Dallas, TX Mobility & Curb Rules: Shared E-Scooter Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Program status
- Suspended since September 2020
- Active vendors
- None permitted
- Private scooters
- Allowed under TX Code 551
- CBD sidewalk riding
- Prohibited by Dallas
- Lead agency
- Dallas Department of Transportation
Summary
Dallas suspended its dockless shared e-scooter program in September 2020 after sidewalk safety, clutter, and injury concerns. No vendor currently holds a city permit, making shared scooter operation prohibited within Dallas limits.
Sec. 551.351. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:(1) "Motor-assisted scooter":(A) means a self-propelled device with:(i) at least two wheels in contact with the ground during operation;(ii) a braking system capable of stopping the device under typical operating conditions;(iii) a gas or electric motor not exceeding 40 cubic centimeters;(iv) a deck designed to allow a person to stand or sit while operating the device; and(v) the ability to be propelled by human power alone; and(B) does not include a pocket bike or a minimotorbike.(2) "Pocket bike or minimotorbike" means a self-propelled vehicle that is equipped with an electric motor or internal combustion engine having a piston displacement of less than 50 cubic centimeters, is designed to propel itself with not more than two wheels in con...
Full Breakdown
Dallas launched a dockless scooter pilot in 2018 under a temporary permit framework that allowed Bird, Lime, and other vendors to deploy thousands of scooters citywide. After repeated incidents involving sidewalk obstruction, downtown nighttime crashes, and unsafe rider behavior, the city council instructed the Dallas Department of Transportation to end the program effective September 2020. Today no shared e-scooter vendor holds a Dallas operating permit, so commercial deployment is prohibited. Privately owned e-scooters remain legal but must follow Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551 motor-assisted scooter rules and Dallas Chapter 28 traffic provisions, including a ban on sidewalk riding in the central business district. Dallas DOT periodically reviews whether to relaunch a permitted program with stricter geofencing and equity requirements.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unpermitted scooter share fleet violates Dallas business rules and can trigger impoundment plus daily fines. Riders on private scooters who ignore Chapter 28 sidewalk rules face citations up to two hundred dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent a Lime or Bird in Dallas right now?
Where can I ride my own e-scooter?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas
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Shared E-Scooter Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle shared e-scooter rules.