As electric bikes and motorized bikes rise in popularity, Round Rock Police are using social media to educate parents on what’s legal and where amid the holidays.
ROUND ROCK, Texas — Ahead of the holidays, Round Rock Police Department officers are trying to spread the word to parents about what’s legal when it comes to electric bicycles, commonly known as e-bikes, and motorized sport bikes commonly called “pocket bikes”.
Police say they’ve gotten more than 20 complaints in the last year about people, mainly juveniles, riding motorized bikes on public rights of way and cutting through others’ private property.
“A lot of them are … can range from 10 to 14 years old, so they’re riding a motor vehicle unlicensed,” said Ofc. Taylor Roberson with RRPD’s Motors Unit. “They advertise them as travelling 50 mph, so now you’re putting something that goes 50 mph on a sidewalk.”
Roberson starred in a video posted to the department’s social media pages on Dec. 10 breaking down what qualifies as an e-bike and what’s allowed where.
“Here’s a quick rundown: e-bikes must have pedals, can’t go faster than 28 mph and be less than 750 watts,” Roberson said in the video, followed by pictures showing examples of e-bikes. “If your bike checks these boxes, you can go wherever a regular bike can go unless it’s otherwise posted. Now, we don’t mean to be fun suckers, but in Texas, what’s not legal on streets, bike paths or trails are electric dirt bikes, pocket bikes or mini motorbikes. Those are only allowed on private property, according to state law.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, the video had drawn more than 900 likes, more than 100 shares and nearly 150 comments.
It’s also drawn questions and comments in the community, and even within department ranks.
“I had a couple of officers come up and said, ‘Honestly, I didn’t know that’ or ‘I didn’t know it as in-depth, and I didn’t realize that there were all these other restrictions,’” Roberson recalled. “My dad, who was a 25-year officer for the Austin Police Department, kind of went ‘Huh, I didn’t know that.’”
For the fastest e-bikes, known as Class 3, which can reach pedal-assisted speeds between 20 to 28 mph, state law requires operators to be at least 15 years old.
Roberson said since the video, police have also gotten questions about enforcement. He told KVUE that any enforcement will prioritize education over writing tickets.
On Wednesday, the Lakeway Police Department also used social media to explain which types of two-wheeled vehicles are allowed where in their city.
Ordinances and rules can vary by city, trail and greenbelt. Check the rules where you ride before heading out.
