California law prohibits the use of motorized scooters on sidewalks. This includes rideshare scooters and personally owned scooters. Generally, riders must stay in bike lanes and on streets with less than a 25 mph speed limit.
Where Can Scooters Go in California?
Scooter sidewalk travel is illegal in California unless riders are leaving or entering an “adjacent property.” There are other parts of the road where scooters can freely travel.
State law allows riders to travel on streets with speed limits of 25 mph or less. Some cities allow riders on some streets with a 35 mph speed limit. In either case, a scooter is still restricted to going no more than 15 mph.
E-scooters are allowed on some paths where bicycles are also permitted:
California Vehicle Code (CVC) §21230 – “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a motorized scooter may be operated on a bicycle path or trail or bikeway, unless the local authority or the governing body of a local agency having jurisdiction over that path, trail, or bikeway prohibits that operation by ordinance.”
CVC §21229 also clarifies that scooters should ride on a Class II Bikeway where available. A Class II bikeway is a one-way bike lane on the side of a street or highway with a striped line barrier. The only time an e-scooter should get out of the Class II Bikeway is when there are vehicles or pedestrians in the lane, before turning left, to avoid debris, or when about to turn right.
Other Guidelines for California Scooter Users
With all of this opportunity for traveling in the street, it’s no wonder that a driver’s license is required to operate a motorized scooter in California. Any class of driver’s license is sufficient.
It’s important to make sure your scooter meets the definition of a scooter defined by state law. A more powerful scooter may fall into a different vehicle category and be subject to a different set of vehicle codes.
The California DMV defines a motorized scooter as having 2 wheels, a motor, handlebars, and a floorboard that you can stand on while riding it.
Talk to a Lawyer After a Moped Accident in California
California drivers should be held accountable for their carelessness. If you or a loved one has been injured in a moped accident, discuss your case with a personal injury attorney serving California victims. Learn how to earn support for your hospital bills and lost earnings as you miss work. Don’t leave the amount of compensation you receive up to an insurance company.
Allow a skilled personal injury lawyer to make sure every medical cost you face is completely taken care of by the at-fault driver’s insurance provider.
Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, makes sure victims know their rights and he makes sure those rights are respected by insurance adjusters. Contact Maison Law for a free, no-obligation case consultation to find out about all the benefits available to you.
