Are There Regulations for Electric Rental Scooters?
At first, Bird scooters came to the city of St. Louis and were quickly pulled off the streets because the company had not filed for the proper permit. Later, they were approved and came back to the city. A week before Bird was allowed back, Lime made its debut in the city. Prior to these companies bringing their rental scooters onto the streets, they had to meet all of the requirements set by the city.
Whereas other cities put statutes in place after the scooter rental companies popped up, St. Louis has a city ordinance from 2001 that sets limitations and rules for motorized scooters. The scooters caused a lot of issues on sidewalks, streets, and bike lanes because pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists weren’t used to sharing with e-scooters. Turns out, the e-scooters aren’t allowed to be ridden just anywhere in St. Louis. When riding a motorized scooter, Ordinance 65138 requires people in St. Louis to:
- Wear a helmet
- Only ride in the streets or alleys and as far to the right as possible
- Never ride on the sidewalk except to park
If scooter riders are found breaking any of these regulations, they could face a fine of up to $500, spend up to 90 days in jail, or both. They could also put themselves at risk for causing or being involved in an accident that causes injury or other damages. Specifically, not wearing a helmet could greatly increase your risk of head injury when you get into a collision on an e-scooter.
If you have been injured in an electric rental scooter accident in St. Louis, a personal injury lawyer from Thomas Law Offices could help you file a claim to help you financially recover from your injuries and hold the responsible party accountable.