E-scooter rules

By the end of this topic you can

• You can find out whether e-scooters are allowed where you live and what the rider rules are.
• You can choose a legal and safe place to ride: bike lane, roadway or path.
• You can follow speed, helmet, license and passenger rules for your state.
• You can ride predictably with signals, lights and good road position.
• You can park a scooter without blocking pedestrians.

What you need to know and understand

• E-scooter rules vary by state and city: check your state manual and local ordinances.
• Many places ban riding on sidewalks; California, for example, prohibits it except to enter or leave a property.
• California limits motorized scooters to 15 mph on any road.
• In California, on roads with a speed limit above 25 mph, scooters must use a bike lane or bikeway, though a local authority may allow riding on roads up to 35 mph.
• California requires riders under 18 to wear a properly fitted, fastened bicycle helmet, and all riders must hold a driver's license or instruction permit. Other states differ.
• Carrying a passenger is not allowed in California, and most scooters are built for one rider only.
• Shared rental scooter companies set their own minimum ages and rules in their apps, and cities may restrict where they can be ridden and parked.
• Riding after drinking or using drugs is dangerous, and in many states impaired-riding laws apply to scooters too.

Where you can and cannot ride

In most places that allow them, e-scooters belong in bike lanes and on the road, not on the sidewalk. Riding on the sidewalk puts pedestrians at risk and is banned in many cities. Freeways and other roads where bicycles are not allowed are off-limits.

Some states and cities also limit which streets you may use based on the posted speed limit. California's 25 mph and 35 mph rules are one example; your state may set different limits or none.

Before every ride

1. Check the brakes, tires, lights and battery level.
2. Put on a helmet, even if your state only requires it for younger riders.
3. Make sure you meet the age and license rules for your state, or the rental app's terms.
4. Plan a route using bike lanes or quiet streets where riding is allowed.
5. At night, use a working front light and rear reflector or light, and wear something bright.

Riding like a vehicle

On the road, you follow the same traffic laws as cyclists and drivers: stop at red lights and stop signs, yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, ride with traffic, never against it, and signal before you turn. Keep both hands on the handlebars whenever you can, and never carry anything that stops you keeping at least one hand on them.

Stay out of the door zone beside parked cars and watch for drivers turning across your path. Small wheels make potholes, rail tracks and wet paint dangerous, so slow down and cross them as straight as you can.

• Do: park upright, out of the walking path, in marked scooter zones where provided
• Do not: ride two up, use headphones in both ears, or hold on to a moving vehicle

Common mistakes

• Assuming the rules are the same everywhere. Check your state and city before riding.
• Riding on the sidewalk. Use the bike lane or road where allowed.
• Skipping the helmet because it is not required for your age. Head injuries are a leading scooter injury.
• Leaving a rental scooter lying across the sidewalk. Park upright and out of the way.
• Weaving between cars and pedestrians. Ride in a straight, predictable line and signal.

Test yourself: E-scooter rules

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.