EV- Scooters

 

By Jimmy Herrera, CAPP

Every day, I see more and more electric scooters. They are all over Houston.

In Texas, any vehicle that uses public roadways is considered a “motor vehicle,” which means e-scooters are subject to the same rules and regulations as automobiles.  Here in Houston, electric scooters fall under the category of electric bicycles as outlined in House Bill 2188. According to Texas state law, an electric scooter must not exceed 20 miles per hour and must have fully operable pedals with a maximum of two wheels. Anyone 16 or older can operate them without a license. But where do they park?

Some brands offer collapsible models, while others offer rigid frames, more like bicycles. Bicycle parking has always been a small topic in the parking industry. Now these bicycle-like scooters have started to creep into my garage. Recently, I received a request for a scooter charging station. These are very common across campuses as well. But is there any way to monetize the charging of these scooters? Or should we discourage the use? I have seen parkers open their trunks after parking their cars to pull out their scooter and ride them in the garage. This is both surprising and dangerous. How should we approach their use in the garage, lots, or other pathways?

Jimmy Herrera, CAPP, is a Facility Manager for SP+ Corporation. He can be reached at jherrera0@spplus.com.