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Mayor’s Message

ith the summer months upon us, I’m sure many of us have already
made plans to slow down our pace and maybe even spend some time
Waway from the heat and humidity. This is also a time when getting a
reservation at a restaurant or a seat at the movie theater should be a little easier.
It’s also traditionally a time when traffic is a little lighter.
Helping reduce traffic congestion was part of the theory behind electric scooters.
Would fewer people drive their cars and instead use the scooter as an alternative?
Since its inception last fall, some 1 million rides have been logged in the city. With
their popularity, scooters have removed traffic that would have occurred on our
congested streets. Some residents use scooters for short trips rather than driving
their car, while some tourists have used scooters instead of taxis or ride-share
applications. Nonetheless, electric scooters have deeply divided public opinion.
Many love their convenience, but many others see them as a dangerous nuisance.
At the beginning, state law only allowed them to travel on the sidewalks. But now,
things have changed.
Legislators in Tallahassee recently gave cities greater authority to regulate scooters.
Dean Trantalis
Mayor, As a result, the rest of the City Commission and I have instructed our staff and legal
City of Fort Lauderdale team to come up with some stronger rules ensuring our streets and sidewalks are as
safe as possible.
So, with the new law, what does the city plan to do to improve safety?
First, we want to protect pedestrians on the beach and Las Olas. We are looking to
prohibit the use of scooters on the sidewalks in those two areas. Instead, we would
require they be ridden in the bike lanes. This is a very needed change because
these areas are where most of our complaints occur.

Second, staff is working on ordinance language to better utilize technology built
into the scooters. They are considering if we could create zones with special speed
limits and prohibitions on parking.
We also are looking at prohibiting the parking of scooters on sidewalks that are
less than 5 feet wide. And, we would update the “high-impact event ordinance”
that we used to prohibit scooters on the barrier island during Spring Break. We
cannot allow scooters to interfere with the quality of life many enjoy through the
pedestrian experience on our beach and in our shopping districts.

Finally, staff is drafting an overhaul of the permitting process for the companies
offering scooters in the city.
Office Contact:
Scott Wyman A set of proposed regulations should be ready for the City Commission to consider
Assistant to the Mayor
Email: swyman@fortlauderdale.gov shortly after we return from our summer break in late August. Scooters may be part
Phone: 954.828.5004 of the fabric of the community now, but as the leaders of the community, we are
committed to ensuring our city streets and sidewalks are safe for all who use them. I
look forward to approving the regulations as soon as possible.
Soccer deal signed
Before the commission went on its summer recess, we finalized the long-term deal with
soccer superstar David Beckham and his Inter Miami franchise. The deal will transform
the 64-acre Lockhart stadium site into something truly incredible, with Beckham’s soccer
group shouldering the cost. This is the beginning of an exciting future for Fort
Lauderdale that will bring more recreation and sports opportunities to our residents.

10 The Landings & Bay Colony