HOLMES BEACH – Officials here are working towards putting some restrictions on autocycle operations and rentals in the city.
The moratorium, which is scheduled to begin as soon as the ordinance passes a final reading and continue until Feb. 1, 2021, blocks businesses from renting the three-wheeled autocycles in the city. The moratorium allows commissioners time to work on proposed legislation governing the operation and rental of the miniaturized vehicles in the city.
The autocycles look like tiny cars and two different versions are rented on the Island. One version comes from Robinhood Rentals in Anna Maria and the other from The Toy Barn in Holmes Beach. If the moratorium passes, it won’t affect any existing rental businesses in the city which would be grandfathered in.
Commissioners agreed there needs to be some type of regulation for the vehicles, which can pose a safety hazard due to their low profile in comparison to standard vehicles on the road. Some of the vehicles also do not have the ability to travel in reverse and have to be manually pushed. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said he feels the vehicles need some regulation to be operated in the city for safety reasons. Some commissioners had stronger feelings.
Commissioner Pat Morton said he feels some of the drivers of the vehicles are not trained properly by the rental company and drive recklessly, potentially causing harm to themselves and other people.
“People use this city like a playground,” Morton said, adding that he’s seen the vehicles traveling along two-lane streets side-by-side, appearing to race while also being driven too close to pedestrians.
“I think they see it as a beach toy,” Commissioner Carol Soustek said of the autocycle vehicles. “We have enough congestion. I’d like to see some of the toys off the road.”
While the moratorium moves to a first reading at an upcoming regular commission meeting, commissioners also are moving forward with regulation of the autocycles. The draft currently being considered would grandfather in the current businesses renting the vehicles but block any new businesses from coming to the city. It also would prohibit the use of the vehicles on city sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
