Bike Lanes OK For Dockless Scooters In New Denver Proposal

DENVER, CO – Denver's dockless scooters are considered by some to be a menace on the sidewalks. But riding them on the street and in bike lanes has thus far been against the rules, because of their classification as “toy vehicles,” the city said.

Denver Public Works announced Wednesday that the department will propose changes to the current scooter rules that will get them off the sidewalks and into bike lanes or low-speed limit streets.

Members of Public Works will propose these changes at the Dec. 11 Denver City Council Land Use, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, said Heather Burke-Bellile, spokeswoman, in an email.

Public Works is recommending bumping the scooters up to the category of “Electric Mobility Scooters,” which would allow them to operate in the streets.

Here are the proposals announced Wednesday for Denver's dockless scooters:

• [The scooters] must operate in a bike lane, if one is available, not exceeding the speed limit of 15mph.
• If a bike lane isn’t an option, scooters will be allowed to ride on the roadway, if the maximum speed limit of the roadway does not exceed 30 mph. When riding on the roadway, electric scooters must stay to the right of the road.
• If a bike lane isn’t available, and the roadway has a speed limit greater than 30 mph, then the scooters may operate on the sidewalk.
• When riding on the sidewalk, scooters must stay below a speed of 6 mph and must yield to pedestrians at all times.

The committee will debate the proposed bill next week. It will then head to a vote before the full council, Burke-Bellile said.

The motorized scooters have had a bumpy rollout in Denver, with thousands being dropped on the city last spring, and Denver Public Works officials at one point confiscating hundreds of them.

Now several companies have applied through the city council to operate motorized scooter fleets in Denver.

Related: Motorized Scooters A Headache For Denver Public Works

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