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E-Scooters & Micromobility
The City of Springfield has established regulations for micromobility devices and is working to license companies to rent e-scooters (electric scooters) on public right of way. The City of Springfield Municipal Code has been updated to define micromobility devices and set regulations for their operation in the city.
Micromobility is defined in City Code as:
Any vehicle or device that is capable of transporting a person at a speed not in excess of 15 miles per hour; that weighs 100 pounds or less; that is 30 inches or less in width; that is self-propelled by a motor or engine; and that is not otherwise defined by Missouri Statutes or the Springfield City Code as a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or motorized bicycle. The term "micromobility device" includes scooters, two- or three-wheeled bikes, mini-motorcycles, pocket bikes, motorized skateboards, hover boards, and other similar devices. The term micromobility device does not include any device that is designed to carry more than one passenger, is greater than 100 pounds in weight, is greater than 30 inches in width, or may be propelled at speeds greater than 15 miles per hour.
Micromobility Geofence Boundaries
Eway E-Scooter Launch – July 2023
Per an agreement with the City of Springfield, e-scooter rental company Eway launched e-scooter operation within City limits beginning in July of 2023.
Eway is currently licensed to deploy up to 20 e-scooters on Springfield right-of-way within the boundaries of Commercial Street to the north, Grand Street to the south, National Avenue to the east and Grant Avenue to the west.
Eway can be contacted with questions or concerns at 417-509-0120 or [email protected].
Bird E-Scooter Expansion - June 2023
Per an agreement with the City of Springfield, e-scooter rental company Bird is expanding its boundaries of operation and nearly doubling the number of scooters deploying from Springfield right-of-way beginning Friday, June 23.
When Bird launched in Springfield in September of 2022, the boundaries roughly encompassed Missouri State University, and the downtown Springfield and Commercial Street districts. The expanded boundaries extend roughly from Kearney Street to the north, Glenstone Avenue to the east, Cherokee Street to the south and Kansas Expressway to the west. The number of scooters deployed on City right-of-way is increasing from 55 to 100 scooters.
The City has seen much greater e-scooter ridership than anticipated, with more than 30,000 rental rides since Bird launched in fall of 2022. This comes with a small number of formal complaints that the City and Bird have addressed quickly. So far, only seen one crash involving a rented e-scooter has been reported.
The expansion area will provide an alternate mode of transportation to additional activity nodes in the City, including Mercy Hospital’s main campus, Bass Pro Shops, the Grant Avenue Parkway and other services and amenities.
Bird can be contacted with questions or concerns at 1-866-205-2442 or [email protected].
E-Scooter Rental Companies Licensed to Operate within the City of Springfield:
BIRD:
Phone: 1-866-205-2442
Email: [email protected].
EWAY:
Phone: 417-509-0120
Email: [email protected].
Operation in Downtown and Commercial Street Business Districts:
The Downtown and Commercial Street business districts have been defined with specific operating regulations for the e-scooters. In the Downtown and Commercial Street business districts e-scooters will be required to park in designated scooter parking areas and may not be ridden on sidewalks. Below are maps showing the Downtown and Commercial Street business districts which are connected by Boonville Ave.
The City has designated a number of E-scooter parking areas Downtown and on Commercial Street. These parking areas are clearly marked with green striping and a scooter emblem on the pavement stating, “Scooter Parking Only.” Designated locations were determined by available space and key origin and destination locations. Permitted scooter companies will also be encouraged to reach out to local business owners to establish parking areas in private parking lots.
Downtown Business District
Commercial Street Business District
Downtown E-Scooter Parking Sites
Commercial Street E-Scooter Parking Sites
Micromobility Rider Rules and Regulations:
All operators of e-scooters and micromobility devices need to know and abide by the following rules and regulations that are enforceable by law in the City of Springfield.
- Every person operating an E-Scooter upon the streets of the city shall wear protective headgear (helmet).
- A valid driver’s license is required to operate an e-scooter.
- E-Scooter operators must yield the right of way to pedestrians and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.
- E-Scooters will be limited to 15 mph. in all areas and 10 mph. on Greenway trails using geofence technology, however operators will be responsible to limit their speeds on sidewalks, where allowed, to be no greater than 5 mph.
- E-scooters are not allowed to operate on roadways that have a speed limit greater than 30 mph.
- E-Scooter companies are required to stop rentals at 10 PM each night. If the rental occurs before 10 PM the rental will not be terminated until the ride has ended.
- For areas outside the Downtown and Commercial Street Business District, no person shall park a micromobility device upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb, upon the sidewalk in a rack, dock, or storage area, or against a building or at the curb in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic.
Proper Parking Tips:
One of the key concerns City staff have learned from other cities is the improper parking of e-scooters. If devices are not properly parked, they can obstruct sidewalks and can create an eye sore. If a designated parking area is not available, micromobility devices should be parked upright at the edge of a sidewalk or in a location that does not impede pedestrian traffic.
See below for examples of proper parking with and without a designated parking area.