Online survey is for all county trail users and anyone interested in the topic
Electric bikes (e-bikes) have become a common sight on Pinellas County’s multi-use trails. Their popularity grew in recent years as more people sought to get outdoors during the pandemic and bike shops had trouble stocking traditional bicycles. It has been estimated that 130 million e-bikes will be sold globally between 2020 and 2023.
Now, Pinellas County is conducting an online survey to better understand why people are choosing e-bikes and how they are blending in on our trails. We also want to learn more about what traditional bike riders and other trail users think about e-bikes.
Florida law defines an e-bike as a bicycle or tricycle equipped with fully operable pedals, a seat or saddle, and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. Per Florida Statute 316.20655, they can be operated anywhere a bicycle can be ridden, including bike lanes, streets, sidewalks and multi-use paths.
The survey will be open from April 1 – April 22. It will take 10 minutes at most to complete and can be accessed either directly or on the Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources Trail Guide page. Let us know what you think!
The Future of the Pinellas Trail
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Pinellas Trail last year, Pinellas County asked trail users to help us create our vision for the next 30 years. Many of you who responded to our survey commented about electric bicycles (e-bikes). By definition, an e-bike is a bicycle or tricycle equipped with fully operable pedals, a seat for the rider, and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, similar to that pictured.
These bikes are allowed on the Pinellas Trail, and signage will soon be erected to reflect that. In this survey, we would like to learn more about e-bike use, courtesy, and acceptance on our trails. The survey will be open from April 1 to April 22. Whether you are an e-bike user, a traditional bike rider, or just a fan of the trail, please help us shape our future.
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