Colleyville held its first reading and public hearing regarding e-bike and scooter regulations May 6, which included updated regulations and recommendations involving the electric devices.

No motion was passed and the second reading will occur May 13.

What you need to know

During the meeting, City Council and staff specifically discussed the requirements for Class 3 e-bikes including owners registering the bikes with the police department, getting an identifying sticker and having liability insurance.

Additionally, individuals under 18 riding a Class 3 e-bike are prohibited on public sidewalks and trails. According to state law, individuals must be at least 15 to ride a Class 3 e-bike.

Colleyville officials also discussed prohibiting pocket bikes on public property, restricting the e-bikes and scooters to non-local roads and speed and age limits for e-bikes.

Other regulations include:

• Banning listening devices for riders under 16
• Prohibiting passengers on e-bikes unless there is a bike attachments for a parent and child to ride together
• Not allowing usage of e-bikes and scooters on an unimproved surface of public property unless accessing another paved surface or trail
• Prohibiting e-bikes and scooters after dusk unless equipped with proper lighting and reflectors
• Requiring riders under 16 to wear helmets on public property
• Holding parents and guardians responsible for knowingly allowing their child or ward to violate restrictions

The council also suggested punishments that grow more severe with multiple offenses, including a:

• $100 fine and a required safety class for the first offense
• $200 fine and a visit with the municipal judge for the second offense
• $500 fine and a second visit with the municipal judge for the third offense

Starting at the second offense, the device will be confiscated by police and released to the child accompanied by a parent or guardian during business hours, Assistant City Manager Adrienne Lothery said.

More details

One resident spoke during the public hearing stating concerns about the restrictions targeting Class 3 e-bikes, saying his son rides a Class 3 e-bike to work along the Colleyville trail systems, which wouldn't be allowed once the ordinance is passed.

"After reading the whole ordinance, parts of it just seems unnecessary especially the massive amount of restrictions [the city] is putting on Class 3," Colleyville citizen Joseph Thomas said.

City officials stated that the ordinance isn't targeting parents and children who are riding e-bikes responsibly.

"We're just trying to do the best that we can for safety," City Council Member Ben Graves said. "The confiscation is to inconvenience the parent who isn't parenting their kid—we're making you come get it. We're not trying to take anyone's property; we're just trying to get people to help pay attention to these kids that are zipping around."