U.S. Cities Tighten E‑Scooter and E‑Bike Rules

Municipalities across the U.S. are tightening micromobility rules amid rising e‑scooter and e‑bike safety concerns. In Myrtle Beach, city leaders approved a first-reading ordinance restricting e‑scooter use to roadways with speed limits under 30 mph, banning scooters from sidewalks and city-owned property, requiring bike-lane use, following traffic flow, hand-signals for turns and imposing fines for violations. New York City will enforce a 15 mph (25 kph) speed limit for e‑bikes, e‑scooters and pedal‑assist commercial bicycles on city streets beginning Oct. 24. Other localities, including Bridgewater, NJ, and Delaware County, PA, are clarifying device classifications and routing rules — with Bridgewater police warning many observed devices qualify as illegal “motorized scooters” subject to summons and impoundment, and Delaware County officials citing rising juvenile injuries. Where state law allows, some municipalities are also aligning helmet, licensing, registration and insurance requirements to device class. Bucharest’s interim mayor urged regulation (not bans) and circulation rules for shared devices to be adopted by year‑end to address accidents and abandoned scooters.