Charlotte Decides Not To Regulate Electric Scooters

CHARLOTTE, NC. —  The Charlotte has decided not to regulate electric scooters. Instead, they’re waiting for statewide regulations from the General Assembly. The city’s Transportation Committee is launching a campaign that would encourage people to ride scooters solo, yield right of way to pedestrians and park appropriately.

“Marketing campaign working with the vendors to kind of make sure people understand the ABC’s of e-scooter riding,” says the manager of Charlotte Department of Transportation Dan Gallagher.

E-scooters are considered vehicles under North Carolina general statute. Company user agreements for the scooters say riders are supposed to stay on bike lanes, roadways and obey traffic laws.

But some other North Carolina cities are taking a different approach. A week ago, Durham City Council unanimously approved an ordinance regulating electric scooters. Saying riders must be at least 16 years old, wear a helmet, follow traffic laws and not ride on sidewalks or greenway trails.

Director of Transportation for the city of Durham Terry Bellamy says, “We worked very closely with our police department in advance trying to understand how they would address violations of the law and how they would govern the scooters.”

The e-scooters are expected to hit the streets of Durham sometime in 2019. Charlotte City officials say unlike Durham, the Queen City wasn’t able to anticipate the concerns e-scooters would bring.

“When you see them in Charlotte when you see them in Raleigh, if you’re Durham you can expect they’re coming to your streets soon and start to plan ahead. We didn’t have that luxury. They kind of descended upon us,” says Charlotte City Council member Larken Egleston.