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Item 4H - Memo CITY OF SOUTI-HLAKE Item 4H MEMORANDUM September 15, 2026 To: Alison Ortowski, City Manager From: Ashleigh Casey, Chief of Police Subject: Item 4H: Ordinance No. 735C, 1st Reading, Amending the Bicycle Ordinance to Include Additional Regulations Related to E-bikes and Electric Scooters. Action Requested: Item 4H: Approve Ordinance No. 735C, 1st Reading, amending Chapter 18, "Traffic and Vehicles" of the Southlake City Code by adding IIIA "Bicycles and Motorized Scooters." Background Information: The purpose of this item is to seek Council approval amending the City's bicycle ordinance to include additional regulations related to e-bikes and motorized scooters. Over the past year, the Police Department has received an increase in resident complaints and concerns regarding the operation of e-bikes and motorized scooters within the community. In response, staff sought City Council direction earlier this summer regarding the development of local regulations addressing these mobility devices. Based on Council's direction, staff proceeded with the development of the proposed regulations for City Council consideration. The updated ordinance includes provisions addressing the safe and responsible operation of bicycles, e-bikes, and motorized scooters, including speed limits, permissible areas of operation, required safety equipment, nighttime visibility, and restrictions intended to reduce unsafe or distracted riding behaviors. Notably, the ordinance prohibits the operation of bicycles, e-bikes, and motorized scooters on sidewalks within the Town Square District, which will require riders to dismount and walk their devices when using those sidewalks. The ordinance also establishes additional requirements for juvenile riders and provisions addressing parental responsibility for violations involving children. A summary of the proposed updates is below: Section 18-97 — Helmet Requirements Requires children under eighteen years of age to wear a helmet when Item 4H operating or riding a bicycle, a-bike, or motorized scooter, including when riding in an attached carrier, trailer, or similar device. The section also establishes parental responsibility for ensuring compliance with the helmet requirement. Section 18-98 — Passengers Prohibits carrying more passengers on a bicycle, a-bike, or motorized scooter than the device is designed and equipped to accommodate, while allowing properly designed and equipped child carriers, sidecars, and trailers. Section 18-99 — Sale or Lease by Dealers Requires dealers selling covered mobility devices to provide purchasers with written information regarding applicable ordinance requirements. Dealers leasing devices for use by children must also provide a helmet or verify that an appropriate helmet is available. Section 18-100 — Operation of Bicycles, E-Bikes and Motorized Scooters Incorporates applicable State laws governing the operation of bicycles, e- bikes, and motorized scooters, including required safety equipment. Section 18-101 — Restrictions and Prohibitions Establishes local operating and safety restrictions, including speed limits on sidewalks and city trails; applicable roadway and a-bike speed limits; age restrictions for Class 3 e-bikes; nighttime lighting requirements; and restrictions on unsafe or distracted riding, including prohibiting the use of headphones or mobile electronic devices while operating bicycles, e- bikes, and motorized scooters. In addition, the section prohibits riding bicycles, e-bikes, and motorized scooters on sidewalks within the Town Square District, requiring riders to use an otherwise lawful area of operation or dismount and walk their devices on Town Square sidewalks. It also restricts operation on unimproved public property and certain higher-speed roadways and establishes parental responsibility for violations involving children under 18 years of age. Finally, this section prohibits the operation of pocket bikes or mini motorbikes on any public property including roadways, sidewalks or city-wide trails. Section 18-102 — Offenses and Penalties Establishes violations as Class C misdemeanor offenses punishable by fines of up to $500 for each of the first two offenses. A third or subsequent violation involving an a-bike or motorized scooter within a 12- month period, or a first or subsequent violation involving a pocket bike or mini motorbike may also result in impoundment of the device involved, with release subject to applicable fines and impoundment fees. An owner retrieving an impounded vehicle must be eighteen (18) years of age or accompanied by a parent or guardian. Item 4H Strategic Link: This request aligns with the focus area of safety & security on the City's strategy map and B1: Achieving strong outcomes through continual evaluation and pursuit of better practices that improve core business operations. Citizen Input/ Board Review: Not Applicable. Legal Review: Proposed ordinance and amendments reviewed by City Attorney. Alternatives: City Council may elect not to adopt the proposed amendments. In that event, the Police Department will continue addressing e-bike and motorized scooter violations under existing State law. Supporting Documents: Attachment A: Proposed Ordinance 735C. Staff Recommendation: Item 41-1: Approve Ordinance No. 735C, 1st Reading, amending Chapter 18, "Traffic and Vehicles" of the Southlake City Code by adding IIIA "Bicycles and Motorized Scooters." Staff Contact: Ashleigh Casey, Chief of Police Attachment A ORDINANCE NO. 735C AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE AMENDING CHAPTER 18, "TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES" OF THE SOUTHLAKE CITY CODE BY ADDING IIIA "BICYCLES" TO ADD REGULATIONS FOR ELECTRIC BICYCLES AND MOTORIZED SCOOTERS; PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE CUMULATIVE OF ALL ORDINANCES; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS HEREOF; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City of Southlake, Texas (the "City"), is a home rule city acting under its charter adopted by the electorate pursuant to Article XI, Section 5, of the Texas Constitution and Chapter 9 of the Local Government Code; and WHEREAS, the City is empowered to enact regulations that promote the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens. WHEREAS, the City Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare to enact this ordinance to regulate bicycles, electric bicycles, or motorized scooters. