Public service announcement: Friendswood Police offers e-bike and e-scooter safety tips

Officer Ives of the Friendswood Police Department delivers a brief public safety message about electric bicycles and scooters, saying nontraditional transportation is increasingly popular and the department wants the community informed about legal and illegal devices.

Ives emphasized basic rider safety: travel with traffic rather than against it, watch for pedestrians, obey stop signs, and stop and look both ways before entering intersections. The officer outlined the criteria for a legal e-bike: it should top out at 20 miles per hour, have a motor under 750 watts, be propellable by throttle and/or pedals, and display a permanent label listing its class and wattage. Riders on legal e-bikes should follow the same rules as traditional bicycles and, when riding at night, must use front and rear lights visible for up to 500 feet.

Ives contrasted legal e-bikes with e-dirt bikes, describing the latter as off-road vehicles that often lack pedals, have only pegs, and should not be used on streets or sidewalks. The officer warned that many e-dirt bikes can reach speeds of 50 to 80 miles per hour and said that operation of such devices on public roads poses a serious safety risk. Ives added that parents may be cited for allowing an unlicensed juvenile to operate an e-dirt bike on public ways.

The department said ongoing educational outreach has coincided with more juveniles riding safely. Officers will distribute reflective stickers in the community to increase visibility. Ives closed by thanking viewers and encouraging safe riding.