Electric scooter laws: what to check before you ride
There is no single US law for electric scooters. States set the frame, cities fill it in, and both change. Here are the eight things to look up.
Topic
Riding laws & safety
Where you can ride, what the rules usually say, and how to ride safely in traffic, in the dark and in the rain.
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All riding & safety guides
Riding an electric scooter in rain and winter: water ratings and what to avoid
Light rain is fine for some models and a bad idea for others. The IP rating tells you which, if you know how to read it.
About this topic
About riding laws & safety
Where you may ride an electric scooter or electric bike, how fast, and what you need to wear are set by your state and your city, and the rules change. These guides explain how the rules usually work and where to check the ones that apply to you, and they cover riding safely: being seen, braking, riding in traffic and riding in bad weather.
Where a guide describes a rule, it says where the rule comes from and when it was checked, so you can confirm it yourself. Nothing here is legal advice: the law in your state and city is what counts, and your state’s motor vehicle agency and your city’s transportation department publish it.
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