A moped with a maximum speed of 30 mph or less is prohibited from entering highways and is restricted to certain areas within each city. A DOT compliant helmet is required. Section 406 (a) of the CVC refers to a moped or motorized bicycle as any two- or three-wheeled device that has fully functioning pedals for human-powered propulsion, or that has no pedals if it is powered solely by electrical energy, has an automatic transmission and an engine that produces less than 4 gross horsepower of braking force and is capable of propelling the device to a maximum speed of no more than 30 miles per hour on flat terrain. A driver's license with an M-1 or M-2 endorsement is required.
The M-2 only allows the operation of a moped or a motorized bicycle. Electric scooters are regulated as electric skateboards under this law and share the same privileges that are granted to electric bicycles. Many states consider that the speeds of electric scooters are too dangerous for sidewalks, where pedestrians, cyclists, or even scooter users themselves could be injured in an accident. Electric scooters have attracted national attention thanks to short-term rental services, such as Bird and Lime.
While the phenomenon of shared scooters created a cheap, efficient and low-carbon means of transportation for millions of people who traveled daily and were looking for fun around the world, it also caused an avalanche of complaints from pedestrians in metropolitan areas. You might be surprised to learn that interesting niche communities are developing for high-speed scooters, but most people are happy to travel at 15 miles per hour or 20 miles per hour. Users of electric scooters or those who are thinking of buying or starting to use electric scooters should contact their local governments for the most up-to-date information on the local legal situation applicable to scooters. Electric scooters cannot travel faster than 15 MPH on any public road or bicycle path, and must remain on slower streets with speed limits of 25 MPH or less.
In states where helmets are required for all ages, this is generally an extension of laws on mopeds to electric scooters. Users of electric scooters must give verbal warning if they are going to pass and must always obey traffic signs. In an effort to bring order in the midst of chaos, nine states have required driver's licenses to operate an electric scooter, but this method is unlikely to become the norm, given the special power of micromobility to provide opportunities for people who can't afford a car. Birmingham currently allows two shared bicycle and scooter companies, Veo and Gotcha, to operate within the city.
Before this event, New York was one of the world's most famous examples of unregulated micromobility (in the case of personally owned scooters) and of prohibited micromobility (in the case of shared scooter companies). Many cities and universities in Texas have scooter-sharing programs, so a large number of Texans are familiar with electric scooters. The minimum age for driving an electric scooter varies from state to state, although the most common agreed age in the country is 16 years or older. The bill also allows local governments to regulate shared scooter operators and set their own rules on scooters within their jurisdiction.
However, the city seems to have no laws that regulate privately owned electric scooters, so passengers can contact local law enforcement before going out on the street and risk receiving a fine or fine. .
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