Micro mobility devices are pedal bikes, electric power-assisted bicycles (e-bikes), motorized scooters (e-scooters), and motorized skateboards that allow people to get around quickly and easily.
Some micro mobility devices are owned by companies for customers to rent on-demand and these are known as Shared Micro mobility Devices (SMDs). These rental devices are “dockless”, which means they don’t have designated start and end hubs or stations.
Arlington County encourages safe and considerate travel on scooters and bikes. Read on to learn how to share the road safely.
Ridership Data
Operators share aggregated ridership rate data with the County to measure quantity of use.
Program data - including trip route data matched to the roadway network defined by Open Street Map, numbers of trips, trip durations, distances, and more, are available on the ridership map.
Ridership Map
Ride Affordably
All operators in Arlington offer options for renting their devices at a reduced price and check-out options without smart phones. Click on each brand to learn more about their programs.
Bird
Bird Community Pricing offers a 50% discount for individuals who are in a state or federal assistance program, Pell Grant recipients, seniors and veterans. People can enroll online or by emailing access@bird.co. Bird also offers a Text-to-Ride feature to serve users who don't have a smartphone a and offers cash and alternative payment options at CVS and 7-11 retailers throughout Arlington County.
Spin
Spin Access offers a 50% discount on all rides for anyone in a local, state or federal benefits program. Users don't need a smartphone to unlock a Spin device. Visit Spin’s website for details.
Lime
Lime Access offers a 50% discount on Lime rides ($0.50 unlocking fee, $0.07 a minute vs. $1 and $0.15), text-to-unlock options and cash payment options at PayNearMe locations throughout the country. Visit Lime’s website for details.
Equity Emphasis Areas are zones with high low-income populations, based on Census data. In Arlington, these are areas outside of transit corridors, with fewer transportation options. The County requires micro-mobility operators to place at least 13% of their devices within these areas. The goal of 13% is to roughly equal to the percentage of Arlington County’s residents who live in the eight Equity Emphasis Areas. The goal of the program is to establish equity by offering travel options throughout the County. After clicking this link download the map by clicking on the three dots to the right of “Arlington County Equity Emphasis Areas” header and select “Download KML."
People using scooters and e-bikes – whether their own device or rented– should follow the same laws for riding bikes to be safe and courteous to everyone sharing the road.
At the end of a trip, riders should park devices out of the way of people traveling. Keep sidewalks, driveways, building doorways, bus stops and roadways clear.
Be a PAL – Predictable, Alert, Lawful – when using e-scooters and e-bikes.
Age Restrictions
Capital Bikeshare: Capital Bikeshare users must be 16 or older with parent or guardian approval, or 18 years or older.
Other Shared E-Scooters and E-Bikes: Riders must be 18 years of age or older to use a shared e-scooter or e-bike. Persons under 18 years of age may not ride.
Safety Tips
How Not to Ride
- Never operate a bike or scooter under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Never allow a child to use or play with a bike or scooter
- Never double ride (when more than one person is on the device); only one person per bike or scooter.
See more resources about bike and scooter safety:
Frequently Asked Questions about Safety
Where am I allowed to ride?
People can ride bikes (including E-bikes) and e-scooters on streets, sidewalks, or paved trails (but not natural trails). When riding on a sidewalk or trail, ring the bell to let people walking know you are approaching and reduce your speed to 6 mph or lower when passing. When a protected bike lane is available on the same street in the same direction you are traveling, on a bike or scooter, you must use it instead of the sidewalk.
When using a rental device, check the app to see where you are not allowed to end trips.
Do I have to wear a helmet when riding a scooter?
Arlington County encourages all riders of scooters or bikes to wear a helmet.
Where can I park when I'm done?
We recommend parking in a designated e-scooter/e-bike parking corral or at a public bike rack. Corrals are sets of bike racks installed at popular destinations throughout the County for easy and convenient use. See various locations throughout the County.
If you are not parking near an existing corral, park your device in a place that does not block sidewalks, curb ramps, bus stops, or vehicle lanes (for example, on a grass strip next to the sidewalk).
If you have a suggestion for a new location for a parking corral, please submit your idea here.
There's a scooter blocking the way. What can I do about it?
If a rental device is parked dangerously and you are not able to move it, please report it using Arlington’s “Request Service/Report-a-Problem" tool by selecting “Bike and Scooter Issues”, “Parking Issues”, and then the applicable device operator. Companies are required to remove the device within 2 hours of a report of mis-parking. The device operator's name is prominently displayed on the device, and for all private shared scooter and bike operators it is also written on the stem near the handlebars in English and braille.
