Abilene, TX Mobility & Curb Rules: Shared E-Scooter Rules (2026)

Chapter 23, adopted by Ordinance No. 13-2019 on February 28, 2019, governs scooter and bicycle sharing businesses operating dockless or docked fleets in Abilene's public right-of-way. Section 23-3 makes it an offense to place scooters or bicycles in the right-of-way without a permit from the City Secretary, and the application must disclose ownership stakes of twenty percent or more, list the fleet size, and include a permit agreement with indemnification; a permit runs twenty-four months and renews in twelve-month increments. Section 23-4 requires commercial general liability coverage of one million dollars per occurrence with a two million dollar annual aggregate, plus auto and workers' compensation coverage, naming the City as additional insured.

Section 23-7 confines operation to City-designated home zones; absent a specific designation, the default home zone is the area within one mile of any university the vendor has a service contract with, plus the central business district. Section 23-8 sets the street rules: devices may not block sidewalks to less than forty-eight inches of clear width, may not be parked on a public street, must stand upright, and must stay at least five feet from crosswalks and curb ramps. A device left outside a home zone for more than twenty-four hours can be removed and stored by the City at the vendor's cost, and it becomes City property if unclaimed after thirty days.