Columbus regulates shared scooters and e-bikes under Title 21 Shared Mobility Devices rules adopted in 2018. Operators like Lime, Bird, and Spin must hold city permits, cap fleets, and follow speed and parking standards.
Columbus enacted the Shared Mobility Devices ordinance in 2018 after Lime and Bird launched dockless scooters citywide. The rules require each operator to obtain an annual permit through the Department of Public Service, pay per-device fees, cap fleet sizes, share trip data, and ensure devices meet safety standards. Riders must be 18 or older, follow Title 21 traffic rules, ride in bike lanes or with traffic where bike lanes are absent, and avoid sidewalks in downtown and other prohibited zones. Speed governors limit scooters to 15 miles per hour. Devices must be parked upright in designated zones or near bike racks, not blocking pedestrian access. Nighttime operations are restricted to limit DUI-related crashes.
Riders violating the ordinance face fines from fifty to one hundred fifty dollars and possible scooter impoundment. Operators failing to comply with permit conditions risk per-device penalties, fleet reductions, or permit revocation by the Department of Public Service.
See how Columbus's shared e-scooter rules rules stack up against other locations.
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