As COVID cases continue to surge across the United States, electric scooters are becoming a
popular alternative form of transportation because they give riders an open-air option for their
commute. In Florida, local governments are enabling commuters to rent electric scooters, rolling
back bans they had enacted on the vehicles.
In 2019, cities across the state banned electric scooter use or considered such because of reckless
driving and littering by the drivers. For example, in the summer of 2019, the City of Clearwater
enacted a ban to enable officials to draft regulations and plan for local use. Although
metropolitan areas like Tampa and Miami had allowed scooter use throughout 2019, several
cities across the state banned scooters where they had been legal to prevent the spread of COVID
in 2020. Recently, cities have begun lifting bans to promote safe commuting.
The City of Coral Gables was the first municipality in Miami Dade to bring back scooters in
September of this year after the scooters had been prohibited by a Miami-Dade County
Emergency Order to avoid spreading the virus. Several other cities have followed suit.
Before you decide to zoom to your next destination using a Bird or a Lime, however, make sure
you’re aware of the law concerning electric scooters.
Under Florida law, motorized scooters (or electric scooters) are considered motor vehicles.
Therefore, the standard rules of the road apply. As such, scooters are not allowed on sidewalks or
bike paths unless you are pushing the scooter without using its motor. Additionally, riders must
be licensed drivers.
While a state law regarding scooters has yet to be enacted, many city governments in Florida are
taking their own measures to restrict or promote the use of the vehicles.
Accordingly, cities across the state differ in whether they allow electric scooter companies to
rent scooters in their jurisdictions. Regulations concerning how scooter renters may use scooters
within cities also vary based on local ordinance. The lack of uniformity can frequently lead to
confusion about what is and is not legal in Florida.
While electric scooters promote social distancing and enable a safer commute, be sure to review
your local ordinances before hitting the road.