Austin Weighs E-Scooter Safety Amid Houston Curfew
Houston’s city council recently voted unanimously to implement a curfew for e-scooters this fall. Mayor John Whitmire called e-scooters the “number one security risk in the city,” citing public safety concerns.
With thousands of daily rides in Austin, city leaders are considering whether similar measures would be necessary locally.
Austin Council Member Opposes E-Scooter Curfews
Austin Council Member Zohaib “Zo” Qadri, representing District 9 and serving on the mobility committee, opposed banning scooters during certain hours.
“In my view, banning scooters during certain hours isn’t fixing unsafe streets,” Qadri said. He emphasized that e-scooters are a key transportation option for commuting to work, school, and transit. The city remains committed to supporting multimodal mobility options.
E-Scooter Safety Data in Austin
E-scooters carry risks. City data shows:
Seven fatalities linked to e-scooters since 2021
38 serious injuries during the same period
3,750 scooter-related emergency department visits between 2019 and 2024
Austin Transportation and Public Works reported growing ridership, with an average of 8,351 daily micromobility trips in 2024, up from 7,159 the previous year.
Houston Curfew: 8 PM to 4 AM
Mayor Whitmire emphasized safety and walkability when proposing Houston’s curfew.
“We have heard the concerns of residents and business owners. Everyone should be able to walk our streets, dine in our restaurants, and visit our hotels without someone recklessly joyriding around them. The ordinance is a necessary step to improve public safety,” Whitmire said.
The curfew restricts e-scooter use from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Austin’s Approach: Safety Over Restrictions
Qadri supports improving street safety rather than limiting scooter hours. He highlighted steps already taken in Austin:
Limiting the number of e-scooter providers to two (Bird and Lime)
Capping the number of devices per vendor and in downtown areas
Adding new protected lanes for scooters and bikes
He noted that safety depends on multiple factors: traffic, street design, pedestrians, and other vehicles.
Vision Zero Projects Improve Safety
Austin recently completed several Vision Zero projects focused on:
Lighting improvements
Intersection redesigns
These measures aim to reduce accidents and create safer streets for all forms of transportation, including scooters, bikes, and pedestrians.
