Scooters can be a convenient and quick way to get across the University of Washington campus. Whether you have your own personal device or you choose to rent one from our vendor partners Lime and Bird, please be mindful of the following safety advice, rider rules and best practices for courteously using scooters and other micromobility devices on campus.
Scooter Safety 101
- Wear a helmet: Helmets provide you with the best defense against traumatic brain injuries. Helmets are designed to absorb the impact of a collision, greatly reducing your risk of injury and helping you travel safely.
- Slow down: You are probably going too fast. Be mindful of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers who may not be able to react quickly to an incoming scooter that is going too fast. Scooters are capped at 15mph (maximum speed), always ride at a speed that matches conditions.
- Use your bell/voice: Scooters are quiet, and it can be difficult to hear them coming. When passing, be sure to alert the pedestrian or cyclist that you are passing them. Be mindful that many pedestrians wear headphones and may not hear you. Ultimately it is your responsibility to pass responsibly.
- Obey traffic laws: Scooters must obey all traffic laws and yield to pedestrians. Stop fully at stop signs, pass on the left, and only cross intersections with the walk symbol.
- Ride sober: Never operate a scooter recklessly or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Do a safety check: When using a rented scooter, make sure the wheels aren’t flat and the brakes are in working order (give them a squeeze) before unlocking the device. Report any damage directly to Lime or Bird in the app.
- One at a time: Scooters are best used one at a time. Don’t risk your safety or that of your passenger by trying to squeeze on another rider.
- Use your lights: Make sure you are visible, especially during low light or rainy conditions.
- Ride only where permitted: Scooters are prohibited from traveling on pedestrian pathways and sidewalks. Use bike lanes whenever available, and when they are not, ride on the street while following traffic laws. Under no circumstances may you ride indoors.
- Park out of the way: When parking, do NOT impede the flow of foot traffic by blocking walkways, stairwells or ADA ramps. Be mindful of your fellow campus community members who may not be able to move your scooter.
- Lock it up: Scooters should be properly parked and locked at bike racks or inside Bike Houses. Do NOT bring scooters inside buildings.
Micromobility parking locations on UW campus
UW maintains partnerships with micromobility vendors to provide more options for your commuting and transportation needs. We encourage riders to use these services mindfully and safely. The map below details where users can park micromobility vehicles on campus.
All shared scooters on campus must be parked in compliance to WAC 478-116-199. If you find a scooter parked in a manner that violates these standards, please report the scooter to UW Transportation Services by emailing ucommute@uw.edu and the scooter share company directly.
Scooter share contacts:
- Lime: help-seattle@li.me
- Bird: seattle311@bird.co
UW Transportation Services: Report by emailing ucommute@uw.edu with a photo, location description and the scooter code if available.
If the scooter is parked in a manner that causes immediate mobility and access issues (e.g. blocking sidewalks, trails and/or access ramps), flag the scooter as an “Egregious Operational Impact” to ensure the removal of the scooter is addressed immediately.