Use Of Electric Bikes, Scooter Addressed In New Treasure Island Rules

TREASURE ISLAND, FL — With the growing popularity of electric bicycles, motorized scooters and electric skateboards, the city of Treasure Island City Commission has passed an amendment to its traffic and vehicles ordinance regulating these new "micromobility" vehicles.

Micromobility is an emerging form of transportation that provides an easy and affordable way for people to make short point-to-point trips. They are small, lightweight vehicles that operate at speeds below 20 mph and often share trails and paths with bicycle riders.

Under the new ordinance:

• Micromobility devices are prohibited from operating on the beach.
• Micromobility devices are permitted to operate on the beach trail at a speed of no more than 10 mph.
• The riding of micromobility devices is prohibited on any sidewalk within the city or any area designated by the city where notice is posted.
• Micromobility devices are permitted on the sidewalks on West Gulf Boulevard (Sunset Beach area) where the posted speed limit is less than 35 mph.
• No person under the age of 16 years old can operate a rented micromobility device on Gulf Boulevard or Causeway Boulevard where the posted speed limit is 35 mph or more.
• Any person under the age of 16 years old operating a micromobility device (personal device) must wear a helmet that is properly fitted and fastened securely upon the operator’s chin by a strap that meets the federal safety standard for bicycle helmets.
• All micromobility devices must be parked in designated bike racks or parking corrals when parked on public property.
• All micromobility devices within the city are limited to a speed of 15 miles per hour.
• On the beach trail, the maximum speed limit is 10 miles per hour.

Among the benefits of micromobility devices is eliminating cars from Treasure Island's roads, especially during special events, and eliminating the need to search for hard-to-find parking spaces in the city.

However, city commissioners emphasized that the city has to weigh the amount of traffic removed from city streets with the safety of those walking and biking without the advantage of a motor, especially when using some devices that can reach speeds of up to 28 mph.

Currently, Clearwater, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Madeira Beach, St. Pete Beach and St. Petersburg all have regulations restricting the use of micromobility devices.

During a discussion on the amendments in December, Commissioner Saleene Partridge said she thinks it's too dangerous for micromobility users to ride on the streets but wanted to limit their speeds on sidewalks and bike paths, so they wouldn't endanger pedestrians.

“I don’t want to have an unintended consequence where we are pushing them into the street," she said. "There’s a lot of traffic, but there’s nobody on the sidewalk. That’s the safest place.”

Residents and visitors can rent and ride motorized scooters, skateboards and bikes at several locations in Treasure Island:

• Go X scooters offers rentals at any of 20+ partner locations in Treasure Island, Madeira and St Pete Beach 24/7.
• Electric scooters can also be rented through FriendsWithA.
• Beach to Bay Scooters offers both electric scooters and bicycles.