A quick guide to electric scooters, bikes, and mopeds in D.C.

D.C. was an early adopter of shared electric scooters and bikes, launching a pilot program for dockless vehicles in September. Since then, their usage and visibility have expanded throughout the city and beyond. Currently, around 6,000 dockless vehicles are permitted in the District, which now includes mopeds as of August.

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With their arrival have come questions and concerns from both residents and visitors. This guide provides essential information on rentable devices, their rules, speed, and the companies that provide them.

How do I rent a scooter, bike, or moped?

To access these dockless vehicles, download your preferred app and ensure that geolocation tracking is activated. Most brands require you to provide a debit or credit card for ride charges.

How much do they cost?

Prices vary by provider and vehicle type. Typically, it costs $1 to unlock an electric scooter or bike, with usage fees ranging from 24 to 39 cents per minute. Depending on your ride duration, the cost could rival or exceed a Metro trip (which ranges from $2.25 to $6 during peak hours based on distance). Generally, these options are significantly cheaper than ride-hailing services for single-person trips.

Are they more convenient than public transit?

It depends on your distance. For short distances (a mile or two), using an electric bike or scooter may be faster than waiting for public transit, especially due to Metro's unreliable off-peak service and D.C.'s notorious traffic. For longer distances, public transit is likely a better option. You can also use shared bikes or scooters to reach or leave a Metro station.

Where can I find scooters, electric bikes, and mopeds?

D.C. mandates that micromobility companies deploy their vehicles across all eight wards. However, most of them are concentrated in densely populated areas, such as downtown, the 14th and U Street NW corridors, and Navy Yard; access is more limited east of the Anacostia River. Some companies also operate in nearby Virginia and Maryland.

Where can I ride them?

Mopeds from D.C.'s only shared moped operator, Revel, can be ridden on roads but not on sidewalks, major bridges, or highways. In the Central Business District, which includes downtown and the U.S. Capitol grounds, riding bikes and scooters on the sidewalk is illegal (with a $25 penalty, although enforcement is challenging). Otherwise, electric bikes and scooters can be ridden on sidewalks outside the Central Business District, in addition to roads and bike lanes. If you choose to ride on the sidewalk, always yield to pedestrians.

Where can I park these vehicles?

You can park electric scooters almost anywhere on the sidewalk, as long as there is a 5-foot clear zone for pedestrians and they are parked upright. They should not block access to private property, driveways, bus stops, shelters, or travel lanes. Electric bikes must be secured to stationary objects like street poles or trees. Revel mopeds should be parked in legal spaces, perpendicular to the curb.

How fast do they go?

Scooters are limited to 10 mph, while electric bikes can reach 20 mph; Revel mopeds can travel up to 30 mph. Always be cautious of drivers when merging into traffic, making turns, and crossing intersections.

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Are the scooters (and mopeds) safe?

These vehicles are relatively safe when used responsibly. However, a few accidents, including one fatal crash involving a scooter rider last year, have raised safety concerns along with media reports of scooter-related hospitalizations. Helmets are mandatory for moped rides.

Can you get fined for using these devices in certain ways?

Currently, aside from sidewalk riding restrictions in the Central Business District, D.C. lacks strict penalties for misusing electric scooters and bikes. Local lawmakers are considering pending legislation to modify this, but any potential changes may take months.

What are my options?

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) allows nine companies to offer dockless vehicles in D.C. These companies and their permitted vehicle counts include: Bird (600 electric scooters), Bolt (600), Jump (975 electric scooters and bikes), Lime (600), Lyft (720), Razor (600), Skip (720), Spin (720), and Revel (400 mopeds). Since the pilot program's start, some operators have transitioned from standard to electric bikes and scooters.

Micromobility companies may increase their fleet size each quarter if they fulfill DDOT's performance criteria, potentially allowing the city to host more dockless vehicles in the future. Shared mopeds are part of a separate pilot program, expected to last until the end of the year.

Do any have baskets for carrying my belongings?

Yes, Jump's electric bikes and certain Razor scooters come with large baskets for transporting items. Additionally, Revel mopeds have small trunks for storage.

Wait, what happened to Capital Bikeshare?

Capital Bikeshare is still operating. It is managed separately from D.C.'s dockless vehicle program and currently has over 4,300 bikes across more than 500 stations. A study last year indicated that its ridership was not significantly affected by the introduction of electric bikes and scooters, although there was an increase in missing Capital Bikeshare bikes. The service previously offered electric bikes but removed them after brake issues were reported.

Anything else I should know?

Two years after the launch of dockless vehicles in the District, they are expected to continue growing, barring any unforeseen market changes. In the meantime, ride safely.

This post has been updated to clarify Revel's parking rules and the latest rental prices.

Electric scooters, also known as e-scooters, have handlebars and a floorboard or seat and may be powered by electric and/or human power. The citywide speed limit for e-scooters is 15 MPH. New Yorkers must be 16 years or older to ride a privately owned e-scooter, and for shared e-scooters, users must be 18 or older.

For differences between e-mobility devices, please see this chart (PDF).

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