State of Texas

Most municipalities will permit you to register your bicycle if you so desire so that you will have a record on file in the event of theft.  All Veloteq ebikes have a distinguishing VIN number for this purpose.  This service is provided in Houston by your local fire station for a nominal fee of $1.

CHAPTER 551. OPERATION OF BICYCLES, MOPEDS, AND PLAY VEHICLES

SUBCHAPTER A. APPLICATION OF CHAPTER

Webmasters Note: A visitor to the website recently commented that this information is out of date.  This is incorrect.  HB1596, passed in September, 2005 added Subchapter E which relates to motor-assisted scooters.  It did not change the status of our electric bicycle products under Texas law, however, thank you for the note, Scott M.  For the full text of the updated Chapter 551 please click below.

§ 551.001. PERSONS AFFECTED. Except as provided by Subchapter C, this chapter applies only to a person operating a bicycle on:
(1) a highway; or
(2) a path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended
by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1318, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.


§ 551.002. MOPED AND ELECTRIC BICYCLE INCLUDED. A provision of this subtitle applicable to a bicycle also applies to:
(1) a moped, other than a provision that by its nature cannot apply to a moped; and
(2) an electric bicycle, other than a provision that by its nature cannot apply to an electric bicycle.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended
by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1085, § 9, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

SUBCHAPTER B. REGULATION OF OPERATION


§ 551.101. RIGHTS AND DUTIES. (a) A person operating a
bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle under this subtitle, unless:
(1) a provision of this chapter alters a right or duty; or
(2) a right or duty applicable to a driver operating a vehicle cannot by its nature apply to a person operating a bicycle.
(b) A parent of a child or a guardian of a ward may not knowingly permit the child or ward to violate this subtitle.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.


§ 551.102. GENERAL OPERATION. (a) A person operating a bicycle shall ride only on or astride a permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle.
(b) A person may not use a bicycle to carry more persons than the bicycle is designed or equipped to carry.
(c) A person operating a bicycle may not use the bicycle to carry an object that prevents the person from operating the bicycle with at least one hand on the handlebars of the bicycle.
(d) A person operating a bicycle, coaster, sled, or toy vehicle or using roller skates may not attach either the person or the bicycle, coaster, sled, toy vehicle, or roller skates to a streetcar or vehicle on a roadway.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.


§ 551.103. OPERATION ON ROADWAY. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person operating a bicycle on a roadway who is moving slower than the other traffic on the roadway shall ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway, unless:
(1) the person is passing another vehicle moving in the same direction;
(2) the person is preparing to turn left at an intersection or onto a private road or driveway;
(3) a condition on or of the roadway, including a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or surface hazard prevents the person from safely riding next to the right curb or edge of the roadway; or
(4) the person is operating a bicycle in an outside lane that is:
(A) less than 14 feet in width and does not have a designated bicycle lane adjacent to that lane; or
(B) too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel side by side.
(b) A person operating a bicycle on a one-way roadway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of the roadway.
(c) Persons operating bicycles on a roadway may ride two abreast. Persons riding two abreast on a laned roadway shall ride in a single lane. Persons riding two abreast may not impede the normal and reasonable flow of traffic on the roadway. Persons may not ride more than two abreast unless they are riding on a part of a roadway set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.
(d) Repealed by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1085, § 13,
eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended
by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1085, § 10, 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.


§ 551.104. SAFETY EQUIPMENT. (a) A person may not operate a bicycle unless the bicycle is equipped with a brake capable of making a braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(b) A person may not operate a bicycle at nighttime unless the bicycle is equipped with:
(1) a lamp on the front of the bicycle that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet in front of the bicycle; and
(2) on the rear of the bicycle:
(A) a red reflector that is:
(i) of a type approved by the department; and
(ii) visible when directly in front of lawful upper beams of motor vehicle headlamps from all distances from 50 to 300 feet to the rear of the bicycle; or
(B) a lamp that emits a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended
by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1085, § 11, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.


§ 551.105. COMPETITIVE RACING. (a) In this section,
"bicycle" means a non-motorized vehicle propelled by human power.
(b) A sponsoring organization may hold a competitive bicycle race on a public road only with the approval of the appropriate local law enforcement agencies.
(c) The local law enforcement agencies and the sponsoring organization may agree on safety regulations governing the movement of bicycles during a competitive race or during training for a competitive race, including the permission for bicycle operators to ride abreast.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.


§ 551.106. REGULATION OF ELECTRIC BICYCLES. (a) The department or a local authority may not prohibit the use of an electric bicycle on a highway that is used primarily by motor vehicles. The department or a local authority may prohibit the use of an electric bicycle on a highway used primarily by pedestrians.
(b) The department shall establish rules for the administration of this section.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1085, § 12, eff. Sept. 1,
2001.

SUBCHAPTER C. ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES


§ 551.201. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "electric personal assistive mobility device" means a two non-tandem wheeled device designed for transporting one person that is:
(1) self-balancing; and
(2) propelled by an electric propulsion system with an average power of 750 watts or one horsepower.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1318, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.


§ 551.202. OPERATION ON ROADWAY. (a) A person may operate an electric personal assistive mobility device on a residential street, roadway, or public highway with a speed limit of 30 miles per hour or less only:
(1) while making a direct crossing of a highway in a marked or unmarked crosswalk;
(2) where no sidewalk is available; or
(3) when so directed by a traffic control device or by a law enforcement officer.
(b) A person may operate an electric personal assistive mobility device on a path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles.
(c) Any person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device on a residential street, roadway, or public highway shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand edge.
(d) Except as otherwise provided by this section, provisions of this title applicable to the operation of bicycles apply to the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1318, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.


§ 551.203. SIDEWALKS. A person may operate an electric personal assistive mobility device on a sidewalk.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1318, § 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.

SUBCHAPTER D. NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES AND MOTOR-ASSISTED
SCOOTERS


§ 551.301. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Neighborhood electric vehicle" means a vehicle
subject to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 500 (49 C.F.R.
Section 571.500).
(2) "Motor assisted scooter" means a self-propelled device with:
(A) at least two wheels in contact with the ground during operation;
(B) a braking system capable of stopping the device under typical operating conditions;
(C) a gas or electric motor not exceeding 40
cubic centimeters;
(D) a deck designed to allow a person to stand or
sit while operating the device; and
(E) the ability to be propelled by human power alone.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1320, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 2003;
Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1325, § 19.07, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.


§ 551.302. REGISTRATION.