City of Little Rock considers electric scooter safety ordinance

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — An ordinance is being considered by the City of Little Rock that would implement safety rules for the use of electric scooters.

The ordinance would allow the use of scooters on public streets but ban them from sidewalk use.

The ordinance would also ban the following:

• Anyone under the age of 16 riding a scooter without a helmet
• Riding over 15 miles per hour
• Riding in a residential zone
• Riding outside a designated bicycle lane if a lane is designated in the area
• Riding after dark without a white lamp in front or a red lamp or reflector in the rear
• Attaching a scooter to any vehicle upon a public street

The City of Little Rock decided to extend its agreement with Lime in May after a rough start during the six-month pilot program.

The city's free trial with the pay-as-you-go scooters, which are activated through a smartphone app, launched in January.

If the ordinance is voted in, it will go into effect Sept. 11, 2019, at the end of the pilot agreement with Lime.