COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Scooters and e-bikes — also called micromobility devices — are a common sight on Texas A&M’s campus. But regents say those days could be numbered if safety doesn’t improve.
Texas A&M regents are sounding the alarm about these devices on campus, warning the university could ban them entirely if crashes don’t come down. Crashes involving micromobility devices on campus are up 37% from 2024 to 2025.
Regent John Bellinger didn’t mince words at last week’s Board of Regents meeting.
“The bottom line of this is if we don’t get it fixed soon, because this is a very old subject, we’re going to ban them and you’re not going to have them at all,” Bellinger said. “So we got to get it fixed or it’s out.”
The numbers behind the warning
Texas A&M Chief Operating Officer Peter Lange told regents crashes involving scooters and e-bikes on campus jumped 37% last year, with 52 incidents recorded — about half resulting in injury.
But Lange said the problem isn’t unique to Texas A&M.
“We’re seeing this issue across the country,” Lange said.
According to Lange, 38% of registered micromobility devices on campus are now electric, and that number is expected to keep climbing over the next few years.
The university has already completed five projects aimed at separating scooters from pedestrians on campus. But Regent Sam Torn wants to see more done, pressing Lange during the meeting on whether Texas A&M could require riders to wear helmets — something the state of Texas doesn’t currently mandate.
“Does that mean we can’t require them on campus?” Torn asked.
“I’d have to research that if we could require them,” Lange responded.
“Why not?” Torn asked.
“I’d have to see if it’s legal,” Lange said.
Lange said he would look into whether a helmet requirement is possible. For now, regents say the message to the university is clear: either crashes go down, or scooters could disappear from campus altogether.
A system-wide concern
The safety issue isn’t limited to College Station. Regent Sam Torn, who chairs the Board’s Committee on Academic and Student Affairs, said the problem extends across the Texas A&M System.
“This has got to get fixed,” Torn said. “I’ve heard it is a big problem at Prairie View… So across the system, we’ve got to go look. If we can do it to make it safer, not just for those riding it, but for those that are in the path, we need to do it.”
Regents say they want to see progress soon — or these devices could be banned from campus altogether.
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