Florida Lowering E-Bike Speeds to 10 MPH? Trek’s New Charter+ | TWR Ep 70

A broad coalition of politicians, businesses, and advocacy groups sent a letter to Congress ahead of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s September 30 expiration. The letter urges lawmakers to maintain and increase funding for cycling and pedestrian projects in the next federal transportation package.

The signers include Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R–WV) and Rep. Sam Graves (R–MO), along with ranking members Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D–RI) and Rep. Rick Larsen (D–WA). The coalition also includes organizations such as American Trails, the League of American Bicyclists, PeopleForBikes, Rails to Trails Conservancy, and the Safe Routes Partnership.

Supporters say the letter is a proactive push to ensure that walking and biking investments don’t shrink after the current bill sunsets, particularly if federal priorities shift back toward a more vehicle- and bridge-centric approach. The coalition highlights recent progress in expanding multi-use trail networks nationwide, noting more than 42,500 miles of multi-use trails developed under the current initiative.

Our Take: E-bikes have helped a lot of people discover the benefits of cycling who might not have otherwise given it a shot. But access is only part of the equation. People also need to feel safe. Separated multi-use paths are a big deal for that, and they make riding feel more approachable for beginners, families, and anyone who simply doesn’t want to mix it up with traffic.

With more than 1,100 groups signing on, the message to Congress seems pretty clear: protected, connected places to walk and ride matter, and they’re worth continuing to fund.

Senate Bill 382 and House Bill 243 are moving through the Florida Legislature. Together, the bills aim to improve safety on shared multi-use paths and establish clearer expectations for how e-bikes interact with pedestrians. Under the proposals, riders would need to slow to 10 mph when they’re within roughly 50 feet of pedestrians, yield to them, and give an audible signal (such as a bell or verbal warning) before passing. The measures are framed as safeguards for crowded public spaces that weren’t originally designed with motor-assisted bicycles in mind.

The legislation would also direct law enforcement to more precisely record e-bike-related crashes and establish a task force to analyze e-bike accident data, rider behavior, and interactions with other path users, with an eye toward future regulation.

Supporters say the goal isn’t punishment, but clarity and improved safety where pedestrians and faster-moving riders share the same space. Critics argue the changes could be overly restrictive, or a sign of broader overreach to come.

The bills have not yet become law, but they have cleared early subcommittee stages with broad approval.

Our Take: We’ve been fairly critical of some recent e-bike legislation, but this one seems reasonable. A 10 mph speed when approaching and overtaking pedestrians is already best practice, and turning that expectation into law feels like a fair safety step for both riders and walkers.

The task force also makes sense. We’ve seen too much sloppy reporting that can’t tell a Surron from a Lectric XP, so improving crash reporting and creating a group that can actually study the data feels like a positive move, not a negative one.

• Is there a folding e-bike that comes with a hard case or other option for transportation and storage?
• Does a lightweight folding bike like the Urtopia Carbon Fold ST even need a rack to carry gear?
• Can you get a folding e-bike with BMX-style handlebars?
• How does the new Velotric Discover 3 compare to the old Discover 2?
• Help picking between the Discover 3, and the Nomad 2X.