Electric Skateboards – Florida Bicycle Law

Richard asked: I recently purchased an electric skateboard from BoostedBoards (boostedboards.com). These are electric skateboards designed as commuter boards with electric motors, 20mph speeds, and regenerative brakes. I’m perplexed by the place I am legally allowed to journey. I reside in Pinellas County and infrequently use the Pinellas Trail with has indicators permitting EPAMDs (FL ST.NO.316.003.83/FL ST.NO>316.2068/ PCO ORD.NO.90-13(D).

Sidewalk, street, Pinellas Trail?

Answer

Sorry, none of the above. Your skateboard may solely be used on private property.

The EPAMD to which you refer is mostly referred to as a Segway.

s. 316.003 – Definitions

(83)Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device

Any self-balancing, two-nontandem-wheeled device, designed to transport just one person, with an electric propulsion system with average power of 750 watts (1 horsepower), the maximum speed of which, on a paved stage floor when powered solely by such a propulsion system whereas being ridden by an operator e skateboard who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour. Electric private assistive mobility devices usually are not automobiles as outlined in this section.

The statute that you reference applies particularly to these devices.

s. 316.2068 – Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Devices; Regulations

(1) An electric private assistive mobility machine, as outlined in s. 316.003, may be operated:

(a) On a highway or avenue where the posted velocity limit is 25 miles per hour or much less.

(b) On a marked bicycle path.

(c) On any road or highway where bicycles are permitted.

(d) At an intersection, to cross a highway or road even when the street or avenue has a posted pace limit of greater than 25 miles per hour.

(e) On a sidewalk, if the person operating the system yields the suitable-of-option to pedestrians and offers an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.

(2) A legitimate driver license just isn’t a prerequisite to operating an electric personal assistive mobility gadget.

(3) Electric private assistive mobility devices want not be registered and insured in accordance with s. 320.02.

(4) A person who is below the age of 16 years may not function, electric kick scooter experience, or in any other case be propelled on an electric personal assistive mobility system unless the individual wears a bicycle helmet that is correctly fitted, that’s fastened securely upon his or her head by a strap, and that meets the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z Bicycle Helmet Standards), the requirements of the Snell Memorial Foundation (1984 Standard for Protective Headgear for use in Bicycling), or any other nationally recognized standards for bicycle helmets that are adopted by the department.

(5) A county or municipality may regulate the operation of electric personal assistive mobility units on any road, street, sidewalk, or bicycle path beneath its jurisdiction if the governing physique of the county or municipality determines that regulation is critical in the curiosity of security.

(6) The Department of Transportation might prohibit the operation of electric personal assistive mobility gadgets on any highway beneath its jurisdiction if it determines that such a prohibition is critical in the interest of safety.

Your electric skateboard will not be used in the roadway.

s. 316.2065 – Bicycle Regulations

(11) No individual upon roller skates, or riding in or via any coaster, toy vehicle, or comparable machine, may go upon any roadway ….

Further, only registered autos may be operated on the roadway unless particularly excluded from the definition of motorcar.

s. 320.02 – Registration Required; Application for Registration; Forms

(1) Except as in any other case supplied in this chapter, every proprietor or particular person in command of a motorcar that’s operated or driven on the roads of this state shall register the vehicle in this state.

Your vehicle falls beneath the definition of motorcar in the statute however can’t be registered since it isn’t one among the specified vehicles accorded that designation.

s. 320.01 – Definitions, General

As used in the Florida Statutes, besides as in any other case offered, the time period:

(1)”Motor vehicle” means:

(a)An car, motorcycle, truck, trailer, semitrailer, truck tractor and semitrailer mixture, or another vehicle operated on the roads of this state, used to transport individuals or property, and propelled by energy apart from muscular power, but the time period does not include traction engines, street rollers, particular cell tools as outlined in s. 316.003(48), autos that run solely upon a track, bicycles, swamp buggies, or mopeds.

Only vehicles powered by only human power may be used on sidewalks or e scooter supply bike paths unless so said within the statutes.

s. 316.1995 – Driving Upon Sidewalk or Bicycle Path

(1) Except as offered in s. 316.008 or s. 316.212(8), a person may not drive any car apart from by human power upon a bicycle path, sidewalk, or sidewalk area, besides upon a everlasting or duly authorized non permanent driveway.

(3) This part doesn’t apply to motorized wheelchairs.

Local authorities might regulate skateboard use, nonetheless, those rules may not battle with different statutes. On this case, local authorities could not allow the usage of skateboards on the roads, bike paths or sidewalks since other state statutes prohibit them. If you cherished this article and you simply would like to get more info with regards to e scooter supply i implore you to visit our own web site.