Electric Scooter Safety Brochure

Overview
In the state of Texas, electric scooters are street legal as long as they meet certain criteria. Some of the requirements for electric scooters to be street legal in Texas include:
• a motor that is less than 750 watts
• a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour
• a weight limit of 100 pounds.

Electric scooters must also be equipped with:
• working brakes
• a rear-view mirror
• a bell or horn.

Riders are required to yield to pedestrians and ride in bicycle lanes when available. While electric scooters are street legal in Texas, riders should be aware of the potential risks involved in riding them. Scooter riders are more vulnerable to injury in the event of a collision with a car or other vehicle. Additionally, scooter riders should be aware of their surroundings at all times and yield to pedestrians.

Riders must abide by all Texas traffic laws.

TAMUK Student Handbook Section 6-222 & 16-16.4

Transportation Code
Title 7. Vehicles and Traffic
Subtitle C. Rules of the Road
Chapter 551. Operation of Bicycles and Mopeds, Golf Carts, and Other Low-Powered Vehicles

The Law
Electric personal assistive mobility device: An electrical personal assistive mobility device (“EPAMD”) shall mean a self-balancing device with two wheels not in tandem, designed to transport only one person by an electric propulsion system having a maximum speed on a paved level surface of less than 20 miles per hour.

Sec. 551.202. OPERATION ON ROADWAY.
(a) A person may operate an electric personal assistive mobility device on a residential street, roadway, or public highway with a speed limit of 30 miles per hour or less only:
     (1) while making a direct crossing of a highway in a marked or unmarked cross, walk;
     (2) where no sidewalk is available; or
     (3) when so directed by a traffic control device or by a law enforcement officer.
(b) A person may operate an electric personal assistive mobility device on a path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.
(c) Any person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device on a residential street, roadway, or public highway shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand edge.
(d) Except as otherwise provided by this section, provisions of this title applicable to the operation of bicycles apply to the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices.

What is an electric scooter?

Definition
An e-scooter is an electric powered vehicle, two axle vehicle with a steering wheel. It has no seat or pedals. It is designed to be driven only by the rider per vehicle and it runs solely on electricity. An e-scooter is not powered by engines or conventional fuels like petroleum, diesel, or CNG. However, an e-scooter operates and is powered entirely by electricity. It uses electric propulsion and typically has a rechargeable battery.

Is it legal?
You currently do not need a driver’s license to ride an e-scooter on public streets in Texas. However, e-scooters are only legal on roads with speed limits at or below 35 miles per hour.

Where can I Ride One?
You can ride an electric scooter on the road with the traffic, in the bike lane (if there is one available), or on the sidewalk. Riding on the road or using the bike lane are preferable over riding on the sidewalk.

In Texas, it is illegal to ride a moped on any interstate. Similarly, if you are riding a motorized bicycle or an electric scooter, you must adhere to the same rules. While mopeds must adhere to many of Texas' standard traffic laws, they do not have the same road rights as vehicles. 

Questions?

Contact the University Police Department at: 

Lewis Hall 
855 N. University Blvd. 
(361) 593-2611
upd@tamuk.edu