California Legislature Mulling Electric Scooter Regulation

The California Assembly has approved new rules for electric bikes and scooters.

Businesses like Bird and Spin have deployed scooters to cities across California and the country in recent years. Often local governments have not set up permits or regulations for the devices.

A bill, Assembly Bill 1286, passed by the Assembly late last month, would require electric bike and scooter companies to get permits from cities. It would also require them to agree to rules for parking, maintenance and safety.

Democratic Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, the bill’s author, says electric bikes are a fun and eco-friendly mode of transportation. But Muratsuchi says they also can be hazardous if they are parked or ridden improperly on sidewalks.

The Assembly passed the bill 47-12.