Petition for Safety Regulations on Electric Bikes and Scooters in The Woodlands, TX

736

Let’s get to 1000 signatures!
Petitions with 1,000+ supporters are 5x more likely to win!
Recent signers:
Ivan and 18 others have signed recently.

The Issue


To: The Woodlands Township Board of Directors and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

We, the undersigned residents of The Woodlands, respectfully request that The Woodlands Township review and strengthen regulations regarding the use of electric bicycles, electric scooters, and other motorized micromobility devices within our community.

Over the past months, many residents have expressed concern — both in person and on social media — about the increasing number of minors operating high-speed electric bikes and scooters on pedestrian trails, sidewalks, and neighborhood streets.

These devices are capable of speeds between 20–28 mph and are frequently operated by children who may not yet have the developmental judgment, reaction time, or training required to safely control motorized equipment in shared-use environments.

Our hike-and-bike trails were designed primarily for pedestrians, families with small children, seniors, and recreational cyclists — not for motorized traffic. The combination of blind curves, mixed-use pathways, and higher speeds creates a serious risk of injury to riders, pedestrians, and even drivers.

In Texas, teenagers are not permitted to drive a motor vehicle until age 16 because the state recognizes the need for maturity and responsibility when operating motorized equipment. Similar considerations should apply to high-speed electric devices being operated in densely populated residential areas.

We respectfully request that The Woodlands Township consider implementing the following measures:

Prohibit electric bikes, electric scooters, and other motorized devices from pedestrian-designated hike-and-bike trails.
Establish a minimum age requirement of 16 years for operating electric bikes or scooters within Township boundaries.
Implement and enforce reasonable speed limits in residential and shared-use areas.
Require helmet use for minors operating electric devices.
Clarify the classification of electric bikes and scooters within Township code to eliminate ambiguity.
Increase signage and community education regarding safe and lawful use.
This petition is not intended to restrict recreation unnecessarily, but rather to ensure that safety remains a priority and that proactive measures are taken before a serious accident occurs.

We urge The Woodlands Township to review current policies and take appropriate action to protect children, pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers within our community.

Safety should be proactive, not reactive.

Respectfully,

The Woodlands Residents

The Decision Makers

The Woodlands Township Board
7 Members
1 Responded
Cindy Heiser
The Woodlands Township Board - Position 7
Thanks for reaching out. This is such an issue for our residents, me included, as I walk the trails every day. Most of the micro mobility devices are legal in the state of Texas and have become popular with both children and adults. There are no legal restrictions to adhere to so municipalities across the US are struggling to manage ridership issues. In the township, our trails are not designed for such devices and they are therefore prohibited. Many of the suggestions in the petition are already underway. Our Sheriff’s Office does can not ticket riders unless they are breaking the law. We are all in a pivotal season as legislators will have to make decisions on what restrictions to place on MMD’s. Sincerely, Cindy Heiser [Note: The Change.org Community Connection Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]
Brad Bailey
The Woodlands Township Board - Position 1
Shelley Sekula-Gibbs
The Woodlands Township Board - Position 5
Wesley Doolittle
Montgomery County Sheriff

Supporter Voices

Petition Updates