Washington, D.C. implements new e-bike and e-scooter regulations

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has announced new regulations for electric bikes and scooters in Washington, D.C., aimed at improving safety, accessibility, and operator accountability. These measures follow a series of fatal accidents, including the recent death of Talib Shakir, the director of the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs.

The new rules include limits on the number of scooters that can be left in public areas and updated deployment standards for operators such as Lime, Spin, Veo, and Capital Bikeshare. Current operators are also required to re-apply for permits. City officials are expanding safety education and increasing fines for improper parking and mishandling.

In the Georgetown neighborhood, which sees the second-highest volume of micromobility trips in the District after the National Mall, students and pedestrians have expressed concerns regarding sidewalk congestion and poorly defined bike lanes. Data from the DDOT indicates a significant rise in micromobility use, with e-scooter rides averaging over 25,000 daily in 2026.