Under Florida law, motorized scooters (or electric scooters) are considered motor vehicles. As such, they are not allowed to ride on sidewalks or bike trails unless they are powered solely by human energy. If you are caught riding a motorized scooter on a sidewalk, you will be issued a citation under Florida Statute 316 of 1995.Effective immediately, passengers in downtown Tampa can now use electric scooters on the streets and in bike lanes. Four different companies have launched e-scooters in recent weeks during the city's pilot program, which was launched in late May, raising concerns among some about safety.
Driving electric scooters in traffic can cause dangerous collisions with motor vehicles, and driving them on sidewalks can put walkers at risk. Electric scooters are here to stay, but make sure your scooter trips are just as safe and fun while complying with current regulations. Electric scooters for rent are highly regulated and have a special permit to operate in certain states. Therefore, electric scooters are allowed on roads with or without bicycle lanes, as long as they travel at less than 25 miles per hour.
Do some research at the state, county and local levels before renting or buying your own scooter. You'll find that, in almost all cases, scooters aren't allowed on high-speed roads (streets with a speed limit higher than 35 mph, for example). Electric scooter laws vary by state and municipality, but in general, passengers must follow the same traffic laws as bicyclists. It is important for passengers to know and comply with the laws on electric scooters in their area to ensure their own safety and that of others.
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 are legal on the streets of the U.S. Department of State, but you can't just get on one without knowing and following the traffic regulations. Four of the states (California, Colorado, Massachusetts and New York) do not allow scooters to be used on highways, highways, or limited-access roads because most scooters cannot reach speeds that are safe enough to keep up with traffic.
The maximum speed limit of 15 miles per hour for operating a motorized scooter specified in Section 22411 applies to the operation of a motorized scooter on all roads, including bicycle lanes, regardless of the highest speed limit applicable to the highway. While some states should be commended for clarifying the lines on what is allowed and what is not allowed on an electric scooter, all 50 states have not yet reached the same level. In early June, Tampa's transportation director, Jean Duncan, told FOX 13 that there were approximately 900 scooters in the city. The following states have very clear laws on motorized scooters and the operation of electric scooters.
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