Burnet police remind riders of safe e-bike, scooter operation
An e-bike sits in front of a yellow expanse of wildflowers in the Highland Lakes area. Staff photo by Jennifer Greenwell
The Burnet Police Department recently reminded residents to ensure proper usage of their e-bikes, scooters, and electric-motorized vehicles on different roadways.
On May 18, Burnet Police Chief Tony Hefferin took to the city’s Facebook to detail the several types of motorized devices, and what type of streets each can and cannot operate on.
“While it’s great to see folks getting out and about, we’ve also seen some riders using vehicles that don’t meet the definition of an e-bike or assistive device and those can fall under different rules,” he said.
Hefferin highlighted key factors of non-street legal e-bikes, including not having pedals or fully-operable pedals, having a throttle-only motor, exceeding 750 watts or 28 mph, and being designed for off-road use.
The chief also reminded bikers of their responsibilities when sharing the road, like coming to a complete stop and signaling lane changes.
“Whether you’re on two wheels or four, traffic laws apply,” Hefferin said. “If you’re riding a bike or e-bike, you have the same rights and responsibilities as any other driver on the road.”
What are e-bike laws in Texas?
Chief Hefferin provided a detailed look at the different classifications of motorized devices in Texas, and their street-legalities. According to the Texas Transportation Code, these are:
- Electric Bicycles – These devices have fully-operable pedals, are electrically assisted, and cannot exceed 750 watts or 28 mph. They do not require registration or inspection when operated on public highways.
- Electronic Personal Assistive Mobility Devices (EPAMD) – These devices can be self-balancing, electric-powered, and up to 750 watts (1 horsepower). On residential streets, operation is limited to roads with a speed limit of 30 mph or less.
- Motor-Assisted Scooters – These are self-propelled devices (gas or electric, motor ≤ 40cc, deck for standing/sitting, and brakes). Operation is allowed only on streets with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less.
- Motorcycles – These are any devices that have no pedals, a saddle, and no more than three wheels. To ride on public roads, you must have a Class M license, and the vehicle must be registered and inspected.
Hefferin also reminded riders of their responsibilities when sharing the road, which include:
- Riders must obey all traffic laws, including stopping at all stop signs and red lights
- Riders are responsible for signaling, lane changes, turns and stops; don’t forget those hand signals
- Parents: Any traffic ticket whether on a bike, motorcycle or in a car can go on your child’s permanent driving record
To see the specific rules and regulations regarding e-bikes, scooters, and other electric-motorized vehicles, view Texas Transportation Code chapters 541 and 551.