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Fox13 News reported in late June that Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law which expanded individual cities’ authority to regulate electronic scooters. This bill lifts the restriction which limited the use of e-scooters to sidewalks and allows them to use public streets. Under the new legislation, e-scooter riders have the same rights and duties as riders of bicycles. Four companies in Tampa are participating in the city’s pilot e-scooter program.

In the Tampa Times, Brian Smith, chairman of the Pinellas County Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, said though they realize electric bikes have limited speed and power, scooters are entirely different because they aren’t powered by a person. “A scooter is not prepared to stop or do evasive action to avoid an accident like a bike or a pedestrian can,” Smith said.

Officials in Clearwater passed a six-month ban on e-scooters using its roads while they come up with a plan for regulating them.

According to the News-Press in March 2019, Southwest Florida officials are worried about safety and crowding on sidewalks in shopping districts. Sanibel Vice Mayor Mick Denham told the News-Press that the use of scooters in business or tourism areas poses safety hazards and threatens to clutter access to such attractions as Sanibel’s resort destinations and downtown restaurants in Fort Myers.

In December 2018, the Naples City Council was not interested in having electric, dockless scooters in the city and wanted to prevent scooter companies from coming to the area.

BusinessInsider.com reported in February 2019:

• Since 2017, electric scooter startups like Bird and Lime have spread across the U.S. and internationally.
• Concerns have been raised about the safety of the dockless vehicles, which people often ride without a helmet.
• Collating injury data has been tricky, but a new investigation from Consumer Reports shows a bare minimum of 1,545 accidents over the past year. This data is incomplete, so the actual figure could be higher.

The media reported recently that a Tampa man, riding an e-scooter, was struck and killed by a truck.

“This is a very controversial issue for our area and raises many concerns, including the use of helmets and liability. Should you or a loved one be injured in an e-scooter accident because of someone else’s negligence, please contact our legal team. We represent people involved in numerous types of personal injury and wrongful death accidents throughout the state of Florida. All of our clients have unique personal injury cases. Our firm provides personal contact and communication along with aggressive representation,” said Fort Myers Injury Lawyer Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Fort Myers Car Accident Attorney, Cape Coral Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.