E-bike riders in Apollo Beach and Ruskin now face speed limits and fines under an ordinance Hillsborough County commissioners passed unanimously Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The new rules cap speeds at 10 mph on sidewalks, 15 mph on shared-use paths and trails, and 28 mph on roads and bike lanes, as first reported by the Tampa Bay Times. The ordinance covers e-bikes, traditional bicycles, motorized scooters and other micromobility devices.

Because the ordinance applies to unincorporated Hillsborough County, it takes direct effect in Apollo Beach, Ruskin and other South Shore communities.

Riders who break the rules face a $50 civil citation for a first offense. Repeat offenders could be fined up to $500. The ordinance also bans "street takeovers" and "stunt driving," including wheelies and tricks that could endanger others nearby.

Commissioner Harry Cohen, who directed staff to draft the restrictions, said before the vote that he wants a report back in about six months to evaluate how the rules are working. Cohen said Tampa City Council members would take up discussion of the ordinance but may make changes suited to the city's urban environment.

The ordinance applies only to unincorporated areas. Cities within the county can choose to opt in, Cohen said.

Commissioners approved the ordinance without changes, despite concerns raised by safety advocates. Paula Flores, a volunteer with Walk Bike Tampa, said it was unreasonable to ask traditional cyclists to follow speed limits when their bikes lack speedometers. She asked commissioners to prioritize education over punishment.

Emily Hinsdale, president of Sidewalk Stompers, an advocacy group promoting safe bike and pedestrian routes for schoolchildren, proposed changes including a mandated education period, required speed-limit signs and carveouts for traditional cyclists. Hinsdale said the changes were needed to "avoid legal challenges or unintended consequences that target specific racial or socioeconomic groups."

Commissioner Joshua Wostal acknowledged the ordinance language could probably be adjusted. He said the commission should act now even if changes come later.

"It's gotten out of hand," Wostal said.

Law enforcement officials and attorneys urged commissioners to act. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) Colonel David Arthur told commissioners that crashes have doubled since last year. Frank Santini, a personal injury attorney in Riverview, told commissioners in October that more than 700 cyclists were injured in the county last year, according to a news release from his law office.

A Tampa Bay Times analysis counted at least 24 e-bike fatalities across the Tampa Bay region in five years, including seven in Hillsborough County.

The county acted after Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bipartisan state bill that would have set age and speed limits on e-bike riders. DeSantis said the bill would have infringed on Floridians' privacy. Local governments across Florida have since passed a patchwork of their own rules.

The HCSO will enforce the new regulations, with help from the county's Code Enforcement Board and special magistrates, according to the ordinance document.

The sheriff's office is already running extra patrols at high-crash corridors through May 7, 2027, including stretches of US 41 near Gibsonton Drive and Shell Point Road in the South Shore area, according to an HCSO news release.