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Featured Story

When Cool Turns Dangerous: The E-Bike Debate

I remember when I was a teen, the cool thing was to have a motorcycle. Most teens didn’t actually have motorcycles, but it was definitely aspirational. A sign of independence. A taste of freedom. In our teenage minds, it was the ultimate version of being the coolest thing on two wheels.

Parents, of course, were dead set against it. Chasing triple digits on two wheels with little protection tends to be frowned upon, even though there was a lot less traffic around here back then. Still, a few lucky kids managed to get a motorcycle or a moped by senior year, and yes, they were the coolest kids that year. But coolness came with a price. Every month, you’d hear about some teen or young adult succumbing to the thrill of speed and adventure.

Fast forward to today, and the cool wheels have changed. Motorcycles have given way to electric bikes. And while they don’t sound nearly as cool as a motorcycle, they might actually be more dangerous.

Just last week, local high school students from Freedom High School teamed up with State Representative Susan Valdes to officially file a bill in Tallahassee aimed at boosting e-bike safety for young riders. The proposal, known as House Bill 667, would require riders under 18 to wear helmets, raising the age of the current helmet mandate from under 16 to under 18.

These students aren’t doing this for fun. They lost a classmate in an e-scooter accident, a loss that shook their community and highlighted the very real risks these devices carry when safety is ignored.

And honestly, it’s hard not to notice the problem playing out in real time. Just last week, while driving through Riverview near Summerfield, I had to avoid a teen on an e-bike who decided the center of the highway was a great place to ride. Then yesterday, a kid I’d guess was around ten narrowly avoided a collision as he wheelied his e-bike straight through a stop sign. Helmets are a great idea, but they aren’t a full solution.

At least with motorcycles, you need a license, and the vehicles are built for the road. E-bikes bounce from sidewalks to highways to front yards, often at speeds fast enough to severely punish even small mistakes.

As someone who rode motorcycles for much of my younger life and who’s been guilty of pushing speed limits and popping the occasional wheelie, I don’t want to sound like a hypocrite. But choosing to be reckless at 25 is very different from being reckless at 12.

We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Do your kids have e-bikes? What rules do you set in place to keep them safe? Are you in favor of tighter regulations, or are you completely anti e-bike and wouldn’t let your kids near one at all?

Email us at [email protected] and tell us what you think.

The Southshore Circle wants to know.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

What’s On Your Christmas List

This season is all about the kids. BUT what about us? And just for clarity, we’re not buying any gifts 😅 Best we can do is a gift card to a local spot. But we do want to know… what’s on your Christmas list this year?

Is it that center console you’ve been eyeing for a decade? The one you swear you’re finally going to pull the trigger on every year but never do. Maybe it’s a new garage. You know, one with overhead storage and a floor that doesn’t look like it came straight out of a horror movie. (We know a girl.)

Or maybe you’re swinging for the fences. A kitchen upgrade. A backyard glow-up. New floors. A whole new house. No judgment here. Santa’s workload has been heavy this year.

For some of us, the wish list is practical. Less clutter. More space. Fewer things breaking at the same time. For others, it’s indulgent. The boat. The bike. The thing you absolutely don’t need but have wanted forever.

Whatever it is, consider this your official invitation to put it out into the universe. Write it down. Say it out loud. Or at the very least, tell us.

Email us with what’s at the top of your Christmas list. Big, small, realistic, or wildly optimistic. And if Santa still takes requests from the 18-and-up crowd, we’ll make sure he gets the message.

Send your wishes to [email protected].

You never know. Stranger things have happened around here. 🎄

Southshore Spotlight

The Jackson Copeland Foundation

The Jackson Copeland Foundation is a Florida-based nonprofit dedicated to fighting leukemia and supporting patients and families facing a diagnosis. The foundation was created in memory of Jackson Rees Copeland, a U.S. Navy Reserve member who battled acute myeloid leukemia with strength and resilience.

Nominate your local hero by emailing us at [email protected]

We Know a Guy…or Girl

Southshore Services

Need a painter? A plumber? Someone brave enough to tackle that lightbulb orbiting 30 feet above your living room? We’ve got you. And the best part, they’re all right here in our community.

(Updates are almost finished. We’ll be ringing in the new year with a new look and an easier interface to help you locate the best of what Southshore has to offer.)

Interested in joining the list? Shoot us an email to [email protected]

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Marcos Pizza

Marco’s Pizza in Southshore is a go-to spot when you’re craving fresh, made-to-order pizza without the wait. Known for its dough made fresh daily, flavorful sauce, and generous toppings, it’s an easy choice for family dinners, game nights, or feeding a hungry crowd. Whether you’re grabbing a classic pepperoni or building your own, Marco’s delivers quick service and consistent quality right here in the neighborhood.

If you’ve got a restaurant, food truck, or even a lemonade stand, it could be featured here. Email us at [email protected]

Local Sports

Our area high schools boast state champions and multiple division titleists. Come out and show your support for these teams and for our community.

Don’t miss your last chance to catch some of these local teams before 2026!

Got news, events, or press releases that the Southshore needs to know about? Submit them here. (We’ll do our best to add press releases in our regular rotation.) If you’re looking to run an actual ad, go here instead.

Until next time,

Keep It Local.