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, THAT: SECTION 1. Article IIIA "Bicycles" of Chapter 18, "TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES," of the Southlake City Code is hereby amended to read as follows: "ARTICLE IIIA. — BICYCLES, ELECTRIC BICYCLES, AND MOTOR ASSISTED SCOOTERS Sec. 18-95. - Purpose. The purpose of this article is to protect the health and safety of individuals who operate or ride upon a bicycle, electric bicycle, motor assisted scooter, or any side car, trailer, child carrier, seat, or other device attached to a bicycle, electronic bicycle, or motor assisted scooter. Sec. 18-96. - Definitions. In this article: Page 1 of 7 Attachment A Bicycle means a human powered vehicle with two wheels in tandem designed to transport by a pedaling action a person seated on a saddle seat. Child means any person under 18 years of age. City means the City of Southlake, Texas. Dealer means a commercial establishment that sells or leases new or used bicycles, electric bicycles, or motor assisted scooters whether its principal business activity, or in connection with the selling or leasing of other merchandise, from a place of business within the city. Electric bicycle has the same meaning as it does in Texas Transportation Code § 664.001. Helmet means a properly fitted bicycle helmet that is not structurally damaged and that conforms to the standards of the American National Standards Institute, the American Society for Testing and Materials, the Snell Memorial Foundation or another federal agency having regulatory jurisdiction over bicycle helmets, as applicable, at the time of the manufacture of the helmet. Parent means the natural or adoptive parent or court-appointed guardian or conservator of a child. Pocket bike or mini motorbike has the same meaning as it does in Texas Transportation Code § 551.351. Public way means property that is publicly owned or maintained, including, but not limited to, a street or highway, a sidewalk, a publicly maintained trail, and a public park facility. Wearing a helmet means that the person has a helmet fastened securely to the person's head with the straps of the helmet securely tightened. Motor Assisted Scooter has the same meaning as it does in Texas Transportation Code § 551.107. Sec. 18-97. - Helmet required. (a) A child commits an offense if the child operates or rides a bicycle, electric bicycle or motor assisted scooter, or rides in a side car, trailer, child carrier, seat, or other device attached to a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motor assisted scooter unless the child is wearing a helmet. (b) A parent commits an offense if the parent allows a child to operate or ride a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motor assisted scooter, or ride in a side car, trailer, carrier, seat, Page 2 of 7 Attachment A or other device attached to a bicycle or electric bicycle unless the child is wearing a helmet. (c) It is presumed that a parent allowed a child to operate or ride a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motor assisted scooter, or ride in a side car, trailer, carrier, seat, or other device attached to a bicycle or electric bicycle without wearing a helmet. (d) It is a defense to prosecution that the bicycle, electric bicycle or motor assisted scooter was not being operated upon a public way at the time of the alleged offense. Sec. 18-98. - Passengers. (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter on a public way carrying on the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter more persons at one time than the number of persons for which the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter was originally designed and equipped. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the person was in a child carrier, side car, or trailer specifically designed and manufactured for the purpose of carrying or pulling a passenger on, beside, or behind a bicycle, electric bicycle or motorized scooter and that the carrier, side car, or trailer was equipped with a harness to hold the person securely in the seat and that protection was provided to keep the feet or hands of the person from hitting the spokes of the wheel of the bicycle or electric bicycle. Sec. 18-99. - Sale or lease of a bicycle by dealers. (a) A dealer commits an offense if the dealer sells a bicycle, electric bicycle, motorized scooter, bicycle side car, trailer, or child carrier without providing a written statement to the purchaser advising of the terms of this section. The statement shall be in a form promulgated by the chief of police or the chief's designee. Upon request, the chief of police or the chief's designee shall provide a sample of the required form to the dealer. However, printing and distribution of copies shall be at the dealer's expense. (b) A dealer may not lease a bicycle, electric bicycle or motorized scooter to a person for use by a child unless the dealer: (1) Provides a helmet for the use of each child who will operate or ride on the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter; or (2) Determines that each child who will operate or ride on the bicycle, electric bicycle or motorized scooter has a helmet available. Page 3 of 7 Attachment A (c) Dealer may impose an additional fee for use of a helmet if the dealer sells or leases a helmet to a bicycle, electric bicycle or motorized scooter lessee. Sec. 18-100. - Operation of bicycles, electric bicycles and motorized scooters. The operation of bicycles, electric bicycles, and motorized scooters in the city is subject to the state law rules and regulations governing the operation of bicycles, electric bicycles and motorized scooters as contained in Texas Transportation Code Chapters 551, 552, 542, 551, and 664 incorporated herein by reference, including but not limited to the required safety equipment. Sec. 18-101. - Restrictions and prohibitions. (a) It is a violation for a person to: (1) Operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter on a sidewalk in excess of fifteen (15) miles per hour. (2) Operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter