Are Kick Scooters Allowed On Sidewalks Or Pavements?

Over the past few years, kick scooters have become popular transportation, especially among commuters. Kick scooters are compact, lightweight, and can be easily folded, making them ideal for commuting on crowded city streets.

However, you might wonder, while riding in city traffic, are kick scooters allowed on sidewalks or pavements to avoid the traffic altogether?

No worries, we’ve got you covered. This article will tell you everything you need to know about riding a kick scooter on sidewalks to avoid getting in trouble with the law.

Are Kick Scooters Allowed On Sidewalks?

The simple answer is: it depends on where you live. No federal law in the United States explicitly prohibits riding a kick scooter on the sidewalk. However, many cities and states have their own rules and regulations. Some cities allow both electric and kick scooters on sidewalks, whereas others only allow kick scooters, and some don’t allow any of them.

For example, in California, it is legal to ride a kick scooter on the sidewalk but still have to follow the basic rules of the road. This means you must yield to pedestrians, ride in a single file, and not exceed the speed limit.

So, no matter where you live, it is always best to check your local laws and regulations before riding your scooter on the sidewalk.

Lastly, in most places, riding a motorized scooter on the sidewalk is illegal, but you can usually ride a kick scooter.

Also, learn how far can you go on a kick scooter if you’re planning to commute on it.

Why It’s Legal To Ride kick Scooters On Sidewalks?

Kick scooters are human-powered vehicles, which means they are classified as pedestrians and skateboarding under the law. This is why you see people walking their dogs and commuting with skateboards on the sidewalk.

On the other hand, motorized scooters are classified as vehicles because they have motors, making it illegal to ride on sidewalks in most places.

This means you can ride your kick scooter on the sidewalk without a license, insurance, or registration as it’s more simial to skateboarding.

Rules To Follow If You’re Riding On Sidewalk

Even though it is legal to ride a kick scooter on the sidewalk, there are still some rules you need to follow to avoid getting in trouble with the law and be safe.

First and foremost, you need to yield to pedestrians at all times. This means that if a pedestrian is walking on the sidewalk, you must give them the right of way.

Secondly, you must ride in a single line when riding on the sidewalk. This means that you cannot ride side by side with another scooter or vehicle.

Always wear a helmet when riding on the sidewalk. This will protect you in case of an accident. Also, for kids under 13 years old, it’s mandatory to wear a helmet in some states.

Follow the traffic laws and signals. Just because you’re riding on the sidewalk doesn’t mean that you can ignore the traffic laws. You still need to obey all traffic lights and signs.

Lastly, you must ensure you do not exceed the speed limit. The kick scooter speed limit for riding on the sidewalk is usually less than 10 mph.

FAQs

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can ride a kick scooter on the sidewalk in many cities and states across the United States. However, it is always best to check your local laws and regulations before riding, as some places may have different rules.

When riding a kick scooter on the sidewalk, you must yield to pedestrians, ride in a single file, and not exceed the speed limit. You should also wear a helmet for your safety.

I hope you get answered about are kick scooters allowed on sidewalks or not with reason.

Thank you for reading!