A new Flower Mound ordinance establishes requirements for children operating micromobility devices, such as scooters, and bicycles along with setting penalties for noncompliance.

Council unanimously voted to adopt a new ordinance, which is set to take effect June 4, at its May 5 meeting.

“There was discussion about ensuring that we give folks time to comply with this, specifically the safety equipment for riding at nighttime,” said JP Walton, Flower Mound’s chief strategic officer. “It should give everybody a month to get all the safety equipment, helmets [and] whatever you need in place.”

What you need to know

According to city documents, a micromobility device is defined as a vehicle operated as one person with a top-assisted speed that does not exceed 28 mph. As part of the regulations, children 14 years old and younger are required to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle or operating a micromobility device.


According to the ordinance, it is also unlawful for a parent to allow a child to operate a micromobility device or ride a bicycle without a helmet on public right-of-way or on public property.

Per city documents, additional regulations include:
  • Requiring micromobility devices and bicycles to have a front light that projects light at least 500 feet.
  • Stipulating either a rear red reflector that shines light between 50 feet and 300 feet or a red lamp that projects light at least 500 feet.
  • Prohibiting the use of handheld devices or headphones and earphones while operating a bicycle or micromobility device on public property or right-of-way.
  • Riders of bicycles or micromobility devices are required to yield right-of-way to pedestrians and must give an audible warning prior to passing.
The first violation of the ordinance carries a fine of $50, but subsequent fines cannot be more than $100. First time offenders can get a refund of the $50 fine if they complete a micromobility safety course offered by the town’s police department within 90 days, Walton said.

Diving deeper

Police Chief David Coulon said the micromobility course will be similar to an existing bicycle safety course. Information on the safety course should also be distributed by the municipal court, he added.


“The way they like to do these kinds of classes is to have a little course set up just to make it fun,” Coulon said. “It will be pretty much the same thing, just updated for this ordinance.”

Town officials previously tabled consideration of the ordinance at the April 21 meeting to address council members’ feedback and incorporate it into the adopted regulations.

What else?

Walton said that town staff will try to communicate the changes through social media, the website and on water bills ahead of the ordinance taking effect in early June, Communications Director Melissa Demmitt said in an email.