Earlier this week, the Parks & Recreation Board in Southlake, TX introduced a draft ordinance that would prohibit children under 14 from riding electric scooters on the city’s 22 miles of multi-use trails.
This follows other cities in Texas like the Woodlands outside of Houston, in looking into how safe these “toys” really are.
Board members cited “excessive speed” and “increased collision risk with joggers” as the main reasons for the proposed ban. It’s also incredibly confusing to most parents how and where kids can ride scooters.
A public-comment period opened Monday—and parents showed up in droves.
“My 11-year-old uses his scooter to get from school to baseball practice. Taking that option away just forces more car trips,” said local mom Sara Hodge during the three-hour hearing.
Why the board says a ban is needed
Electric scooters have become incredibly popular. In fact they are one of the hottest selling products on our website, Amazon, Best Buy, and more. So, with more kids riding them than ever before, it introduces more chances for injuries or accidents.
Here’s the facts:
- A May report from Southlake PD logged 18 trail incidents involving e-scooters in the past 12 months—up from six the year before.
- Of those, 11 riders were under 14 and none were wearing helmets.
- Trail signage currently lists a 15 mph limit, but officers have clocked youth scooters at 18 mph on downhill sections.
- This follows similar studies like those done in Austin on traumatic injuries related to e-scooters.
Parents (and some safety experts) disagree
While nobody argues with basic safety, many residents say an outright ban misses the point:
- Helmet enforcement, not prohibition. Dr. Leila Grant, a pediatric ER physician at Baylor Scott & White, noted that “helmets reduce head-injury risk by roughly 85 percent,” pointing to numbers from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Active-transport benefits. Cutting scooter use could raise school-zone traffic, countering goals in the city’s own Safe Routes to School plan.
- Existing state law is age-friendly. Texas Transportation Code lets localities regulate speed and lane use, but it doesn’t bar minors from riding devices under 20mph.
What other Texas cities do
| City | Age | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | 12 with helmet | 15 mph | Violators get a $20 civil citation |
| Plano | None, helmet “strongly advised” | 12 mph | Trail etiquette signs every half mile |
| Houston | 14+ on bayou paths | 15 mph | Under-14 allowed on neighborhood streets |
Southlake’s draft is the first in North Texas to target kids specifically, which is why the debate is drawing regional attention.
The board will collect written feedback from citizens and parents until July 12. Then, they will vote on the ordinance July 18. If approved, the rule would take effect September 1.
How to keep kids riding safely—wherever you live
- Cap the speed. Many kids’ scooters have app-based “safe” modes that limit top speed to 8–10 mph.
- Helmet and pads. Even a basic CPSC helmet plus knee/elbow pads can prevent the majority of ER visits.
- Teach trail etiquette. Pass on the left, call out “on your left,” and keep speeds down when paths are busy.
- Choose an age-appropriate model. A 30-lb commuter scooter is overkill for a 70-lb rider. Our family used this side-by-side kids scooter guide for weight, speed, and range comparisons.
Join the conversation
Even if you’re outside Texas, your city might be next, many municipalities monitor each other’s ordinances as templates. For example, Colleyville is right next door to Southlake, and is already considering similar restrictions.
Do you think age-specific bans make sense, or should cities focus on speed limits and helmet rules instead? Share your experience below, especially if your town already tried something similar.
