Where can I ride my e-scooter?
E-scooters can be operated in bike lanes, roads or on sidewalks; EXCEPT on sidewalks located in the designated Uptown area Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. through 6 p.m. The designated Uptown area is Church Street to College Street and 7th Street to East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
E-scooters can be operated on roads with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or less.
What are the required safety regulations for operating an e-scooter?
- Wear a helmet; it’s the safest way to ride an e-scooter.
- Yield to pedestrians at all times.
- Ride in bike lanes, roads or on sidewalks; EXCEPT on sidewalks located in the designated Uptown area Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m.
- Obey all traffic laws (e.g. ride on the right side of the road, follow traffic signals and stop signs).
- Ride on roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less.
- Ride sober. Do not ride an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Make sure motorists see you. Make eye contact before merging and crossing in front of vehicles.
- Ride solo. E-Scooters are designed for one rider at a time.
All e-scooter operators in Charlotte require riders to be at least 18 years old with a valid driver's license.
Where can I park my e-scooter when I finish my ride?
When you finish your ride, make sure you park your e-scooter in a location that does not impede a pedestrian walkway.
E-Scooters should be parked upright:
- in the pedestrian zone of the sidewalks (leave a 6' pathway for people who are walking, rolling or strolling) OR
- in the green zone next to the sidewalk (i.e. the planting strip if not landscaped)
When parking your e-scooter, do NOT block:
- Parklets or sidewalk dining
- Transit zones, including bus stops, shelters, passenger waiting areas and bus layover and staging zones
- Loading zones
- Accessible parking zones and associated loading zones
- Street furniture that requires pedestrian access (for example - benches, parking pay stations, bus shelters, transit information signs, newsracks, permanent bike share docks, etc.)
- Curb ramps and signal push buttons
- Entryways and exits must maintain a 10 foot clearance
- Driveways
Also, please do not park your e-scooter on private property, county parks, LYNX light rail platforms or in a vehicle travel lane or bicycle lane.
What is the E-Scooter Share Program?
Beginning May 21, 2018, the Shared Mobility Pilot Program launched to enhance existing transportation options by providing an easy, low-cost solution that connects riders to the first and last miles of their commute.
Two companies – Bird and Lime –participated in the pilot program, and are currently operating in Charlotte. Each company operates a maximum of 400 e-scooters within the City of Charlotte.
Operators are responsible for meeting requirements specific to safety, maintenance, operations, parking, and data sharing as outlined in the
Charlotte Dockless Bike and E-Scooter Share Permit Requirements.
Riders can rent an e-scooter using a smart-phone application and then park the e-scooter when their ride ends. All e-scooter operators in Charlotte require riders to be at least 18 years old with a valid driver's license.
How do I provide input on the E-Scooter Share Program?
CDOT is interested in hearing from you on how you think the Program is going.
Please complete the survey to help us gauge public opinion of the program and identify opportunities for improvement:
E-Scooter Share Survey
How do I contact e-scooter share vendors to share feedback or report an issue?
To contact a customer service and/or local operations manager for Bird or Lime please see the contact information on the right.
Please note, per CDOT permit requirements, any e-scooter that is reported for being parked incorrectly is required to be promptly re-parked in a correct manner or removed by the operator within two hours of receiving notice.