Why I want to introduce the ‘Florida Safe Sidewalks Act’ for e-bike safety

*Floridians should have a right to walk safely on their own sidewalks. (Illustration: AI for TPP/ChatGPT)*

Sept. 21, 2026 by David Silverberg, candidate for Florida Senate, District 28

Amidst all the big issues Floridians face, there are also simple, everyday ground-level challenges that need to be addressed.

In fact, one challenge I keep hearing about from friends and neighbors is literally at ground level, indeed on our sidewalks: e-bikes.

E-bikes are everywhere. People keep having to dodge them when walking along the street. Kids are zipping around on them and they can be dangerous for both riders and walkers.

I began thinking what I could do as a state senator to solve this problem.

I’m certainly not the first person to ponder this issue. In fact, this year the Florida legislature passed a regulation, Senate Bill 382, saying that e-bikes weren’t allowed to go faster than 10 miles an hour within 50 feet of a pedestrian. In other words, if you’re riding an e-bike on a sidewalk and you see someone walking, you’ve got to SLOW DOWN.

It makes sense, right? It makes it safer for the rider and safer for the walker.

Get this: This bill passed both the Florida House and the Florida Senate – unanimously. Unanimously! Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives! EVERYONE in the legislature agreed! That almost never happens!

So when the bill got to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk, what did he do? He VETOED IT!

This one person—the only one in the state—stopped a law that all of Florida wanted. DeSantis had his reasons. You can look them up—but I’ll tell you this, they sounded very flimsy to me.

My name is David Silverberg and I’m the Democratic candidate for Florida Senate in District 28. That includes Collier, Hendry and eastern Lee County.

I want everyone to be safe.

If you elect me to the state Senate on November 3rd, I intend to reintroduce these regulations as the “Florida Safe Sidewalks Act” – and if we elect a sane and sensible legislature with a great governor like David Jolly, it has a good chance of becoming law.

This is crazy and we’ve got to stop the craziness in Tallahassee and that’s what I intend to do.

I hope you agree and if you do and you live in Collier, Hendry or eastern Lee County, that you’ll vote for me.

And whether riding an e-bike or walking on the sidewalk, stay safe and be careful out there!

This message is approved by David Silverberg and the David Silverberg4Florida campaign.

See Silverberg4Florida.com for more positions and opportunities to volunteer.

To donate to the campaign, please click here.