The City of Gulf Shores is set to vote on new regulations for e-bike owners and rental companies that are meant to limit reckless driving and encourage safe operation.

Under the proposed regulations, e-bike owners, renters and general users must drive in a safe manner, obey posted signage, wear a helmet if under 18 years old and use a bike that has not been tampered with to increase speed.

Further proposed actions surrounding e-bikes mostly include improvements to Fort Morgan Trail, where the city has proposed to add a 10-mph speed limit with signage, a center stripe and e-bike regulation signs.

Other proposed action includes designating a dismount zone on both sides of Hwy. 59 from 2nd Avenue to Beach Boulevard (from Sunliner Diner and Crico's Pizza to The Hangout).

In this zone, all wheeled modes of transportation, from e-bikes and bikes to skateboards and scooters, are to be walked by users as the area has high pedestrian activity.

ADA compliant mobility devices are set to be exceptions to the dismount zone regulations.

In previous GCM reporting on Gulf Shores' traffic report for 2024, the highest levels of pedestrian crossings were recorded on Hwy. 59 south of Original Oyster House, with the highest number of crossings at 2,323 during the Fourth of July.

Gulf Shores Police Chief Dan Netemeyer, who presented the new ordinances at the Dec. 1 council meeting, said the city is not against e-bikes but that restrictions have become necessary. He said several accidents between e-bikes, assisted motor mobility devices and pedestrians prompted the city to act in setting regulations.

"This is about public safety," he said. "This is not about restricting people's freedoms or restricting personal preference for people, but it's something that needs to be done."

Netemeyer said many e-bikers don't realize they are required to stop at stop signs, travel on the right side of the road, yield to pedestrians and signal when they are turning. All of these are included as definitions of operating in a safe manner.

Alongside the new regulations, the city plans to work on educating the public on how to properly use e-bikes.

E-bike rental companies are facing slightly different regulations. These mostly surround an 18-and-up-age restriction on renters and a proposed 10-miles-per-hour speed limit on bike functions.

During the public comment period, many rental company owners spoke on how the ordinance would affect them.

RENTAL COMPANY AND RESIDENT COMMENT

Five rental company owners spoke during the public comment period and many said companies already follow the proposed restrictions.

The only restriction that faced opposition was the speed limit.

Essentially all rental company owners recommended the city cap the speed at 15 mph as heavier bikes require users to swerve to stay balanced and go at a speed below 10 mph, often causing more dangerous conditions than if the speed limit were 15 mph.

Also, many e-trikes, which are designed to serve riders with mobility challenges, struggle to function at speeds slower than 15 mph.

Brian Krstich, owner of Gulf Shores Bike Rentals, said many rental companies want to work with the city on the ordinance.

"We share the city's goals completely. A safer, more positive culture around e-bikes benefits everyone," he said. "Safety has always been at the heart of what we do, and we appreciate the city's commitment to improving awareness and responsible riding."

Netemeyer and his team visited each bike rental business to get feedback on the ordinance and encourage owners to speak at the council meeting.

Eight Gulf Shores residents spoke about their thoughts on the e-bike restrictions. Most appeared to be in favor of them with many asking questions about the dismount zone, mostly clarifying ADA mobility devices would not be penalized for not dismounting.

One resident, Colby, asked how this ordinance would impact e-bike users operating on private property. He gave the example of a minor "out in front of their house, popping a wheelie" and getting in trouble for reckless operation.

Overall, he said he agreed with many of the regulations presented for e-bike users, but he worried that information would be hard to spread to tourists and even locals.

"What's the point of even enforcing it?" he asked.

Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft said users would be able to operate at their own risk on private property and the ordinance only applies to public and city property.

"If we don't have rules, we can't enforce rules, we can't keep people safe," he said. "It's a public safety issue and the rights to get out and ride and have fun does not supersede the rights of people and their safety."

PROPOSED ACTION FOR USERS AND RENTAL COMPANIES

Many of the e-bike regulations for users surround what defines reckless driving.

Operation in an unsafe manner is considered as operating against traffic; in a culvert, drainage ditch or channel; with passengers, unless designed to do so; more than two side-by-side; at a speed greater than the posted speed limit; on a sidewalk that has not been designated as a multi-use path; while hitched to or attached to a moving vehicle or motorized device; while allowing another person to cling to or be towed by the device; while lifting one or more wheels in the air; while failing to yield to pedestrians at all times; while failing to yield to a vehicle while entering the roadway from a roadway, driveway or sidewalk; and while passing a pedestrian or other cyclist without audibly warning in advance of passing.

Penalties for users who violate the ordinance include a fine for the first offense, which compounds with each additional occurrence within one year.

If an e-bike operator is found to be under the age of 18 and in violation of the ordinance, Gulf Shores Police Department (GSPD) can impound the bike to be released to a parent, legal guardian or owner upon payment of a $50 impoundment fee.

For renters, new regulations detail they must have a mobility vendors license, limit throttle assist to 10 mph for rentals, prohibit the rental of class 3 e-bikes, provide appropriately-sized helmets for all renters, prohibit renters under 18 unless waiver is signed by parent/legal guardian, require all renters to view an educational video prepared by the city, advise the renters on all legal requirements for operation and receive a signature acknowledging understanding of the legal requirements.

Rental bikes will also be subject to regular inspection by GSPD to ensure speed restrictions are in place.

A main change from the current ordinance regulating e-bike rental is that, under the proposed version, rental bikes are no longer impounded if a user drives recklessly.

Upon conviction, vendors who do not follow regulations are subject to civil proceedings, suspension of business license or a $500 fine each day a violation occurs.

Netemeyer said GSPD is putting together a nuisance abatement team (NAT) to focus on e-bike enforcement, traffic complaints, additional resources for beach enforcement and other additional patrol services.

Several audience members questioned how the ordinances would be enforced.
Netemeyer essentially restated what he said at the beginning of his presentation: "What we need to do here is change the culture. Everybody has to make a change. E-bike users, bicycle users, pedestrians and drivers have to understand these are our roads and everybody has the right to co-exist within the limits of the law."

Gulf Shores City Council was set to vote on this item at the Dec. 8 council meeting, but council decided to push the vote to allow for more discussion.