Eccles pointed to state data showing 10 traffic-related deaths and 213 serious injuries from 2021 through 2024 in the area being considered for e-scooter restrictions — about two-thirds of which happened to people in cars, according to the Texas Department of Transportation’s Crash Record Information System.

Once again, proponents of a ban seek to place the burden not on the majority cause of these collisions – automobiles – but on those who dare to achieve their mobility independence, who simply want affordable, flexible urban mobility in spite of the physical risks as well as municipalities that won’t build appropriate infrastructure.

As of Monday afternoon, Glyderz’s petition against an outright e-scooter ban had garnered more than 1,800 signatures.

Good on them! Hopefully someone takes this petition to the Houston City Council, not as though it’s legally binding but as a tour-de-force of grassroot objections to what the City is doing. Even better is if even 1% of those signatories testified before the City Council about their objections during public comment. Even the most belligerent council cannot ignore 1.5 hours of constant negative comments on the same topic.