Pittsburgh Considers Updating Traffic Rules Amid Scooter Concerns

The growing number of electric scooters in the city of Pittsburgh has caused frustration among local residents and may even lead to changes in traffic rules.

WPXI reports the Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure introduced a proposed ordinance that would amend the city's code to establish traffic regulations for electric low-speed scooters during the city council meeting held on Tuesday (September 7).

The city is proposing raising the minimum age to operate scooters from 16 years old to 18 years old, as well as only allowing scooters to be allowed on roads with speed limits up to 25 miles per hour, rather than 35 miles per hour.

Additionally, all scooters must be parked perpendicular to the curb in a legal public parking space, as part of the proposal.

Last month, WPXI reported the Steel City's 311 account has received numerous photographs of scooters illegally-parked and obstructing sidewalks and other walkways throughout Pittsburgh.

One photo obtained by WPXI showed a scooter blocking an accessible parking spot in Oakland, while another showed two toppled over a sidewalk ramp off of Woods Run Avenue, the station reported.

“Everywhere, on the side of the highway, downtown, you name it, it’s ridiculous,” said Joe Provenza, who works across the city, via WPXI.

“Sidewalks, parks, everywhere,” added local resident Jonathan Davis.

In July, hubs of electric scooters popped up throughout Pittsburgh as part of the city's Move PGH initiative, which aims to make travel around the city easy and convenient, WPXI reported.

WPXI reporter Liz Kilmer reached out to city of Pittsburgh officials regarding the parked scooter complaints and received the following response from a spokesperson:

“The parking policies we’re enforcing are some of the strictest in the country because we want to prevent scooters from cluttering the sidewalks," the spokesperson said via WPXI. "Since this is a new mobility service, we’re experiencing an adjustment period for users to ensure they’re parking them in the legally appropriate areas, which are in the Spin docking stations, next to bike racks or in legal parking areas near the end of a block with the wheels perpendicular to the curb. In some areas, scooter users will be required to park in a designated scooter parking space.”

City of Pittsburgh officials said scooters are prohibited from being parked on sidewalks, ADA ramps, crosswalks, bike lanes or bike trails, as well as on private property unless permitted by the property owner.