DRMC §54-583 and Denver DOTI rules license shared dockless e-scooter and e-bike operators. Lyft and Lime currently operate 500-1,000 device fleets each. Riders must follow on-street bike-lane rules, wear helmets if under 18, and cannot ride drunk on sidewalks downtown.
Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) administers shared dockless mobility under DRMC §54-583 and supplemental DOTI regulations. Operators (currently Lyft and Lime after 2022 procurement) must hold a permit, pay per-trip and per-vehicle fees, deploy fleets between 500-1,000 devices each, and provide low-income access plans, helmet distribution, multilingual customer service, and equity-zone deployment quotas. Riders must use bike lanes or street; sidewalk riding is banned in the downtown core under DRMC §54 and §38. Helmets required for riders under 18 statewide. Speed governors cap devices at 15 mph (8 mph in slow zones). Devices left blocking sidewalks must be repositioned by operators within two hours.
Riding on a downtown sidewalk violates DRMC §54-583 with $50-$150 fines. Operators failing to relocate devices or report data face permit suspension and fines up to $999 per device daily. Scooter DUI is a state offense under C.R.S. 42-4-1301.
See how Denver's shared e-scooter rules rules stack up against other locations.
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