Electric Bikes, Scooters, Skateboards, and Micro Mobility Devices Ordinance

Shared micro mobility devices including e-bikes, scooters, and electric skateboards give residents, employees, and visitors convenient options to get around Scottsdale without a car. The city does not have agreements with individual bike or scooter share companies and does not charge a fee to operate in Scottsdale. However, the companies may be cited for parking violations by the police department as specified by Scottsdale Ordinance 4372. Micro mobility riders, just like pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers can be cited for moving violations. City staff meet regularly with micro mobility companies regarding operation standards and to ensure community concerns are addressed. Feedback from the companies and the community help staff evaluate micro mobility device operations and may be used in future updates to the city’s ordinance.

FAQs

Scottsdale does not have agreements with individual bike or scooter share companies and does not charge a fee to operate in the city. City staff conducts field inspections to quickly address concerns with micro mobility use and parking. Staff works proactively with micro mobility companies to address and resolve parking issues. The city encourages the community to report improperly parked scooters on Scottsdale EZ. When you submit a report via Scottsdale EZ it is immediately shared with the company contact and city staff. This helps companies dispatch crews faster and allows city staff to track citizen concerns. You may also contact the companies directly, however city staff will not be notified about these concerns, which could impact our evaluation of the company’s performance.

Yes, they may be ridden on streets or roads with speed limits less than 40 miles per hour, including in bike lanes.

Yes, they are allowed on public shared-use paths and sidewalks if the scooters are operated with care and at a safe speed to avoid colliding with pedestrians and objects. Avoid riding on the covered sidewalks in Old Town Scottsdale as they are private property and crowded with pedestrians, furniture and items for sale.

No. All bike and electric mini-scooter sharing companies are private businesses that operate in a public environment, similar to automobile ride sharing companies.

Electric bicycles are divided into three classes. Class 1 and 2 electric bicycles are allowed on multiuse paths and sidewalks, but class 3 electric bicycles are not. In general, Class 1 and 2 provide assistance up to 20 miles per hour, and Class 3 at more than 20 miles per hour. Do not ride on the covered sidewalks in Old Town Scottsdale.

Yes, it is okay to park them in bike racks, but, if possible, park them next to bike racks or in designated parking areas to leave space in racks for devices that must be secured with a lock.

The fastest and most effective way to report parking violations is to use Scottsdale EZ, the city’s one-stop report-a-problem application. Please provide detailed information about the issue (location, frequency of occurrence or ongoing concern at your location, company name). The application will forward your report to the micro mobility company contact and city staff. This helps companies dispatch crews faster and allows city staff to track citizen concerns. You may also contact the companies directly, however city staff will not be notified about these concerns, which could impact our evaluation of the company’s performance.

Devices should be removed immediately upon notification and can be cited if not removed. Inoperable devices must be removed within two hours after notification.

If the rider is moving through the area, there is little the city can do. If there is a persistent problem with riding in a particular area, please call the police non-emergency line at 480-312-5000 and the call will be prioritized for response by the police department.

All users are encouraged to use helmets. However, adults are not legally required to wear helmets. Children are required to wear helmets when riding motorized skateboards or motorized play vehicles, but they are not required to wear them when riding electric mini-scooters or bicycles.

It is not illegal for two people to ride together unless they are riding in a reckless manner.

It is illegal to operate motorized bikes or scooters while under the influence of alcohol. It is okay to ride a non-motorized bike while under the influence of alcohol, as long as it is being ridden in a safe manner.

Rules for parking and riding

The ordinance provides these rules for parking these devices:

Keep sidewalks open for pedestrians:
Do not park devices on public sidewalks in areas that obstruct the portion used primarily by pedestrians.
The owner is required to keep devices properly parked:
The owner – whether an individual or a company – is responsible for making sure their devices are parked properly. Devices should be parked in racks or designated parking areas.
Devices should be operable and used:
The ordinance makes it illegal for devices to remain at the same location on public property for more than 72 consecutive hours. Improperly parked, inoperable or abandoned devices may be impounded.
Don’t park too many devices together:
To reduce the amount of visual clutter, the ordinance seeks to properly space parking of devices – a maximum of 5 devices from the same owner can be parked within 200 feet of each other.
Respect private property:
Devices can only be on private property with permission of the property owner (except in commercial or multi-family residential properties within common area bike racks and designated bicycle parking zones).
Obey traffic laws:
All bicycles and scooters, electric or otherwise, must obey traffic laws, including always yielding to pedestrians. Scooters and bicycles can be ridden on a public sidewalk, multiuse path, or roadway at a safe speed to avoid colliding with people, cars and objects around them.
Know where to ride:
Motorized scooters are prohibited on streets (including bike lanes) with speed limits of 40 miles per hour or greater. Class 1 (pedal-assist only, up to 20 mph) and Class 2 (no pedaling required, up to 20 mph) e-bikes are allowed on paved pathways. Class 3 (pedal-assist only, up to 28 mph) e-bikes are not allowed on paved pathways; riders are encouraged to use designated city bike lanes for travel.
Don’t Drink and Ride:
The city ordinance prohibits riding electric bikes and scooters recklessly and while under the influence of alcohol. Persons violating this ordinance provision are subject to arrest and possible jail time.

Report an Issue

The fastest way to report parking violations is to use Scottsdale EZ.

Report an Issue

If there is an ongoing problem with unsafe riding in a particular area, please call the police non-emergency line at 480-312-5000 and the call will be prioritized for response by the police department.

Contact Information

City of Scottsdale - Transportation & Streets
7447 E Indian School Rd. Suite 205
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

For information about micro mobility in Scottsdale

Susan Conklu, Senior Transportation Planner
P: 480-312-2308
[email protected]