[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6159295,"mediaKeyId","5455609-65c4a8ccd8d0ebc251ac777e6b815280","parentId",5455609,"title","Coppell bars e-bikes from natural-surface park trails, raises helmet requirement to 16","audioSeconds",1352,"startMs",4935000,"endMs",6287000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5455609-65c4a8ccd8d0ebc251ac777e6b815280&start=4935&end=6287","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5455609-65c4a8ccd8d0ebc251ac777e6b815280/thumbnail_4935000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6159295/Texas/Coppell-bars-e-bikes-from-natural-surface-park-trails-raises-helmet-requirement-to-16","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159295-fbfee82a0d29eaff46bc4d90b545b1c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156989&Signature=ZEr3ynbLor22G-fzfHHEoG~GvGxP2I6FF0vj1OOnft4YZxnQ2c8x86U8fDVsY9GNxg~gu~nT4gEd9TdFcqEtrhXT424oZXSsiYBmw052E75B0G-~KQtwj~A2qY8nMlEBbKYd5obUqmF19S5hefAn9Bruq4mTL6W2gVx5SCCnSLjDPjeS2EwnguwcUsjH41eRRtVpcsKbNNZEB7OSN5zAVAk25cMqaG0TUWq1Vum-A-4aTm5av3kNpZlv-ix53lG-EuN72jpmRSpv2j5wXX~~d7Z-LwxoDBMqC9bn6y0zTLqyjBgFGe1zw3kkeJOncjf6XHWKiqZEBMY~LQMgZPj6Lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Coppell TX","date","2025-07-23T22:53:01.557Z","article","Coppell City Council on July 22 approved two ordinance changes that aim to curb high-speed electric-bicycle activity on unsurfaced park trails and to increase helmet requirements for young riders.

Why it matters: Council members and the police chief cited citizen complaints and safety concerns about e-bikes traveling at 20–28 mph on paths shared with pedestrians, pets and children. Council and staff emphasized that state law restricts local authority to prohibit e-bikes on roadways and on paved paths where conventional bicycles are allowed, but permits restrictions on unimproved natural-surface trails.

The council voted to amend the parks and recreation code to add electric bicycles to a prohibition on “paths that are not open to motor vehicles and have a natural surface tread” — language tied to Texas law — for the Biodiversity Education Center trail system and unimproved surfaces within Coppell Nature Park and Wagon Wheel Park. The council also amended the traffic code to add a definition for “e-bicycle” and to raise the required bicycle-helmet age from 14 to 16, aligning the local code with the state’s definition of a child. \"We've received a lot of concern complaints from citizens around electric bicycles in our community,\" Chief Danny Barton told the council. \"The citizens ... are asking us or begging us to do something. You've got to do something about these electric bikes.\"

Staff and the City Attorney said state statute (Texas Transportation Code section 551.106) limits municipal prohibitions: where non-electric bicycles are permitted — including on streets and most paved sidewalks — electric bicycles generally cannot be banned. The statute makes an explicit exception for natural-surface trails, which is the legal basis the council used to prohibit e-bikes on the city’s unimproved park trails.

Chief Barton described the police approach used this summer: targeted education, on-scene stops and coordination with school resource officers. He told council the department has seen riders traveling \"20 to 28 miles an hour on a bike,\" and that officers found helmets hanging on handlebars during stops; officers prioritized education rather than immediate ticketing. The fire department reported responding to roughly six incidents the chief believed involved e-bikes, and the police department recorded at least two responses the chief could confirm.

Council members discussed whether the city could treat wide paved park paths differently from sidewalks adjacent to roads. City legal counsel said officials could explore a formal distinction between a pedestrian sidewalk and a multiuse paved trail, but cautioned it would require a clear, defensible definition and potentially updates to park plans and ordinances.

Votes and motions: For the parks-code amendment (Item 8), Council member Hill moved approval; Council member Nevills seconded. The motion passed with votes recorded in favor by Council members Walker, Carroll, Nevills, Prem Kumar and Hill; none opposed. For the traffic-code amendment raising the helmet age to 16 (Item 9), Council member Prem Kumar moved to close the public hearing and approve the ordinance; Council member Hill seconded. The motion carried with the same unanimous roll call.

Implementation notes: Staff said the police department will continue with education and selective enforcement and will coordinate with school administrators and Life Safety Park to expand bicycle and e-bike safety training. The new ordinances affect only natural-surface park trails and helmet requirements; state law continues to govern where e-bikes may operate on roads and paved bike routes.

