Electric bikes and motor-assisted scooters are incredibly popular and there are some important rules here in Texas that help keep everyone safe.

Understanding the Difference

Bicycle: The classic, equipped with two wheels, handlebars, and functioning pedals. Powered only by pure human strength.

Class 1 Electric Bike:

• Pedal-assisted
• No assistance without pedaling
• Maxes out at 20 MPH

Class 2 Electric Bike:

• Throttle-assisted
• Can be ridden without pedaling
• Also has a top speed of 20 MPH

Class 3 Electric Bike:

• Pedal-assisted/optional throttle
• No assistance without pedaling
• MUST be 15 years of age to use
• Has a higher top speed of 28 MPH

IMPORTANT: If your bike does NOT have functional pedals that enable it to be powered by human strength, then it is NOT considered an electric bike. It is considered a mini motorbike or pocket bike, and require their owners to follow a different set of laws.

Motor-Assisted Scooter:

• Electric motor
• Can be propelled by rider alone

The Law:

All three classes of electric bikes (1,2, and 3) may be ridden in the same manner as a bicycle in Texas; however, you must be at least 15 years old to operate a Class 3 electric bike.

Motor-assisted scooters are allowed to be ridden on sidewalks and City trails. They are also allowed on streets with speed limits with a posted speed limit of 35 MPH or lower.

Electric bikes and motor-assisted scooters are authorized to be ridden in the City of Bedford.

When riding on sidewalks electric bikes and motor-assisted scooters must give pedestrians the right-of-way.

When riding on streets electric bikes and motor-assisted scooters are required to adhere to the rules of the roadway and ride as close to the right side of the roadway.

Electric bikes and motor-assisted scooters should not be ridden in a reckless manner or at a speed that endangers the life, limb, or property of the rider or any other person.

It is recommended for all riders to wear a helmet, but it is only required for helmets to be worn by children 17 years of age and under.

IMPORTANT: Mini-motor bikes and pocket bikes are not authorized to be ridden on sidewalks, city trails, or roadways.

To read the full ordinance, visit www.bedfordtx.gov/ordinances and search “bicycle.”

We’re serving up some BIG news – ATP Pickleball is opening soon in Bedford! Located at 1313 Brown Trail (next to Turning Point Beer), ATP Pickleball is an indoor pickleball facility that features six premium pickleball courts designed for everyone from first-timers to competitive players looking to sharpen their skills.

The facility will offer open play and hourly court rentals, as well as a private event area. Open play will cost individual players $10 and will take place from 8 a.m. to noon and 6 p.m. to closing every day. Court rentals will be $10 per person, per hour. An optional monthly membership is also available, which includes unlimited open play, court rentals, and pro-shop discounts. More details about memberships and opening information will be available on ATP Pickleball’s website at https://playatp.com/

A reminder for property owners: whether you are thinking about offering your property as a short-term rental or are currently doing so, City of Bedford regulations require the property to be registered.

A short-term rental property is identified as a residence/home that is rented out to patrons for a period of less than 29 days at a time, such as an Airbnb or Vrbo.

The City’s short-term rental program is intended to protect and preserve the integrity of our neighborhoods and overall community by regulating the terms under which a residence may be rented. These terms include a required annual property inspection and assuring property owners are registering for State-required Hotel Occupancy Tax payments.

The short-term rental program addresses the following:

• Terms to receive an approved permit (parking plan, local contact, liability insurance, etc.) for the short-term rental property
• Occupancy limits
• Ensures life safety matters are addressed at the residence
• Requires annual fire inspection, repeat inspection, and change in ownership inspection
• Establishes clear policies if a property does not comply with regulations
• Establishes permit and inspection/re-inspection fees, and applicable penalties
• Short-Term Rentals are only allowed in residential zoned areas but not multi-family districts. Short-Term rentals cannot be located within 1,000 feet of another registered short-term rental

Please Note: Previous court rulings have dictated how much the City can regulate short-term rentals. The City understands that residents have concerns about these rentals and is using every legal option available to reduce issues like noise, parking problems, and other code violations.

There are now about 40 short-term rentals in Bedford. This is a decrease of more than 10 properties, following the City Council’s new rule passed earlier this year that requires short-term rentals to be at least 1,000 feet apart.

To report a problem, visit www.bedfordtx.gov/code.

For more information on short-term rental rules, go to www.bedfordtx.gov/shortterm.

Do you have a general question related to code enforcement, economic development, trash/recycling, parks, etc.? Ask us! Each month, we’ll feature at least one question from “Bedford Buzz” subscribers from the previous issue. Submit your questions at www.bedfordtx.gov/questions.

We didn't receive any reader questions this month, so here's a frequently asked question the City receives.

QUESTION: How do I attend or watch a City Council meeting?

ANSWER: The City Council typically meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month beginning at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 2000 Forest Ridge Dr. Agendas are available and posted prior to the meetings at www.bedfordtx.gov/AgendaCenter. All public meetings held in the Council Chambers are broadcast live on Charter Spectrum (Channel 16 for basic subscribers and 15.4 for all digital subscribers) and AT&T U-Verse (Channel 99). You can also watch them on-demand at www.bedfordtx.gov/tv.