DENVER — New rules may be coming down the pike for electric scooter riders.
On Dec. 11, Denver Public Works will attend Denver City Council’s Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to discuss proposed changes to the current scooter rules that were originally crafted in partnership with District 5 Councilwoman Mary Beth Susman and District 6 Councilman Paul Kashmann.
Currently, local and state law classifies electric scooters as toy vehicles and requires them to operate on sidewalks.
Under the new proposal, dockless scooters would be reclassified as Electric Mobility Scooters (EMS). This new classification would come with the following rules:
- EMSs must operate in a bike lane if one is available
- If a bike lane is not available, EMSs can ride in the roadway as long as the road does not exceed 30 mph. They must stay to the right of the road
- If a bike lane is not available and the roadway has a speed limit faster than 30 mph, the EMS may operate on the sidewalk
- When riding on the sidewalk, EMS may not exceed a speed of 6 mph and must yield to all pedestrians
- EMSs must not exceed the speed limit of 15 mph at any time on the roadway
The committee will discuss the proposed bill next week, before heading to a vote before the full council.