Bird, Spin, LimeBike: Will It be legal to ride scooters on the sidewalk of San-Francisco?

Since mid-March, Bird, Spin, and LimeBike, three American start-ups, have deployed several hundred self-service scooters in the streets of San Francisco, provoking the anger of part of the population.

The scooters, which can reach a speed of 15 mph, are rented via a mobile app. Once the trip is over, you can leave the scooter on any sidewalk.

It started to be a real problem. On social networks, messages are multiplying to denounce poorly parked scooters in front of building or garage exits, in the middle of the sidewalk or on parking spots… Also, the danger of riding fast and between pedestrians created security problems.

As Aaron Peskin, city councilor, said: “It is disturbing that the same companies and investors who have pledged to work with the City to respect California public safety and public realm laws are spending lobbying dollars in Sacramento to repeal them.”

Bird wants to find an agreement by asking new legislation; the goal is to get satisfaction on both sides and bring e-scooters into parity with e-bikes.

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors and the Municipal Transportation Agency are creating a common sense permitting process, to regulate scooters, and enhance the public benefit.

A legislation was introduced Feb. 16 and is scheduled to be heard by the assembly transportation committee on April 23. It proposes letting electric scooters operated on sidewalks unless prohibited by local rules and may be ridden in a designated bike lane at no more than a reasonable or prudent speed.