Mobility & Curb Rules in Franklin, TN

If you live in Franklin or are thinking about moving there, mobility & curb rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Franklin has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of mobility & curb rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Bike Lane Rules

Franklin, Tennessee bans parking, stopping, or standing a motor vehicle in a marked bicycle lane under City Code § 15-128, with one carved-out exception for specific McKay's Mill subdivision streets. The same section also governs cyclists: anyone entering a bike lane must yield to bikes already in it, and anyone leaving one must yield to vehicles and pedestrians and signal before merging out.

Key details: Governing section: Franklin Municipal Code § 15-128. Parking ban: No motor vehicle parking in bike lanes. Named exception: 3 McKay's Mill subdivision street segments. Cyclist duty: Yield and signal when leaving bike lane. Fine schedule: $20/$30/$50 escalating per Appendix A.

Because § 15-605 duplicates the bike-lane parking ban inside Title 15, Chapter 6's parking article, a violation is processed as an illegal-parking citation under § 15-703 and priced on Appendix A's escalating parking-citation schedule: $20.00 for a first offense, $30.00 for a second, and $50.00 for a third or later offense within 12 months, plus a $1.00 state litigation tax added to every citation. An unattended vehicle left in the lane can also be towed under the chapter's impoundment authority.

Shared E-Scooter Rules

Franklin outright prohibits offering, parking, or operating any on-demand shared electric scooter anywhere in the city, with violations fined up to $50 and scooters impounded.

Key details: Banned citywide: On-demand shared electric scooters. Fine: Up to $50 per offense. Enforcement: Police impound violating scooters. Citation: Franklin Municipal Code § 16-118.

Offering, parking, or riding a shared on-demand electric scooter anywhere in Franklin is unlawful, punishable by up to a $50 fine per offense, with the scooter impounded.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Franklin actively enforces its shared e-scooter rules requirements.

The Bottom Line

Franklin's mobility & curb rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Franklin is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Franklin's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.