on a city-wide trail in excess of fifteen (15) miles per hour. (3) Operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter on a public roadway in excess of the posted speed limit or the restriction under Texas Transportation Code § 664.001, as amended. (4) Operate a Class 1 or 2 electric bicycle, as defined by state law, above 20 miles per hour. (5) Operate a Class 3 electric bicycle, as defined by state law, if the person is under the age of fifteen. (6) Operate a Class 3 electric bicycle, as defined by state law, above 28 miles per hour. (7) Operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter on any sidewalk within the Town Square District. (8) Operate an electric bicycle or motorized scooter on unimproved public property except for brief crossing access to paved surfaces. (9) Operate a motorized scooter, when no sidewalk is available, on roadways with a speed limit of 35 mph or more. (10) Operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter at nighttime unless it is equipped with a lamp on the front of the bicycle that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet in front of the device and a red reflector on the rear of the device which is visible from a Page 4 of 7 Attachment A distance from fifty (50) to three hundred (300) feet to the rear of the device, or a lamp that emits a red light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear of the device. (11) Operate an electric bicycle or motorized scooter if the electric motor does not disengage or cease to function either when the operator stops pedaling or when the breaks are applied. (12) Operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter with fewer than all wheels on the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter in contact with the ground. (13) Operate a bicycle or electric bicycle when not on or astride a permanent or regular seat if the person is a child. (14) Operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter while operating an electronic mobile device, or wearing headphones or in-ear monitors that could distract the rider or impair the rider's hearing if the person is a child. (15) Operate a pocket bike or mini motorbike on any highway, road, street, sidewalk, or city-wide trail. (b) It is a violation for a parent to: (1) Authorize or knowingly permit a child to violate any of the provisions of this Article or to violate any of the laws of the State of Texas regulating the operation of any bicycle, electric bicycle, motorized scooter, pocket bike or mini motorbike within the City. (2) It is presumed that a parent allowed his/her child to operate or ride a bicycle, electric bicycle, motorized scooter, pocket bike or mini motorbike in a prohibited area or in a prohibited manner. Sec. 18-102. — Offense and Penalty. (a) Any person, firm or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each of the first two (2) offenses. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense. (b) Upon a third or subsequent violation of any provision of this Article related to a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized scooter within a twelve (12) month period by a person, the enforcing peace officer is authorized to impound the bicycle, electric Page 5 of 7 Attachment A bicycle, or motorized scooter involved in the violation. The City shall provide written notice to the owner of the impoundment. (c) Upon a first or any subsequent violation of this Article, the enforcing peace officer is authorized to impound the pocket bike or mini motorbike involved in the violation. The City shall provide written notice to the owner of the impoundment. (d) Any bicycle, electric bicycle, motorized scooter, pocket bike or mini motorbike impounded under this section shall be released to the owner upon payment of all applicable fines and impoundment fees as set by the City from time to time. An owner retrieving an impounded vehicle must be eighteen (18) years of age or accompanied by a parent or guardian." SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall be cumulative of all provisions of ordinances and of the Southlake City Code, as amended, except where the provisions of this ordinance are in direct conflict with the provisions of such ordinances and such Code, in which event the conflicting provisions of such ordinances and such Code are hereby repealed. SECTION 3. It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, and sections of this Ordinance are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, or section of this Ordinance shall be declared unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining, phrase, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, or sections of this Ordinance since the same would have been enacted by the City Council without incorporation in this Ordinance of any such unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section. SECTION 4. Any person, firm or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects or refuses to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this Ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). Each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense. SECTION 5. All rights and remedies of the City are expressly saved as to any and all violations involving the matters regulated herein which have accrued at the time of the effective date of this Ordinance; and, as to such accrued violations and all pending litigation, both civil and criminal, whether pending in court or not, under such ordinances same shall not be affected by this Ordinance but may be prosecuted until final disposition by the courts. Page 6 of 7 Attachment A SECTION 6. The City Secretary of the City of Southlake is hereby directed to publish in the official newspaper of the City of Southlake, the caption and penalty clause clause of this Ordinance as authorized by Section 3.13 of the City Charter. SECTION 7. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as required by law, and it is so ordained. PASSED AND APPROVED ON FIRST READING ON THIS DAY OF 2026. MAYOR, SHAWN MCCASKILL ATTEST: CITY SECRETARY, AMY SHELLEY PASSED AND APPROVED ON SECOND READING ON THIS DAY OF , 2026. MAYOR, SHAWN MCCASKILL ATTEST: CITY SECRETARY, AMY SHELLEY EFFECTIVE: APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: CITY ATTORNEY Page 7 of 7