E-Scooter & Micromobility Safety

A simple illustration of a red road.

Follow the rules of the road.

Generally, all wheeled vehicles on the roadway in Georgia are expected to follow the rules of the road. This includes stopping for red lights and stop signs and giving the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks. Anyone operating a wheeled vehicle in the roadway can be cited for breaking the law.

When accessing sidewalks or crosswalks, users must walk with their e-powered vehicles. Sidewalks and crosswalks are reserved for pedestrian use and not for actively riding a scooter, skateboard, or hoverboard/one-wheel device. Remember to always park and store all gear in designated racks. Scooters left in the wrong areas often block railings and accessible pathways.
A simple graphic of a red bike helmet.

Wear a helmet.
Head injuries are particularly dangerous for vulnerable road users and research shows that wearing a helmet makes a significant difference in the event of an accident.  Data illustrates that the clear majority of bicyclists who were involved in fatal accidents were not wearing helmets.  It’s simple, helmets save lives. 
A simple red graphic of a magnifying glass over the outline of person.

Look out for one another.
As a community, we Dawgs need to look out for each other.  Drivers in cars need to be aware of vulnerable road users and drive safely.  Additionally, pedestrians, cyclists, and riders of scooters, hoverboards, and skateboards need to do the same. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration makes it simple: “A large percentage of crashes can be avoided if motorists and cyclists [and scooter and hoverboard riders] follow the rules of the road and watch out for each other.”

Vulnerable Road Users in a Changing World

We are all witnessing an expansive change in the options available for personal transportation.   The choices used to be simple but now, electric scooters, skateboards, bicycles, and hoverboards/one-wheels are transforming how we navigate.

This trend is evident on our campus, where these alternatives are gaining popularity for their convenience and affordability. However, this freedom also comes with important safety considerations.

Experts refer to users of these devices as “vulnerable road users,” a population with a growing share of all U.S. roadway fatalities. In 2022 alone, more than 230,506 people in the United States visited an emergency room due to a scooter, skateboard, or hoverboard accident. An innumerable number of other accidents with minor injuries occurred that did not require immediate emergency care, underscoring the importance of caution and safety awareness.  

Together, we can have a positive impact on the safety of everyone using our roadways. Follow the rules of the road, wear a helmet, and look out for one another.

2025 Updates

Several new initiatives and programs in 2025 will focus on the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, micromobility vehicle users, and drivers. Highlights of those efforts include:

  • In November 2024, the University was awarded a $630,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to create a 10-year traffic safety plan. This project will harness the expertise of researchers in the College of Public Health and the College of Engineering to collect data to support the institution’s traffic safety efforts, with a focus on the safety of “vulnerable road users”—pedestrians, cyclists and micromobility vehicle users.
  • Starting at the beginning of the Fall 2025 Semester, battery-powered micromobility vehicles such as e-scooters, e-bikes and “one wheels” will not be allowed inside any University buildings, including housing facilities. Similar policies are common in other higher education institutions and are fundamentally designed to prevent battery fires, an identified concern in the United States.
  • Also beginning in the Fall Semester, the University will enact policies that designate “dismount areas” for wheeled vehicles on sidewalks. In these areas, there will be enhanced enforcement and penalties for utilizing a wheeled vehicle on a sidewalk surface. 
  • To facilitate campus safety, the University of Georgia Police Department will continue to engage in additional education efforts as well as more targeted enforcement of traffic laws pertaining to micromobility vehicles, bicycles, and motor vehicles.

Please remember that safety is our collective responsibility. Together, we can make a difference on our campus. As you move around campus and the Athens community, please keep the following points in mind:

  • Sidewalks and crosswalks are reserved for pedestrian use only. Riding or operating a bicycle (pedal or electric), scooter, skateboard, one-wheel device, or other alternative transportation vehicle on a sidewalk is unlawful and subject to enforcement. Travelers must walk with these vehicles when accessing sidewalks or crosswalks and must obey traffic laws, including stopping at stop signs and traffic lights and following all rules that apply to motor vehicles on the road.
  • Wear a helmet whenever operating a bicycle, micromobility vehicle, or skateboard.
  • Consider utilizing transit options like UGA and ACC transit to decrease campus congestion during class changes and peak travel times. You can track UGA buses in real time on the UGA app.
  • Car drivers should be aware of vulnerable road users and commit to safely sharing the road.
  • Remember to give yourself extra time to travel across campus and remove distractions (phones, headphones, etc.) while traveling.