Houston First President and CEO Michael Heckman said scooters in downtown “are being rented for entertainment and often mischievous use around areas unintended for motorized scooters.”
Martinez and Council Member Twila Carter both sit on the Houston First board.
Mobility and equity advocates, however, argued the process was rushed and could lead to over-policing. Ed Pettitt, vice president of the Greater Third Ward Super Neighborhood, emailed council members Tuesday night urging them to delay the vote, warning that the ordinance misinterprets safety data and could invite pretextual policing.
Jake Cooper, founder of Rent EBoards, said the city’s decision to scale back its original ban was “a step in the right direction,” but he remains wary of the curfew’s reach.
“Ideally, you wouldn’t need a curfew — people should be able to ride whenever as long as they’re doing it safely and responsibly,” he said. “We should enforce the rules we already have instead of adding new ones.”
The council’s Quality of Life Committee is expected to revisit the ordinance in early December, when members will take public testimony and consider possible amendments.
Houston First President and CEO Michael Heckman said scooters in downtown “are being rented for entertainment and often mischievous use around areas unintended for motorized scooters.”
Martinez and Council Member Twila Carter both sit on the Houston First board.
Mobility and equity advocates, however, argued the process was rushed and could lead to over-policing. Ed Pettitt, vice president of the Greater Third Ward Super Neighborhood, emailed council members Tuesday night urging them to delay the vote, warning that the ordinance misinterprets safety data and could invite pretextual policing.
Jake Cooper, founder of Rent EBoards, said the city’s decision to scale back its original ban was “a step in the right direction,” but he remains wary of the curfew’s reach.
“Ideally, you wouldn’t need a curfew — people should be able to ride whenever as long as they’re doing it safely and responsibly,” he said. “We should enforce the rules we already have instead of adding new ones.”
The council’s Quality of Life Committee is expected to revisit the ordinance in early December, when members will take public testimony and consider possible amendments.