training alongside a parent or guardian before they can legally ride on village paths or sidewalks. The parent must also sign a safety acknowledgment form, valid for two years.
E-bike and e-scooter injuries at Memorial Healthcare System jumped 178% from 2024 to 2025, with kids ages 12 to 15 making up the largest share of pediatric cases. Pinecrest officials responded with one of South Florida's most detailed local e-bike laws, and it comes with an unusual requirement: parents have to sit in the classroom, too.
The ordinance sets a 15 mph speed limit on shared-use paths, including Kendall Linear Park, and a 10 mph limit on village sidewalks. Violators face a $250 fine for a first offense and $500 for repeat violations.
"Our goal is to educate families before a serious accident happens," Pinecrest Police Chief Jason Cohen told the Pinecrest Tribune. "By bringing parents and children into the classroom together, we're helping everyone better understand the rules of the road and how to ride safely."
Rule designed to save lives
Among pediatric patients treated at Memorial, 82% of injured riders were not wearing helmets. Nicklaus Children's Hospital reported its own surge, according to NBC Miami: e-bike cases climbed from six in 2021 to 37 in 2025, roughly a 517% increase. By mid-2025, Nicklaus had already treated 46 children with e-bike injuries, NBC Miami reported.
South Florida has also seen fatal collisions involving young riders, including a 66-year-old woman killed by a 12-year-old boy on an e-bike.
The local ordinance comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed Senate Bill 382, a statewide e-bike regulation measure that Coral Gables had championed, according to the Gables Gazette. With no state framework in place, other Miami-Dade municipalities have been writing their own rules. Sunny Isles Beach approved an ordinance banning riders under 16 from renting or riding e-bikes and prohibiting e-bikes on sidewalks entirely, using the same $250/$500 fine structure.
How to register
The Pinecrest Police Department began offering free training sessions in July. Classes cover the differences between bicycles, electric bicycles, and electric motorcycles; Florida laws and village regulations; and safe riding practices. Sergeants Josue Mangual and Alberto Ulloa are among the instructors. The first session was held Saturday, July 25, at the Pinecrest Police Department inside the Pinecrest Municipal Center.
Registration is open and space is limited. Families can sign up by calling 305-234-2100 or emailing [email protected].
