Government
Colleyville City Council pushes for e-bike, scooter regulations
Colleyville City Council held a first reading and public hearing regarding electric bike and scooter regulations May 6, though no action was taken at the meeting. The discussion The council recommended prohibiting pocket bikes, which are small, motorized two-wheeled bikes, on public property and heavily restricting Class 3 e-bikes. Those with Class 3 e-bikes would not be allowed on sidewalks and trails if they are under 18, would need liability insurance and would need to be registered with the police department. State law requires that e-bikes are allowed anywhere a regular bike is allowed, Colleyville Assistant City Manager Adrienne Lothery said. Other proposed regulations include prohibiting listening devices for riders under 16, banning children under 10 from driving e-bikes and scooters on public roads and property, prohibiting passengers on e-bikes and scooters unless a child is with their parent and requiring driver identification. What else? Other rules and regulations
include riders obeying all traffic laws, not exceeding 5 mph on sidewalks and trails, prohibiting e-bikes and scooters after dusk unless equipped with front white lights and red rear reflectors and requiring minors to wear helmets on public property. Another City Council consid- eration is holding parents and guardians responsible when their child violates these restrictions. Colleyville officials are also weighing levying fines, required safety classes and seeing the municipal judge, and confiscating the devices for those who break the updated laws. The backstory Talks of placing restrictions on e-bikes and scooters began at an April 1 Colleyville work session before being tabled to the April 15 work session to allot for more time for discussion. The city’s traffic advisory committee, which consists of staff from public safety, public works and city management, looked at state law and ordinances regard- ing e-bikes and scooters from other cities and analyzed police data before drafting a preliminary ordinance prior to the April 1 work session, Lothery said.
Types of bikes that could have city restrictions
Has no pedals, includes electric motor or internal combustion engine.
Pocket bike
Electric scooter
Has electric motor, can be propelled by human power alone.
Equipped with motor for pedal-assist, stops when the bike reaches 20 mph. Equipped with motor that may be used to propel bicycle, stops at 20 mph. Equipped with motor for assistance only when rider is pedaling or when bicycle reaches 28 mph.
Class 1 e-bikes
Class 2 e-bikes
Class 3 e-bikes
As of this edition’s press time there was not a ruling on this ordinance. To see the latest update, visit www.communityimpact.com.
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