Watauga City Council Workshop Meeting: E-Bike, E-Motorcycle, E-Scooter, and E-Dirt Bike Laws

The Watauga City Council held a workshop meeting on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 5:36 PM. The sole agenda item was a presentation by Chief of Police James Lewis covering electric mobility devices, including e-bikes, e-motorcycles, e-scooters, and e-dirt bikes, along with applicable laws and safety concerns. The meeting adjourned at 6:09 PM.

Presentations

• Chief Lewis presented a detailed overview of electric mobility devices, their legal classifications, and usage rules under Texas law.
  • E-bikes: Must have fully operational pedals, a motor of 750 watts or less, and a top speed of 28 mph. Allowed on sidewalks and roadways, following standard bicycle laws. No helmet requirement in Texas, but neighboring cities (Keller: under 16; Fort Worth: under 18) require helmets. Three classes: Class 1 (pedal-assist up to 20 mph), Class 2 (throttle or pedal up to 20 mph), Class 3 (pedal-assist up to 28 mph, no throttle).
  • E-motorcycles: Must be registered, insured, have turn signals and lights, require a Class M license, and cannot be operated on sidewalks. They are considered road-legal vehicles.
  • E-dirt bikes and pocket bikes: No pedals, foot pegs. Not legal on sidewalks, roadways, parks, or any public space—only on private land. Parents can be cited for children’s violations.
  • E-scooters: Must be kickable (foot-powered or motor-assisted). Children under 16 may not ride on sidewalks or public roadways; only in bicycle-specific lanes. Adults may ride on roadways with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. All e-scooters must obey bicycle laws. Chief Lewis noted that the written slide incorrectly stated “under 17”; the correct age is under 16.
• Chief Lewis emphasized the speed differential hazard: pedestrians walk 2–3 mph, cyclists 8–10 mph, while e-devices can reach 20–28 mph, making them nearly silent and dangerous on shared paths. He referenced a fatal 2010 incident on Dallas’ Katy Trail where a jogger was struck by a fast-moving bicycle.
• He described enforcement challenges: officers have only seconds to identify the device type, wattage, and classification, especially at speed. The department currently has one e-dirt bike in the property room after a child fled from police.
• The department’s goal is education over citations, but citations will be issued if necessary. A four-part educational series was posted on the police department’s Facebook page in the prior two weeks.

Discussion Items

• Councilman Mark Taylor expressed concern about the speed of e-devices on sidewalks (20 mph) and noted that current city ordinances only address e-scooters, not other micro-mobility devices. He asked for coordinated recommendations from the police and parks departments on potential ordinance updates, emphasizing consistency with neighboring cities (Fort Worth, Keller, North Richland Hills) to avoid confusion for users crossing jurisdictions.
• Councilwoman Jan Hill recalled voluntary bicycle registration programs from other cities and suggested Watauga consider a voluntary safety program with a unique Watauga license plate, along with serial number documentation and driver’s license engraving to aid theft recovery and education.
• Councilwoman Wagner supported revisiting ordinances, noting that her 70-year-old mother owns an e-bike and rides at high speed, illustrating that the issue is not limited to children.
• Councilman Andrew Neely remarked on the need for a unified “micro-mobility” ordinance to cover devices like one-wheelers (which can reach 9,000 watts and 50 mph), and seconded the advice to wear helmets, sharing a personal anecdote about motorcycle helmet arguments.
• Mayor Art Minor urged parents to teach children safety, citing a recent near-miss where a nine-year-old on a scooter crossed a street without stopping, and recalled a past fatal skateboard accident on Watauga Road.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken. The council reached consensus to direct the Police Department, in coordination with the Parks Department, to develop recommendations for revised ordinances addressing micro-mobility devices, including potential speed limits on park trails (e.g., Cap Smith Trail) and a unified regulatory framework.
• The council emphasized education as the primary approach but acknowledged the need for clear, enforceable rules to improve safety and accountability.
• The public is encouraged to call the police non-emergency number (817-514-5897) with questions about device legality.