Electric bikes have become a major trend among adolescents in Miami. Since e-bikes typically do not require a license, they serve as the perfect vehicles for kids under 16. However, they can reach up to 20 mph, which matches the speed of a car traveling at a decent speed. Thus, without a license, kids who have no idea how to drive can be found on major roads engaging in reckless driving.
E-bikes were created in the 19th century; technology has become more advanced since then. Advancements were added to E-bikes during the 2010s that allowed for much higher speeds, control, battery life and many other features, making them more efficient. Since then, e-bikes have become a prominent form of transportation, especially for kids and young adults.
The state of Florida legalized e-bikes in 2019 and had its first e-bike dedicated law in 2020. 2022 saw the largest spike in e-bike sales in American history, with 1.1 million being sold as compared to 368,000 the year before. This number will likely continue to increase, as e-bike usage becomes more trendy among the younger generation, and as a result, more kids are willing to pay for them.
In Miami-Dade County, e-bikes are treated as vehicles and must be on the road or on specially designated bike lanes. The county has faced various issues in 2025, with an unprecedented amount of e-bike crashes occurring, including injuries and even, in some cases, death. After an accident that resulted in a death, Key Biscayne banned e-bikes, and the Village of Palmetto Bay plans to improve bike infrastructure in hopes of preventing more on-road accidents. It is very possible that citizens can expect bans from other areas in the county as well.
E-bikes are a hazard. Yet, Miami-Dade County has failed to take swift action, largely due to the industry and consumer enjoyment that comes from these bicycles. If the county does not take more effective action, e-bike incidents will surely be more frequent. Luckily, conversations have increased within the county government about implementing license requirements in order to drive faster e-bikes, as well as helmet requirements.
There is no debate that the e-bike industry has exploded since the COVID-19 pandemic. Kids often buy them to take advantage of the lack of regulation; the feeling of driving makes one feel more mature. Clearly, this is an issue. Injuries with e-bike related incidents have increased 23% annually since 2017, including fatalities, which makes the lack of swift action more questionable.
Another factor that makes the lack of regulation increasingly concerning is the fact that the percentage of MDC e-bike related incidents is much higher compared to the national average, which definitely reflects a dilemma of the county government failing to respond to an issue that has plagued the county for a few years.
On the other side, another county in Florida, Palm Beach County, has already acted on a county-wide restriction for e-bikes that involves inhibitions of them being on sidewalks in commercial zones, and that kids ages 15 or under may not drive on public roads. It is clear that MDC should follow suit. 10 states are considered restrictive when it comes to legal approaches to e-bikes, and many more have laws that limit the usage e-bikes. Florida is one of 12 states considered “e-bike friendly” in the United States.
The largest issue with imposing limitations on e-bikes would be the loss of money that the industry reigns in. The creation of e-bikes produced jobs, sale and expanded consumerism. However, while the basis of American economics is capitalism, when lives are put at stake, the money provided from the industry is inferior to the safety of citizens.
As incidents continue to increase, it becomes extremely important to note the progress within the county to address and resolve these issues. Although progress is consistently spoken about, noticeable changes have yet to occur.
