A committee analyzing scooters and other small vehicles in Highland Village recommended the current scooter ordinance be rescinded and replaced at the July 25 meeting.
That information was shared with the Highland Village City Council during a work session. Highland Village Police Chief Doug Reim said he wants to replace the scooter ordinance with a micromobility ordinance, which would include other vehicles. He suggested amending other ordinances—for parks and trails, for instance—at the same time so they would be in concert with the micromobility ordinance.
No action was taken at the meeting. Reim will now put information that was discussed at the work session into an ordinance that will then be reviewed by the city attorney, said City Manager Paul Stevens, in an email.
"I think we will be looking at September for consideration of this ordinance," Stevens said.
The background
Reim explained some accidents occurred with scooters, which are micromobility vehicles, near the end of the school year. A scooter working committee consisting of city department heads, Highland Village police officials and one City Council member was also created to look at the safety issues related to the vehicles and offer ideas.
“Everyone had input who was there,” Reim said.
The details
In his presentation, Reim showed initial goals of the working group were to update the scooter ordinance and other related ordinances and examine education, safety, enforcement standards, community standards and the “ability to maintain versatility for future needs,” he said. The ending goals of the working group were to establish an ordinance defining micromobility and allowed devices with emphasis on education, safety, enforcement, community standards and the ability to maintain versatility for future needs.
Micromobility is defined as small, lightweight vehicles operating at below 15 mph and can include scooters along with bicycles, skateboards and electric skateboards, according to Reim’s presentation.
The options
Reim said the group recommends no gas-powered vehicles on the city’s sidewalks and trail system and that micromobility vehicles adhere to a speed limit of no more than 28 mph. Reim said the group examined a number of other issues, such as speed, trails, usage on roads, permits and helmets, and other vehicles that can be considered as micromobility vehicles, such as Segways, hover boards and one-wheeled skateboards.
The committee came up with an agreement that would require no minimum age for use of micromobility devices and that they could be allowed on trails and sidewalks. Roadway use is restricted to or is in accordance with state law, the presentation stated. No permits would be required.
However, a recommended safety course would be required for violators, and people would have to walk their micromobility vehicles through crosswalks.
In addition, the group recommended more signage on trails, no golf carts on trails and school resource officers conducting safety courses during the school year.
No consensus was reached regarding helmets, such as whether they be required and what age would be dictated for usage. A proposed fine schedule also would include fines after the first offense for vehicle infractions.
Educating vehicle users on safety would be imperative, Reim said.
