Riding your scooter on the sidewalk is a perfectly reasonable question to ask. After all, riding your scooter on a sidewalk is much safer than riding on the street or the road. Although sidewalks are much safer to ride a scooter on, the natural question strikes the mind: Can I ride a scooter on the sidewalk? Is it legal? If such questions have struck your mind as well, you are at the right place. Here in this article, I will be answering all these questions with some additional tips too. So, without any further ado, let’s dive into the article!
Is it Legal to Ride a Scooter on the Sidewalk?
As far as the legality of riding a scooter on the sidewalk is concerned, it depends on the State or region you are living in. The different States in America have different laws regarding this matter and, unfortunately, you will have to go through the complexities of scooter laws in the US.
However, you do not have to worry, because we have covered the scooter laws of some of the States in the US.
- Texas: If you are living in Texas, you are lucky, because the law there allows you to ride your scooter on the sidewalk. Furthermore, you can ride your scooter on the road with traffic and in the bike lane (if there is one available, that is) as well. Though, it is usually preferable to ride on roads or bike lanes instead of riding on sidewalks. There are also some stretches of sidewalks, in Austin, Texas, for example, that are off-limits for scooters. So, you may not be able to ride on some sidewalks.
- California: Unfortunately, you cannot ride a scooter on the sidewalk. You are only permitted to ride your scooter on the right side of the road or in the bike lane. Also, you have to walk your scooter if you are crossing an intersection.
- Colorado: Queerly, you are allowed to ride your scooter only on the sidewalk in Colorado. The law there considers scooters, electric scooters, in particular, to be toys, so it is prohibited to ride on the road with the traffic or on a bike lane. Ironic, isn’t it?
- Washington, DC: In Washington, DC, you are prohibited from riding a scooter on the sidewalk if there is a bike lane available nearby. Though, you are allowed to ride your scooter on sidewalks that are overseen by the National Park Service.
These are the laws in some of the States. For further information about ridding a scooter on the sidewalk, you may search and check the official website of your State’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Apart from laws, you may also come across some local municipalities. Bigger cities, New York City and San Francisco for instance, have the information on their city’s official website. If you cannot find any online website for your State, you can simply ask the local police.
Conclusion
Riding scooters sure is fun and thrilling, but always make sure to do your homework before setting out to ride your scooter. After knowing Can I Ride a Scooter on the Sidewalk?. Whether or not the law of your state allows you to ride scooters on sidewalks, it is also worthwhile to know that riding on sidewalks is very safe. Though, you still have to wear safety gear to ensure your safety at all costs. Any sort of the slightest negligence can end up with dangerous consequences.
Lastly, we’d love to hear from you about your experience with scooters and what cool stunts you can do. We would be waiting for some wholesome replies!
