Keller cracking down on e-bikes after ‘dangerous incidents’ involving teens
The use of electric bikes has become a problem in Tarrant County and across Texas as more teens are using them to get to and from school and around town before they get their drivers’ licenses, police say.
On May 14, Keller Public Safety posted a dashcam video on Facebook of a group of at least seven pre-teen and teens who police say drove recklessly and evaded police on Johnson Road. In the video, the e-bike riders can be seen speeidng, popping wheelies, driving on sidewalks and evading police.
The department wants families to know the importance of safety and the danger the e-bikes have on young drivers and pedestrians.
“Please take the time to learn more about what your child is riding, where they are riding, and whether they understand (and are following) the rules of the road,” KPS said in a statement accompanying the video post. “These vehicles can reach significant speeds, and unsafe operations put riders, drivers and pedestrians at risk.”
The post also noted KPS would take a firmer stance with riders going forward to maintain compliance due to the “dangerous behavior” in the video.
Keller and other cities have additional ordinances to the state law on e-bikes, including:
- Texas law requires class 3 e-bike riders to be at least 15 years old
- Keller city ordinance requires helmets for e-bike riders under 16
- E-bikes are allowed on Keller trails, but may not exceed 15 mph
- Keller ordinances prohibit the use of headphones and earbuds while operating an e-bike
Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying any kids or teens involved in the recent incidents.
Rachel Reynolds, the city’s communication and public engagement manager, said Keller has been focused on educating the public.
“We’ve seen some dangerous situations, though, as well as folks riding bikes that look like e-bikes but aren’t — and aren’t street legal,” Reynolds said in a statement. “As a result, the department will be taking a firmer approach going forward, which could include citations for riders and/or their parents, as well as bike seizures.”
Reynolds said according to dispatch, from the start of the year through April, Keller officers responded to at least 61 calls for services due to disturbances that involved e-bike or motorized bikes.
According to previous reporting by the Star-Telegram, Dr. Terence McCarthy, director of the emergency department at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, said there has been a huge increase in e-bike and e-scooter related injuries in the last decade or so.
McCarthy said the ER sees around two people a week who have been hurt on e-bikes or e-scooters.
Keller Police Chief Brad Fortune first presented the e-bike ordinance to the city council in November 2025 to address the need for more enforcement, and it was subsequently approved by the council in December.
The department has been working with the City of Keller and the Keller Independent School Distric to educate families on bike safety.
Anyone who recognizes the riders or their bikes in the video should contact Detective Gentry at jgentry@cityofkeller.com.