After a local night club owner was struck and seriously injured by someone riding a Lime scooter on a sidewalk downtown, questions are being raised about rental e-scooter safety and how the devices are regulated.
Here’s what to know about the rules governing e-scooters in Milwaukee:
Can I ride an e-scooter on the sidewalk in Milwaukee?
No. E-scooters can be ridden on bike lanes and local roads, but according to Milwaukee’s terms and conditions for rental e-scooter companies, the devices are not allowed to be operated on public sidewalks or the riverwalk.
Some Lime scooters feature what the company calls “Lime Vision” technology, an AI-powered camera attached to the stem of the scooter that the company claims can detect sidewalk riding.
Rental scooters being used in places other than bike lanes or streets have made headlines in recent months. In September, two men on Lime scooters mistakenly rode on I-794 across the Hoan Bridge for three miles.
Lime scooters can travel at a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour, or about 22 feet per second.
Can I park an e-scooter on the sidewalk in Milwaukee?
No. Scooters being parked improperly has also been a source of contention in the city.
In August 2024, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Public Investigator unit reported on rental e-scooters being parked improperly and blocking public sidewalks, frustrating wheelchair users. Lime rolled out several mandatory parking zones one week later.
How do I submit a complaint related to rental e-scooters to the city?
The city advises residents to report complaints related to improperly parked scooters, scooters left on private property and unsafe riding directly to Lime via email at help-milwaukee@li.me or by phone at 888-546-3345.
Issues can also be reported to the city via the MKE Mobile Action App or by calling 414-286-CITY.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Can I ride an e-scooter on the sidewalk or riverwalk in Milwaukee?
Reporting by Isabella Russomanno, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Isabella Russomanno, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
