Fulshear cracks down on e-scooters and bikes, and parents could be hit with a $500 fine

FULSHEAR, Texas (KTRK) -- After he said he nearly hit a kid himself, the Fulshear police chief is pushing for an amendment to crack down on e-scooters and bikes.

Outside of some elementary schools in Fulshear, it's not just minivans, buses, and pedestrians that drivers have to look out for. Dozens of students ride bikes or scooters to get home.

It's a device some neighbors said has become a problem.

"I've had one come across the street really fast in front of me, and I was afraid I was going to hit him," Robbie Cartwright recalled.

Last year, the Fulshear police chief says there were five incidents involving bikes and scooters -- a number he said that's already doubled since school started two months ago.

ABC13 asked how many of those involved electronic scooters. Chief Kenny Seymour said it was less than half.

Still, he said it's enough to warrant change. This month, he asked the council to do just that.

"I almost hit one," Seymour said. "There's a total disregard. These kids just do not pay attention."

Seymour asked the council to restrict skateboards, scooters, bikes, and their electric versions to the sidewalk. When they have to cross a street, riders must stop.

If they don't, riders would get a ticket upwards of $500. The ordinance applies to everyone.

However, if they're underage, the ticket would go to their parents because council members said they're responsible after buying the devices for their children.

"This is an opportunity before we do consider banning them is to see what kind of results we can get, and hold some people accountable," Seymour explained.

Council agreed and anonymously passed the ordinance. Scooter and bike incidents aren't the only ones on the rise.

As Fulshear's population has risen, so has the number of vehicle accidents. TxDOT data shows that five years ago, there were around 30 -- a figure that's steadily climbed to last year's number of more than 160.

Increasing incidents are why some neighbors like to see safety discussed, but say they are torn on how to solve it.

"I agree on cracking down, but the $500 is just a little bit much," Cartwright said.

Making riders stop at intersections may only be the first crackdown. Some on the council say they might revisit the ordinance to require underage riders to wear helmets and create a sidewalk speed limit, or one day look at a ban.

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