Friendswood council opens e‑bike safety workshop, directs attorney research and school outreach
Loading...
Summary
Council held a workshop after recent e‑bike incidents and directed the city attorney to survey other municipalities while asking staff to expand education and school outreach; police urged pairing education with targeted enforcement of illegal electric dirt bikes.
Councilmembers and staff used a workshop format Wednesday to address mounting concerns about electric bicycles and motorized dirt bikes being ridden by young residents across Friendswood.
Councilmember Joe Matranga opened the discussion by saying the meeting was intended to seek options rather than make rules: “Tonight was really just a workshop to say, you know, what should we do? What can we do?” He outlined three options—education, registration and regulation—and said the council should start with awareness and see whether other steps are necessary.
City Manager Murad and police staff described materials the municipality has prepared with municipal court and communications. Murad said the police and court have produced an education component and that targeted outreach is already underway. “Our police department has been working diligently as well as our communications in municipal court to help educate the public on the rules and regulations associated with e‑bikes,” he said.
Deputy Chief Reyna told the council that many complaints are about vehicles that are not pedal‑assisted e‑bikes but electric dirt bikes without pedals, which are illegal on city streets. “What we’re seeing that they’re actually operating are the electric dirt bikes…Those are the ones that are not allowed,” Reyna said, and described enforcement steps used when officers encounter children on illegal machines.
Several councilmembers urged a two‑track approach. One cautioned against the city becoming “the parent” for residents while another emphasized the practical limits of enforcement and the value of working through schools and PTOs to reach parents. “We need to lead with education,” the mayor said, but he also asked the city attorney to research what other communities have done and urged staff to return with proposed outreach materials.
The council directed three next steps: ask the city attorney to canvass municipal ordinances and enforcement strategies used elsewhere; ask police to return with staffing and enforcement recommendations; and have communications and staff prepare education material for distribution to schools and PTOs. No ordinance was proposed or voted on at the workshop.
