Parents please teach your kids to ride their electric bikes and scooters safely and responsibly
Posted by nurdyguy@reddit | plano | View on Reddit | 16 comments
On my normal running route around Russel Creek Park and the Russel Creek Trail by it, there are several kids that ride their electric bikes and scooters on the sidewalk while going very very fast, around 20mph. And yes I mean that literally, it is not an exaggeration. Yesterday, one kid almost hit me, only missing me by about 6 inches. These kids need to know how dangerous that is. The park and the sidewalks around it are often used by pedestrians, parents with small kids, people walking dogs, etc. It is extremely dangerous to have someone going 20mph on a bike/scooter and weaving in and out between various pedestrians.
In the case of yesterdays near miss, if the kid had hit me I surely would have been injured a bit but the kid would have be very badly injured. The collision would have knocked them off of their scooter and into the street at 20mph, and with no helmet on. Oh, and side note, it is also illegal for them to be riding those on the sidewalk.
Also, in case the actual parent of the kid from yesterday sees this, they were about 12 or 13 with redish/brownish curly hair and it occurred on the sidewalk next to Skaggs Elementary, eastbout, at roughtly 5:45 PM. And please make them wear their helmet!
menley@reddit
E-bikes and e-scooters are allowed on Plano’s trails per Section 15-11 of the City’s municipal code; however, users must adhere to the 15 mph speed limit.
https://www.plano.gov/1963/Bicycling-Resources
If you’re walking, I imagine it’s difficult to gauge the speed others are using in their scooters, but 15 mph is permitted and does seem quite fast when you’re a pedestrian.
Love_Vigilantes_586@reddit
Yeah, if the parents aren't going to enforce helmets on their kids, let them learn the hard way
Ok-Goal-8767@reddit
They LITTERALLY drive them on central expressway/Highway 75. It ain’t gonna end well
DefectiveTranslation@reddit
I’ve seen a few at oakpoint
Some are respectful when passing and just all around riding
But there’s 2 little shit heads on surrons haulin with no lights on post sunset.
Love cyclists don’t mind them when they share the trail properly but those 2 buttheads are soon to hit something or someone
Sirsnacksalot23@reddit
There’s these two little pricks that ride their green electric scooters on Preston and W. Parker Rd. almost daily. How they have a been splattered yet is a miracle
Difficult-Repair1295@reddit
It’s only a matter of time until their is a fatal accident on those things.
rswa83@reddit
May need to let the city know. It is out of control. There's only one sign (off McDermott) on the trail stating no motorized vehicles. Sigh.
nurdyguy@reddit (OP)
Most of the problems I've seen are along the Russell Creek Trail (which is basically just the sidewalks and green belt between Scenic Drive and Russell Creek Dr east of Independence). I honestly doubt there is much the city can do until a cop catches a kid in the act. That's why I was hoping to get some parents' attentions on this and this sub was the first place I thought of.
neverpost4@reddit
Motorized vehicles are prohibited in Plano parks. At least it used to be.
nurdyguy@reddit (OP)
Electric bikes and scooters aren't legally categorized as "motor vehicles". However, I do believe the various sidewalk laws I referred to either include a prohibition of riding said items on park trails or there are specific park laws doing the same.
Basically, the essence of what you were saying is true: It is illegal to ride electric bikes and scooters on the various pedestrian paths in parks. I stipulate the pedestrian paths only because in cases like Russell Creek Park there are actual roads and parking lots where the bikes and scooters could be ridden legally.
TardisTexan@reddit
Our kid really wants one so we looked into it. Certain ones are legal and certain ones aren’t. I’m not really advocating to call the cops on kids but if they are being dangerous it might not hurt to call the non emergency line
nurdyguy@reddit (OP)
The illegal part I was referring to is it is illegal to ride an electric bike or electric scooter on the sidewalk. Those laws started popping up when the Lime bikes and scooters started showing up.
It is a tough call though. I understand a kid not wanting to ride in the street. And if it was a big street like Custer then I wouldn't want them riding in the street either. But small residential streets are a lot safer and that's where the other pedestrians mainly are. So in that case, yes, the kids need to ride in the street.
But I also don't think they should even be allowed to have one that goes 20mph. I'd probably say 10mph max. And if the kid wants to go faster, get a non-electric bike/scooter and use your legs. Then again though, I don't have kids so my perspective is a bit different.
jka110@reddit
I have kids, and I agree with you.
No helmets on those bikes is for sure unacceptable. I wear one and enforce it with my kids even on regular bikes.
PuzzleheadedMinute34@reddit
It is illegal to be going above 15mph on a trail. Even if the bike is legal, oftentimes the speed these kids are going at is not.
AMSays@reddit
Yes, I’m a dog walker and the police showed up a couple of weeks ago when someone was driving a motorized “go-cart” across the park. These scooters are a problem especially as teens think they’re the master of the universe and infallible (as we did!).
ExpertConsideration8@reddit
I'm gonna agree.. was out yesterday and a kid was doing loops through their driveway, street, and alley.. he was popping out of the driveway at 15+ mph and just sort of hoping no car was coming.. I guess he's counting on being able to hear the car..
Anyway, feels like such a large unnecessary risk.. please talk to your kids.