U.S. Micromobility Law (Major Road Work Ahead)

59 Pages Posted: 28 Mar 2022 Last revised: 27 Jul 2022

Date Written: June 29, 2022

Abstract

Over the past decade electrically powered bicycles, stand-up scooters, skateboards, and more have burst onto the nation’s streets and sidewalks. This blossoming of “micromobility” has taken place within physical and legal infrastructures ill-prepared for the change. Indisputably, most of the new types of individual motorized mobility fell outside established vehicle categories. The literal terms of existing law banned their use on all public rights of way, whether roadway, bicycle path, or sidewalk.

This paper surveys the ad hoc, largely industry-driven, and still-distressingly-incomplete adjustment of U.S. vehicle and traffic laws to accommodate and regulate the rapid spread of electrically-powered personal mobility devices. It also identifies some of the social costs of lawmakers’ ignoring the phenomenon.

Keywords: EPAMD, electric bicycle, electric scooter, micromobility, motor vehicle

JEL Classification: K13, K29, K32

Suggested Citation

Martin, Peter W., U.S. Micromobility Law (Major Road Work Ahead) (June 29, 2022). Cornell Legal Studies Research Paper No. 22-30, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4037752 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4037752

Peter W. Martin (Contact Author)

Cornell Law School ( email )

Myron Taylor Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-4901

HOME PAGE: http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/faculty/bio.cfm?id=42

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