Scooter

Learn how to scoot safely in the city.

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LEARN THE BASICS

  • Riding

    Use bike lanes where possible and ride in a single file. No sidewalk riding in downtown DC.

  • Parking

    Per DC law, riders are required to lock electric scooters to bike racks, in-street corrals,  parking signposts, or stop signs.

  • Accessible

    Lime has launched an adaptive vehicle program for riders with unique ability needs. Reserve a vehicle for up to 24 hours for free.

  • Fares

    Prices vary by provider but start around $0.24 per minute. Eligible residents can apply for discounted fares.

  • Helmets

    In the District, you are required to wear a helmet while riding electric mopeds. Helmets are also recommended when riding a bike or scooter.

  • Contact

    For more operator information, review the list of dockless vehicle operators here.

Scooting Tips

Download the Scooter Infographic

Scooting has become an increasingly popular sustainable mobility option in the District. Follow these rules and safety tips to ensure a safe city for everyone.

RESOURCES & INFORMATION

  • Reduces traffic by reducing car trips
    Nearly half of car trips in the US are less than three miles in length. These short car trips cause congestion, generate harmful emissions, and also affect public transit by slowing buses and competing for carshare passengers. By riding an electric scooter, you’ll save time in traffic and reach your destination faster.
  • Good for the environment
    Since electric scooters run on batteries, there are no fumes or burning of fuels in the engine — making them eco-friendly. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, look no further. With an electric scooter, you’ll improve air quality and decrease pollution.
  • Improves accessibility / great for short trips
    Scooters enhance mobility and improve cities by presenting a flexible, convenient car alternative for short trips. They also eliminate the first-mile, last-mile challenge by expanding access to public transit. 
  • Saves money
    Traveling by scooter eliminates the costs of car maintenance, parking, and gas. In fact, the cost of fueling an electric scooter is just over 1% of the cost of fueling a car that delivers a respectable 28 miles per gallon.
  • Convenience
    Electric scooters are easy to drive and can help you avoid traffic blocks. Due to their compact size, you can easily park in spaces where traditional cars don’t fit. Unlike bicycles, scooters are easy to travel with because they are often lightweight, collapsible, and quite compact. If taking public transportation, you can bring your scooter onboard without worrying about it taking up a lot of space on the bus or train.*

* Please be advised that only one scooter per passenger is allowed and up to two scooters at a time on DC Circulator buses. This policy does not apply to mobility scooters used by riders with disabilities.

  • No double riding; limit 1 person per scooter.
  • Do not ride scooters on the sidewalk in the Central Business District.
  • Use bike lanes when available.
  • Yield to pedestrians and use bells to alert people before passing them.
  • Follow all traffic laws.
  • Wear a helmet.
  • Be aware and predictable.
  • Ride with traffic in a single file.
  • Click here for scooter infographic.

Yes, under the amended District of Columbia Traffic Act, 1925. Electric scooters are defined as “personal mobility devices.” Details outlined below:

  • As defined by law, a “Personal Mobility Device” or “PMD” means a motorized propulsion device, designed to transport one person or a self-balancing, two non-tandem wheeled device, designed to transport only one person with an electric propulsion system, but excluding a battery-operated wheelchair.”
  • You must be at least 16 years of age to operate a PMD.
  • The maximum speed limit is 10 miles per hour.
  • It is illegal to ride a PMD on the sidewalk within the Central Business District (Downtown DC); nor shall any person ride on a sidewalk in any area outside of the Central Business District if it is expressly prohibited by Order of the Mayor and appropriate signs to such effect are posted. 
  • It is illegal to ride a PMD while carrying any package, bundle, or other article that hinders the operator from keeping both hands on the handlebars.
  • It is illegal to ride on any roadway or sidewalk while wearing a headset, headphone, or earphone, unless the device is used to improve the hearing of a person with a hearing impairment or covers or is inserted in one ear only.
  • If riding on a sidewalk or crosswalk, you must yield to pedestrians.
  • Yield when emerging from, or entering an alley, driveway, or building to all pedestrians on the sidewalk; and yield upon entering the roadway to all vehicles approaching on said roadway (safely enter flows of traffic).
  • For more information, please review the DC Council Act on personal mobility devices and clarification of responsibilities here.

Yes, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) requires operators to make dockless vehicles accessible to all Washingtonians under the Low-Income Customer Plan. The eight permitted scooter companies must facilitate programs that reduce the barriers to accessing dockless vehicles, regardless of income.* If approved, program participants can get FREE unlimited 30-minute trips.

Residents interested in the program should sign-up with the individual companies:

  • Lime
  • Lyft
  • Spin
  • Veo

*To help accommodate essential workers and safer travel, the District has allowed dockless fleet increases based on specific performance metrics. 

Who Can Apply

Eligible candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

  • A single person earning less than $29,160/year
  • A family of four where household income is less than $60,000/year (adults age 18+)

How to Sign-Up

  1. Scan or take a picture of any qualification that validates your participation in any state or federally-run assistance program. If you qualify and do not have documentation, contact the company directly.
  2. Upload or email the scanned image or picture to the individual company of choice. Be sure to include your full name and valid phone number because the phone number will be associated with your account.

Mopedsharing operates like point-to-point carsharing by allowing customers to pick up a vehicle at one location and drop it off at another. Mopeds, which must be driven and parked on the street, are electric and can be parked more easily than cars.

Revel and Lime are currently operating mopedsharing services on-street in the District.

 

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MAPS & TOOLS

Finding a good route is important when you are trying to get around metro DC by scooter. Fortunately, there are maps, apps, websites and tools to help you find your way.

State & District Maps

  • District of Columbia Bike Map PDF 22.13mb
  • Maryland Bike Map PDF 3.61mb
  • State of Virginia Bike Map PDF 8.57mb

City & County Maps

  • Arlington County, VA Bike Map PDF 7.55mb
  • City of Alexandria, VA Bike Map PDF 14.41mb
  • Fairfax County, VA Bike Map PDF 21.75mb
  • Montgomery County, MD Bike Map PDF 41.16mb
  • Prince George’s County, MD Bike Map PDF 4.02mb
  • City of Takoma Park, MD Bike Map PDF 2.4mb

For bulk copies, visit our brochure requests center.

Preview

  • VeoRide

    Available on:   iOS Android

    Local bike and scooter provider that operates 720 vehicles in the District.

  • Lime

    Available on:   iOS Android

    Local scooter provider that operates 2,500 vehicles in the District.

  • Lyft

    Available on:   iOS Android

    Local scooter provider that operates 2,500 vehicles in the District.

  • ScootRoute

    Available on:   iOS Android

    Navigate smarter and faster with ScootRoute, the first scooter-specific app that shows how to steer clear of highways, busy streets, and steep hills.

  • Spin

    Available on:   iOS Android

    Local scooter provider that operates 2,500 vehicles in the District.

Scooter Costs

Name Apps Undocking Fee Cost* Total for a
10-minute ride
Jump/Lime / none $0.32 per minute $3.20
Lyft / $1 $0.34 per minute $4.40
Spin / $1 $0.29 per minute $3.90
VeoRide / $1    

*some companies calculate sales tax within the cost per minute,
while others don’t (and they often don’t disclose it clearly at the outset)

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Affordable Access

Low-Income Customer Plan

Washington, DC is heavily invested in providing affordable, alternative transportation options to residents across all eight wards of the city, regardless of income. To help meet that goal, DDOT has required operators to have a Low-Income Customer Plan to provide discounted access to dockless scooters.

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