The ordinances take effect according to the city’s standard code-adoption timeline; staff said they will provide updates about enforcement priorities and related public education efforts to council in future reports.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council - 07/22/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Coppell City Council on July 22 approved ordinances to prohibit electric bicycles on natural-surface trails in city nature parks and to raise the age for required bicycle helmets from 14 to 16, while staff warned state law limits local authority on paved sidewalks and roadways.","taxTitle","Coppell, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",55075,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6159300,"Coppell advisers outline special session priorities: flood response, property-tax relief and school policy among items to watch",614,2342000,2956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5455609-65c4a8ccd8d0ebc251ac777e6b815280&start=2342&end=2956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5455609-65c4a8ccd8d0ebc251ac777e6b815280/thumbnail_2342000.jpg","/articles/6159300/Texas/Coppell-advisers-outline-special-session-priorities-flood-response-property-tax-relief-and-school-policy-among-items-to-watch","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6159300-0ae8d61e9584770691c636085d0f7b61/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156989&Signature=Qf5JwsrlhdeN23KjLT81T9yVLvliwvSP9IHE-Fw4YiFBlabevdlF0vXm6HPZyrlrxarT50lhoHWapSTG9S0SqR3XfW-yH0-NiuvKJKRvb0ZPwm~o6xex2PtMQIFuaP63kcLRnv0G6Ww5vK08hdgMgYQoV5NPQS4zjN3HrNYKIchuYoTnSHeA87lYNEAo6CFDmughMMk8-NvGjKeyNAMwX~WS4y2Mb6FCg5a1~CSRch-~awWI8LxLFMsKAZd30I9Lj~zY6C7D1kj4GGfzvoZKuBcWHFx011feKDNKjI9zrj-hTsjqqPu81Z-pfEMvQxtbWvQ70E0bhPoaedsoogd2bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coppell City Council heard an update July 22 from Jennifer Rodriguez and John Kroll about the 2025 Texas legislative session and the special session that began this week, with advisers saying flood response, property-tax proposals and education policies top the list of items that could affect local governments. \"8,700-plus bills filed,\" Rodriguez told the council, and about 14% — roughly 1,200 bills — reached the governor this year. She said the governor convened a special session limited to 30 days and listed 18 topics on the call; the special session’s final day is Aug. 19.

Why it matters: several items on the governor’s call — including flood preparation and relief, tax relief and school-related measures — could change state funding priorities, regulatory responsibilities, or grant opportunities that affect Coppell’s budget and emergency planning. Rodriguez and Kroll emphasized that many measures filed for the special session will be handled as low-numbered “priority” bills, which typically move faster in committee and on the floor.

Rodriguez and Kroll gave council members several headline takeaways from the regular session: the state budget totals about $388 billion (all funds); the Legislature left the Economic Stabilization Fund (the “rainy day” fund) intact and it is projected to top about $28 billion by the end of the 2027 budget cycle; and Secretary of State Jane Nelson has drawn the ballot order for 17 proposed constitutional amendments that Texas voters will consider on Nov. 4. \"That includes property-tax relief, a dementia research institute, bail reforms and other items,\" Rodriguez said.

On the special session, advisers said the lieutenant governor and speaker have reserved low bill numbers to signal priority items. Kroll told the council the Senate has already reserved Senate bills 1–3 for flood-related measures: \"Senate Bill 1 is natural disaster preparation and recovery, Senate Bill 2 is flood emergency communications and warning, and Senate Bill 3 is relief funding for the Hill Country,\" he said. The House adjourned until Thursday and has scheduled redistricting hearings; at the time of the presentation no finalized flood bill text had been posted for committee hearings.

Advisers noted other priority items on the call, including property-tax measures such as Senate Bill 9 (a tax-cutting bill in the lieutenant governor’s package) and proposals tied to the governor’s stated goals like education savings accounts and teacher pay. Kroll said some previously vetoed measures have been refiled for the special session; he cited title-theft and deed-fraud legislation reassigned as Senate Bill 15.

Kroll also delivered a brief item he called \"breaking news\": State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione announced he will not seek reelection, a development advisers said may affect regional campaign dynamics and future legislative turnover. Rodriguez and Kroll cautioned that many bills filed during a special session do not need to match the governor’s call and may be subject to points of order if they advance, but filing allows members to show priorities to voters.

Council members asked how flooding will reshape the special session. Rodriguez said the joint committee on floods will meet, but at the time of the presentation the committee had no formal bill before it; advisers said the Senate planned hearings and rules debates to govern its redistricting process and that flood legislation in the Senate appears to be a near-term focus.

The presentation also covered turnover among statewide officials and potential 2026 candidacies — items advisers said could influence legislative priorities — and noted that the governor’s emergency-designated priorities (including property-tax relief and the education savings account) largely passed during the regular session. Rodriguez and Kroll said they will monitor committee activity and report back to the city as bill text and committee calendars develop.

Looking ahead, advisers told council members they expect more filings between the November and December filing window for primaries, and urged city staff and council to track reserved bill numbers and early committee actions for issues that could affect municipal operations.

No action was required of the council; the presentation was informational and staff indicated they will return with further updates as the special session unfolds.","At a July 22 council meeting, Coppell’s legislative advisers reviewed the 2025 regular session outcomes and the first-call special session, highlighting flood response bills, proposed property-tax reductions, a wave of candidate filings and 17 proposed state constitutional amendments set for the November ballot.","actionData","errors"]

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Coppell bars e-bikes from natural-surface park trails, raises helmet requirement to 16

Coppell advisers outline special session priorities: flood response, property-tax relief and school policy among items to watch