The City of El Lago
Harris County, Texas
ORDINANCE NO. 522
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL LAGO, TEXAS, AMENDING SECTION 12-38, PROHIBITED ACTS, OF CHAPTER 12, PARKS AND RECREATION OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF EL LAGO, TEXAS, TO ADD A PROHIBITION OF ELECTRIC RIDEABLE DEVICES ON PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS AND PLAYGROUNDS IN PARKS; ADD A NEW ARTICLE IV, “OPERATION OF ELECTRIC RIDEABLE DEVICES” to CHAPTER 15, STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, THAT ESTABLISHES regulations FOR THE OPERATION OF ELECTRIC BICYCLES, ELECTRIC SCOOTERS, and ELECTRIC SKATEBOARDS WITHIN THE CITY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEATH AND WELFARE OF THE CITY’S RESIDENTS; PROVIDING A PENALTY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION; AND, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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WHEREAS, Section 551.106 of the Texas Transportation Code gives the express authority for municipalities to prohibit the operation of a bicycle or electric bicycle from a sidewalk or roadway; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of El Lago, Texas, finds that the use of electric rideable devices on public sidewalks is a risk of injury for the operators and the other citizens using the sidewalks and desires to minimize public and private injury and losses due to the operation of electric rideable devices;
now therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF EL LAGO, TEXAS, THAT:
Section 1. The facts and matters set forth in the preamble to this Ordinance are found to be true and correct and are incorporated herein for all intents and purposes.
Section 2. Section 12-38, Prohibited Acts, Chapter 12, Parks and Recreation, of the Code of Ordinances, City of El Lago, Texas is hereby amended by adding the underlined and removing the struck through below:
Ҥ12-38 Prohibited Acts.
It shall be unlawful for any person or group to:
(5) Permit any pet to be in any park unless such pet is caged or on a leash no more than six (6) feet long.;
(6) Operate an electric rideable device of any class on any pedestrian walkway or playground in any city park.”
Section 3. The Code of Ordinances of the City of El Lago, Texas, shall be amended by adding a new article, Article IV, Operation of Electric rideable devices, to Chapter 15, Streets and Sidewalks, as underlined below:
“Article IV Operation of Electric rideable devices
- 15-71. Definitions.
Electric bicycle, Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 shall be defined as found in Chapter 664 of the Texas Transportation Code.
Electric scooter means a scooter assisted by an electrical source or battery that allows for self-propulsion of three (3) miles per hour (MPH) or greater.
Electric skateboard means a skateboard assisted by an electrical source or battery that allows for self-propulsion of three (3) miles per hour (MPH) or greater.
Electric rideable devicemeans any electric bike, electric skateboard, and / or electric scooter.
- 15-72. General Provisions related to Electric rideable devices
- All operators of Electric rideable devices under the age of eighteen (18) must wear a properly fitted safety helmet.
- No one under the age of sixteen (16) may operate a Class 3 electric bicycle on the public sidewalk or roadway system within the City.
- 15-73. Operation on Streets
- All electric rideable devices are allowed on public streets with posted speed limit signs of thirty (30) miles per hour or less within the city.
- All electric rideable device operators must comply with all applicable traffic laws and posted signs.
- 15-74. Prohibition on Sidewalks
- Electric Scooters and Electric Bicycles are prohibited from operation on sidewalks except where properly posted signage indicates otherwise.
- Electric rideable devices must be dismounted and walked on sidewalks and streets adjacent to a school during school hours.
- Electric rideable devices are prohibited within park pedestrian cores and playground areas.
- Electric rideable devices are prohibited on authorized mapped or signed business-district sidewalks.
- 15-75. Penalty
(a) A first violation of this ordinance may result in the violators being required to complete an electric rideable device safety class conducted by the Police Department to be paid by the violator or parent or guardian.
(b) First violation of this ordinance may be subject to a fine not to exceed $50.
(c) Subsequent or repeat violations of this ordinance may be subject to a fine not to exceed $2,000 and impoundment of the electric rideable device.
(d) A parent or guardian of a minor, who knowingly allowed said minor to violate this ordinance and said minor is found in violation of this ordinance, may be subject to a fine not to exceed $2,000.”
Section 4. A violation of any provision of this Ordinance shall be deemed a misdemeanor punishable by fine not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) as provided in Sec. 1-5 of the Code of Ordinances, City of El Lago, Texas.
Section 5. Should any paragraph, section, sentence, phrase, clause, or word of this Ordinance be declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, the remainder of this Ordinance shall not be affected thereby.
Section 6. The City Secretary of the City of El Lago is hereby authorized and directed to cause publication of the descriptive caption of this Ordinance.
Section 7. This Ordinance shall become effective, except as may otherwise be provided herein, from and after its publication as provided by law.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ORDAINED this 18 day of March, 2026.