Sacramento Focuses On Sidewalk Safety Before E-Scooter Increase

Before an influx of new JUMP devices hit the streets in 2019, Sacramento leaders are ramping up safety initiatives to hopefully protect locals. The main issue police want to address is using e-scooters on sidewalks.

Since e-scooters are defined as motorized vehicles, it’s illegal to ride them on sidewalks. Instead, e-scooter riders need to travel in bike lanes or on the side of the street.

This doesn’t mean, however, you can’t use rentable bicycles on sidewalks. Although bicyclists are encouraged to use bike-protected lanes when provided, police say it’s e-scooters on sidewalks they’re mostly concerned about.

Not only is riding an e-scooter on sidewalks illegal, but it’s also incredibly dangerous. Sacramento police don’t have official injury numbers, but they did say they’ve received numerous calls on e-scooter accidents.

Sacramento increased these safety campaigns just before the Uber-owned JUMP releases 1,200 additional rentable e-scooters and bicycles. Currently, there are 800 JUMP devices spread throughout the Californian capital. Residents can expect these new JUMP devices to appear before the end of August.

Another problem officials have with e-scooters is people leaving their devices in hazardous locations. Oftentimes these improperly parked e-scooters lead to pedestrian accidents. E-scooter riders should try their best to park their devices by fixed objects like trees of bike racks to minimize the risk of injury.

Police also remind customers that you must be over the age of 18 and have a driver’s license to legally rent an e-scooter. E-scooter riders over 18 don’t need to wear a helmet under California law, but safety experts always recommend wearing DOT-approved head protection.