Houston City Council approved a ban March 24 on electric scooters from sidewalks, parking spaces and other city-owned property downtown as well as in the Galleria area and in Greenway Plaza.
Riders can still use the scooters in these areas of town but must do so on the street or risk a fine for riding on the sidewalk, per the changes to city ordinances. Businesses that rent out scooters must also do so from private property, such as a storefront, rather than setting up mobile rental sites on sidewalks or at city parks.
“We’ve seen a lot of activity occurring around our parks. ... Scooters are taking up the sidewalks where folks are walking, and there have been reports of collisions; there have been reports of pets getting hurt. We are trying to move these scooter companies to private property,” said Maria Irshad, Assistant Director of ParkHouston. Irshad presented the ordinance changes to a City Council committee March 4.
Some owners of area scooter rental companies took issue with the ordinance, arguing that it limits rental companies' abilities to operate in some of the city’s most popular destinations. Those who operate businesses from sidewalks may face criminal citations and have scooters impounded, the ordinance changes state.
