On Thursday, October 15, 2020, micro-mobility services, or e-scooters as they are commonly known, took to Tallahassee’s streets in a permanent way as part of the City micro-mobility program. Dock-less scooters provides an alternative 24-hour, flexible transportation option for Tallahassee residents and visitors. Riding a scooter makes short trips like running errands or nearby commutes easier, less expensive and contributes to fewer cars on the roads.
The maximum number of permitted scooters in Tallahassee is 750 per vendor.
Safety
Riding safety is of the upmost importance for the City of Tallahassee’s micro-mobility program. Safety is a combination of both rider behavior and the awareness of the environment around them. Helmets, though not required, are highly recommended for those who choose to ride an e-scooter.
Quick Tips
- Follow the rules of the road
- Obey stop signs and traffic laws
- You can be cited by law enforcement if you’re riding improperly
- One rider at a time per vehicle
- Always yield to pedestrians
Where can I ride?
Florida law allows scooters to be treated as the same as bicycles, which means e-scooters are allowed to travel along sidewalks, in bicycle lanes, and on roads. A more in-depth view can be found in the FAQs below.
The maximum speed of the e-scooters is 15 miles per hour. The City of Tallahassee has established slow zones (6 miles per hour) around and inside Cascades Park and Lake Ella to ensure safety between pedestrians and scooters.
Our university and government partners have requested that no micro-mobility devices be allowed on the campus of Florida State University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Tallahassee Community College, and the Florida State Capitol grounds.
Cost
The e-scooter contractor, Spin, charges an unlocking fee of $1.00 and an average per minute cost of 35 cents.
Limited income programs
Many e-scooter companies offer discounted rates for eligible users with limited incomes. These programs usually require verification of state or federal assistance for which low-income status is required such as (Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, EBT).
Spin information can be found here: https://www.spin.app/spin-access
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find an e-scooter?
E-scooters are available at set locations throughout the city. Check vendor apps to view exact locations.
Where can I ride e-scooters?
E-scooters are authorized for use on sidewalks, in bike lanes and on the roadway. However, riders must follow the same rules as cyclists. This means following Florida Statute 316.2065.
If there is a bicycle lane, riders must use that lane rather than the automobile lane.
- For riding on the sidewalk, riders shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
- If no lane is marked for bicycle use, riders must ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
- When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
- When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
- When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a “substandard-width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
- Any person operating a bicycle upon a one-way highway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.
What are the operating hours for e-scooters?
There are no restrictions on hours of operation.
I found a broken e-scooter. Who should I call?
If it is an emergency, call 911. If it is not an emergency, please contact the customer service number provided on the scooter.
Permits
The City of Tallahassee permits two rideshare companies to operate. More information including e-scooter descriptions and contact information for the permitted companies may be found below.
The Ordinance
Operating Agreement
2021 Rider Statistics
- Total Trips: 183,288
- Total Trip Distances: 225, 511 miles
- Average Single Trip Distance: 1.26 miles
- Average Trip Duration: 17.26 minutes
- The most active month was September 2021 with 25,392 rides
- The least active month was December 2021 with 8493 rides