Riding an electric scooter on sidewalks: the rules, bike lanes and etiquette

The general rule: check your city, not just your state

There is no single US rule for riding an electric scooter on sidewalks. States set the basic rules of the road, and cities, counties, parks and campuses add their own. Many cities ban riding on the sidewalk even where state law says nothing about it or allows it.

Where sidewalk riding is allowed at all, it often comes with limits, such as a low speed, a ban in busy downtown areas or a duty to give way to pedestrians.

To find your rules, search your city or county transportation department website for scooter, micromobility or sidewalk riding, and check your state motor vehicle agency for the state definition. Our guide to what to check before you ride lists the other rules worth looking up.

New York City: never on the sidewalk

In New York City, bike lanes are where e-bikes and electric scooters belong. Riding on the sidewalk is not allowed.

• Use the bike lane where there is one, and ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Where there is no bike lane, ride with traffic and stay predictable.
• Keep to 15 mph or less. Since October 24, 2025, NYC DOT has set a 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes and electric scooters on city streets and park paths in all five boroughs.
• Follow the signs in parks and on bridges, which may add their own rules.
• Park upright and out of the way of sidewalks, ramps, doorways and bus stops.

Read our NYC e-bike and electric scooter rules for what counts as an electric scooter in New York, and see the NYC street legal page for models that meet the city rules.

Why sidewalks and electric scooters do not mix

People walk at a few miles an hour. A commuter electric scooter can do 18 to 20 mph. That gap leaves almost no time to react.

• People step out without looking, from doorways, shops, parked cars and bus stops.
• Children and dogs move fast and change direction without warning.
• Some people cannot see or hear you coming, including people with low vision or hearing loss, and anyone wearing headphones.
• Drivers do not expect fast traffic on the sidewalk. At driveways and garage exits they look for people walking, not a rider at 15 mph.
• Sidewalks are rough on small wheels. Cracks, raised slabs, curb cuts and tree roots can catch a scooter wheel and throw you off.

A collision at scooter speed can seriously hurt someone on foot, and the rider too.

Bike lanes: where you usually belong

Where electric scooters are allowed on the street, the bike lane is usually the place to ride.

• Ride with traffic, never against it.
• Keep right and pass on the left, with a clear warning and plenty of room.
• Watch for opening car doors in lanes beside parked cars, and leave a door’s width where you can.
• Stop for people at crossings, and for anyone crossing the lane to reach the curb or a bus.
• No bike lane? Many places direct riders to the right side of lower speed streets and restrict roads with higher posted limits. Check your local rules.
• Shared paths and park paths allow electric scooters in some places and not in others. Follow the signs, slow down and give people on foot the right of way.

When you have to use the sidewalk: walk it

You will still meet sidewalks: the last few yards to a door, a blocked lane or a crowded corner. Get off and walk the scooter. It takes seconds and removes the risk.

• Step off at the curb, turn the scooter off or pick the lowest mode, and walk it at walking pace.
• Keep the scooter on the side away from people passing you.
• Fold it once you arrive, and never leave it lying across the sidewalk or a ramp.

A light scooter is easier to walk and carry up steps. The E-TWOW Booster ES weighs 25.6 lbs and folds at three points, with a folding handlebar.

Etiquette and pedestrian safety

• People on foot come first, on shared paths, at crossings and anywhere space is shared.
• Slow to walking pace near crowds, schools, transit stops and entrances.
• Warn early and politely. A bell or horn a few seconds before you pass gives people time to react. Use it as a hello, not a demand.
• Pass wide. Leave as much room as you can, and wait if there is no room.
• Be visible. Use lights from dusk, front and rear.
• Signal your turns, by hand or with turn signals.
• One rider, both hands on the bar, no phone.
• Park with care. Upright, out of the walking path, never blocking ramps, doorways or bus stops.

Our safety gear guide covers helmets, lights and what to wear.

Features that help you ride considerately

• A low speed mode. The E-TWOW Booster ES has Eco, Normal and Sport modes, and the INMOTION Air has ECO, D and S. Use the lowest on busy paths.
• A bell or horn. The E-TWOW GT Sport Limited Edition has a mechanical bell and an electric horn, and the Booster ES has an electric piezo ceramic horn.
• Turn signals. The Segway F2 has front and rear turn signals, and the GT Sport Limited Edition builds them into the handlebar.
• Lights. The INMOTION Air has a headlight and a brake light.

Maker figures, checked September 2026. Real range and speed depend on rider weight, terrain, temperature and riding mode.

Checking the rules where you live? Our guide to whether you need a license for an electric scooter explains how speed and power change the answer. Browse every model in the electric scooter shop. Orders ship free to the lower 48 states, and you can split the cost with Pay in 4 at 0% APR or monthly payments with Affirm.

Questions riders ask