NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – Electric motorized scooters have been banned in New Braunfels for 90 days, effective immediately, officials said.
The temporary ban was signed Wednesday by Assistant Police Chief Joe Vargas "in the immediate interest of public safety of motorists and pedestrians." It comes just a few days after the city saw "kind of like a test run" of some scooters, said New Braunfels police spokesman David Ferguson.
"In anticipation of more of those kinds of activities happening in New Braunfels, we wanted to give our city government a chance to work properly and make sure that, you know, all of that could go through its normal channels," Ferguson said.
The ban is in effect for 90 days, which gives the city's Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board and City Council time to address the issue and take action, if necessary.
People KSAT 12 News spoke with said they saw some scooters from a company called Unicorn downtown on Monday, but the scooters appeared to have been gone on Wednesday.
Police officers will be able to cite people caught riding a scooter rented through a shared mobility service on public streets or sidewalks. Violators could face a fine of up to $500, officials said.
New Braunfels Mayor Barron Casteel said the Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board is set to consider the issue at its February meeting, so the city council would "probably see it the beginning of March."
"I think that having eyes wide open and having the citizens an opportunity to communicate and to say where they should be and not be, is a good plan," Casteel said.
Some people in downtown New Braunfels said they thought the temporary ban was a good plan, although one restaurant owner worried this would be the end of scooters in the city.
"From what I've seen on Facebook and social media, it got a pretty negative response. So, if it goes to any, some sort of vote, the majority of the population is going to say 'no,'" said Chad Niland, owner of The Downtowner Bar and Kitchen.