Council Considers Allowing Private Motor-Assisted Scooters, Postpones Ordinance

Staff Reports 

Tuesday night, the City of San Marcos postponed a decision on the second of two readings of an ordinance prohibiting the use of motor-assisted scooters on public property, streets, and sidewalks.

The postponement came after several council members discussed concerns about the impact on the private scooter owners and the city’s current understaffed enforcement division.

“City Attorney Sam Aguirre was able to make some adjustments in regards to the fines and other areas,” City Manager, Bert Lumbreras said to council regarding the ordinance. “We certainly believe that transportation and transportation alternatives and modes of transportation are an ever-evolving priority that this council has set.”

The council shared a consensus on reworking the ordinance to prohibit company-owned, or dockless, motor-assisted scooters and allow the use of privately owned.

Councilmember Maxfield Baker asked if the council would consider bringing the item back at a time where Texas State students would be able to attend.  

“As of our meeting today, most of them are still gone for the break,” Baker said. “So, I think it would be great for us to make sure that this meeting is maybe in February.”

The item was postponed with a vote of 7 to 0.

Lee Hitchcock, Director of General Service for the City of San Marcos, stated, the ordinance’s “purpose is very simply to save lives and prevent injuries. It is staff’s assessment by looking at Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth and other cities that have tried regulation with varying success…that based on the infrastructure limitations and traffic conditions now and sidewalk expansions and so forth, that this is something you may want to consider.”

Related Coverage:

• San Marcos City Council Considers Ban On Motor-Assisted Scooters On First Reading