Nearly a year after Milwaukee disallowed electric scooters, Governor Tony Evers has made it legal to operate electric scooters in the state of Wisconsin. The new legislation allows local governments to regulate how electric scooters are used in their community.
If you ride an electric scooter on the road, it’s important to remember that you must follow the rules of the road:
• Do not drive above 20 mph on a paved, level surface
• You can ride on the shoulder of roads, unless this is prohibited by local regulations
• You should use hand/arm signals prior to making a turn and then can use your hand/arm to safely complete the turn
• Whether or not you can ride on the sidewalk or not is decided by your local municipality
• Electric scooters are not allowed on bike paths in state parks unless otherwise posted
• “Bikeways” — public paths, trails or lanes — designated for bicycles can be used by electric scooters unless otherwise posted
• You must yield to walk signs at crosswalks
• If you are crossing a roadway and not using a crosswalk, you are to yield the right-of-way to vehicles on the roadway
• Electric scooters do not need to be registered with the Department of Transportation
When driving a vehicle, treat electric scooters like a bicycle or pedestrian. Drive slowly when passing them and be certain to give them 3 feet of space. When you are at an intersection or crosswalk, yield the right-of-way to the electric scooter when they are using the crosswalk, just as you would a bicycle or pedestrian. When making a right or left turn at an intersection, treat the person on the electric scooter as you would a pedestrian and be certain to yield the right-of-way if they are crossing.
