Which Wheels Go Where?

The term “micromobility” refers to small-wheeled vehicles like bicycles, scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, and other vehicles with a small profile compared to most motor vehicles that can be human powered or have electric motors. With recent battery and technology advances, micromobility options have expanded rapidly and are continuing to change.

Today people use human- and electric-powered micromobility vehicles to move around the City, and as a result the City is considering updates to the laws that govern these vehicles in order to effectively regulate and enforce their safe use on City facilities.

Here's where current ordinance allows/prohibits various types of vehicles:

*Examples of human powered vehicles: Roller skates, roller blades, skateboards, kick scooters.

**Examples of lightweight electric vehicles: Electric skateboards, hoverboards, Onewheels, electric unicycles. Lightweight electric vehicles do not include heavier electric vehicles like golf carts or motorbikes.

***Examples of low-power scooters: Self-powered scooters that are less than 50cc (gas-powered) or 4476 watts (electric).

****Riders must dismount all of the vehicles listed in sidewalk and crosswalk dismount zones.

In line with our City's efforts to curb emissions per the Our Climate Future plan, updates to our micromobility policies support City goals within the Active Modes Plan, the Vision Zero Action Plan, the Strategic Trails Plan, and Council Priorities such as 15-Minute City and Reduce Climate and Air Pollution.