Gail Delaughter/Houston Public Media
2019 file photo: Adam Williams uses his scooter for a two-mile commute to work.
Scooters may be on the chopping block in downtown Houston and parts of Midtown.
The city of Houston’s Quality of Life Committee met Thursday to discuss issues caused by electric scooters downtown. Maria Irshad, deputy director of the Administration and Regulatory Affairs (ARA), and Captain Melissa Countryman of the Houston Police Department spearheaded the presentation.
The city has received complaints from parks, hotels, businesses, and residents expressing concerns about roadway and pedestrian safety.
“Unsafe behavior of scooter riders are also a big concern,” said Irshad. “Besides sidewalk riding, they are not stopping at lights. They are ignoring stop signs. They are going the wrong way on one-way streets downtown.”
Irshad said scooters have been linked to at least three deaths and more than 53 accidents from 2021. Enforcement from 2021 to 2024 includes 2,678 rider warnings, 43 citations, 4 arrests and 3 seized weapons.
During a public comment period, residents said they have seen unregulated businesses operating in parking lots and sidewalks, using pop-up tents and large electric signs to attract riders and rent out scooters.
Meanwhile, the Houston Police Department is aware of a growing trend.
“We’ve noticed a noticeable increase in juveniles using these scooters during evening and nighttime hours across downtown Houston, primarily throughout the Discovery Green area,” said Countryman.
The proposed map of the scooter-free zone. (City of Houston)
Councilwoman Abbie Kamin recognizes there is an issue of illegal e-scooter operations downtown, but said all options should be considered – and warned against simply pushing the problem out of downtown and into other areas of Houston.
“I want to focus on the fact that this is a carte blanche prohibition and try to find the middle ground that accomplishes what we’re hoping to accomplish for safety, while allowing affordable and accessible transportation in highly visited and tourism areas,” said Kamin.
The issue drew in a significant number of public comments lasting nearly two hours. Speakers shared personal experiences, including how an outright e-scooter ban would hurt commuters who rely on it for transportation to and from work. Others said the ban would slow down crime and make it safer for residents to enjoy the downtown area.
On the proposed scooter ban: pic.twitter.com/Zl5i8EcOWq
— Houston Mayor’s Office (@houmayor) July 24, 2025
Lucy Montes was one of many business owners who spoke before the committee to share her perspective as a business owner. She believes the issues presented can be fixed with regulations.
“The problem isn’t scooters, the problem is unregulated illegal vendors bypassing the city’s own rules,” said Montes.
She continued saying that illegal vendors continue to operate unchecked while legitimate businesses that are following the rules and ordinances are being threatened with a ban. She added that the issues are manageable.
“We don’t shut down car dealerships over car accidents,” said Montes. “We find better solutions.”
At the end of the presentation, Irshad offered three options for committee members to consider as they continue discussions on the best solutions for the downtown and Midtown areas. The options include an outright ban on scooter use in areas where they pose a threat; creating new regulations for scooter companies and riders to follow; or keeping the current rules and regulations as is.
No decision has been made on the fate of the scooters.
More information and data, including results from other cities, is below.