Council to consider reversing electric bike ban on sidewalks after public safety committee vote
Committee also wants to ban Lee County's free tram service
The Town of Fort Myers Beach Public Safety Committee, an advisory committee to the town council, is calling for the town council to reverse the ordinance that bans electric bikes on sidewalks and to tell Lee County thanks but no thanks for the free tram service that services the island each tourist season.
Four members of the Public Safety Committee met last week and passed a resolution that supported reversing the town’s ordinance that restricts electric bikes from the sidewalk.
The town council has listened and in less than a week’s time has quickly put up for discussion an ordinance that would reverse the town’s ban on electric bikes on sidewalks. A first reading of an ordinance that is still being put together is scheduled for the town council’s March 3 meeting.
Public Safety Committee Chair Dawn Thomas said she also wants the town to direct bicyclists to travel the same direction as vehicle traffic. Committee member Jim Knickle called for signs that direct bicyclists to follow the direction of vehicle traffic and an electric bike speed limit of 10 miles per hour.
“The bikes are going to encroach on the pedestrian lines sometimes,” Knickle said.
Committee member Keran Farrell called for rescinding the town’s ordinance that restricts electric bikes on sidewalks. Farrell said he believes the town also needs to reach out to Lee County, which owns Estero Boulevard.
Thomas received unanimous support for rescinding the town’s ordinance, with Knickle and Farrell joined by member Todd Capela.
Thomas said electric bikes should “not be going 30 miles per hour.”
Thomas said bicyclists should “use their common sense” and pedal. She said there could be a discussion about whether the electric bikes should be going less than 10 miles per hour.
Thomas said there should also be sections of the town where bicyclists should be directed to get off their bikes and walk.
“Right now they are getting off their bikes anyway. There is not enough room,” Thomas said. “It’s too congested.”
Thomas also proposed a railing from Times Square to High Street and to take off some of the sidewalk to create a wider bike lane.
“I think that would eliminate people crossing in the road,” Thomas said.
Thomas said some bicyclists are afraid to ride their bikes in the road.
Tom Yozzo, the town’s operations and compliance manager for neighborhood services, said there was recently an accident on the sidewalk involving a bicyclist on an electric bike. The bicyclist was transported to the hospital, Yozzo said. No other individuals were involved in the accident, he said.
Thomas said she wants the town to reach out to bike rental companies to inform them of the town’s rules.
The matter has quickly been put on the town council’s agenda to be put up for discussion on March 3.
A poll of Fort Myers Beach Observer readers earlier this month found that 60% of respondents wanted to continue the ban on electric bikes on sidewalks.
Committee members want to ban Lee County’s tram
Capela also called for the town to put a stop to the free Lee County tram service.
“That tram has got to go,” Capela said.
“How do we get rid of the tram?,” Thomas said. “Do we have to go to Lee County and go talk to them?”
Thomas said she supported Capela. “I’m with you,” she said.
Capela asked Yozzo if the committee could approach Lee County officials about ending the tram service on Lee County or if they had to request the town council to do so.
Yozzo informed the advisory committee member that they need to go through the town council.
“It’s useless. There are never more than six people on it,” Capela said.
“It holds up all the traffic,” Thomas said.
“It only goes 11 miles per hour and I have clocked it a thousand times. It serves no purpose,” Capela said.
The trams are often used by town visitors, especially seniors and families, during the day and night. The trams are most busy during busy holidays such as on New Year’s Eve when they can be completely full though on other weekdays during the slower parts of season they are less busy.
The tram runs from Bowditch Point Regional Park to the Fort Myers Beach Public Library throughout the day and night.
Thomas said she supports the tractor ride proposal for the beach as proposed by Mayor Dan Allers, to transport residents along the beach. “You get the view of the Gulf, you are not going to injure anyone,” Thomas said. “We can start it after turtle season.”
Thomas said she would like to see mats on the beach as well.
Thomas said the beachside tractors would eliminate the need for the trams.
Farrell said he would start the tractors at Newton Beach Park. Knickle called it a “great idea.”
Yozzo said the beach tractor proposal, as championed by Allers, still has issues that will need to be addressed. He recommended the committee meet with the town’s environmental project manager Chadd Chustz to discuss any environmental issues or “possible negatives.”
“Because there were some?,” Thomas asked.
Yozzo said there could be issues with Turtle Time, birds and erosion on the island’s vegetation and potential traffic issues with beachgoers.
“When it’s busy on the street, it’s busy on the beach as well,” Yozzo said.
Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg can be reached at NMayberg@breezenewspapers.com