Otherwise, if you are able, feel free to move a scooter to a safe location for the next rider to take.
What are the speed limits for scooters and e-bikes?
County code allows e-scooters to travel up to 15 mph and e-bikes up to 20 mph in the street and on multi-use trails. On sidewalks, riders should stay below 6 mph and maintain a walking speed when passing pedestrians.
Arlington County is installing corrals as safe places for people to park e-scooters and e-bikes upright and out of the way of pedestrians, motorists, and other road users. As of now there are more than 100 corrals throughout the County.
How to Park
If you can’t find a corral, park upright:
- At a bike rack
- At a permitted street sign
- At the curb or back edge of the sidewalk.
Please respect others in the community by:
- Not blocking sidewalks, access ramps, bus stops, bike lanes, or vehicle travel lanes.
- Not locking to Stop signs, fire hydrants, gas meters, or handrails.
Do not park on private property.
How to Suggest a Corral Location
Anyone may suggest a new location for a corral. Location selection, approval, and installation takes about four months, and is funded by the fees collected from micro mobility operators.
The project team considers different factors when choosing where to install corrals. Ideal locations have:
- High ridership; high pedestrian and/or vehicular traffic
- Dense commercial and residential activity
- Are already restricted to motor vehicles to help avoid repurposing motor vehicle parking spaces.
Suggest a Corral Location
Report an Abandoned or Improperly Parked Device
Anyone may reposition an improperly parked device that is blocking a sidewalk, access ramp, or travel lane
You can also submit a request to have an improperly parked device removed. If you select the device brand/operator, your request will be automatically sent to the company’s local operations team. You can choose to receive an update from the company once the request has been resolved.
Report a Device
Report a Damaged Corral
Anyone may report a corral that is damaged to be repaired or replaced.
Report a Damaged Corral
Application Process
Current and prospective shared mobility device vendors must apply each year to renew or obtain permits to operate in Arlington County. For the 2025 permit period (January 1 through December 31), the County may issue permits for up to 2,000 e-scooters and up to 1,000 e-bikes.
- Vendors may apply at any time after October 1. For vendors who complete applications before November 1, the County will evaluate applicants and issue permits before the permit period begins on January 1.
- Applications completed after October 31, will be considered on a rolling basis with no set date for permit issuance. Once the permit limits have been reached, no applicants will be awarded permits.
2025 Permit Application
2025 Permits
The County has awarded a total of 1,600 e-scooter permits across three operators, and a total of 505 e-bike permits across three operators.
|
Rental Company
|
Scooters
|
E-Bikes
|
|
Spin
|
400
|
150
|
|
Bird
|
600
|
150
|
| Lime |
600
|
205 |
|
Total
|
1,600
|
505
|
Questions about the application should be sent to mobility@arlingtonva.us
Current Operators
The following questions and answers are intended to provide guidance for the public on the use of these devices in Arlington.
Are micro-mobility devices legal in Arlington? Can the County Board ban the devices outright?
Virginia law recognizes e-scooters, e-bikes and similar devices as vehicles. They are allowed to be ridden in the County.
The County cannot ban the devices outright, but the County can prohibit companies that offer these devices for hire from parking them on County right-of-way and property.
Can I ride rental devices from Arlington into neighboring municipalities or vice versa?
Possibly; this depends on where rental services have agreements. Check the company’s mobile app to determine where they offer service before you start your trip.
Is Capital Bikeshare part of the scooter program?
Capital Bikeshare is the region’s bikeshare system to help people get around quickly and easily. While some CaBi bikes are electrically powered and can be docked separately from a designated station, they don’t fall under the operator agreement requirement.
Are devices required to be parked in corrals?
Operators are encouraged to deploy devices in a corral if there is enough room. Riders are encouraged to end trips at corrals but are not required to do so. All riders must end trips and park safely and courteously.
The County Board approved a pilot program in Fall 2018 to help manage e-scooter and e-bike operators and to determine how to best regulate these devices. The following report provides the results of the evaluation of the original nine-month Arlington County Shared Mobility Device Pilot Program.
On Nov. 16, 2019, the County Board adopted regulations for Micro-Mobility Devices that allow their use on sidewalks (with limitations), trails, and bike lanes, unless specifically signed or marked otherwise.
The County’s adopted ordinance went into effect on Dec. 31, 2019. More details are available in the Board Report and the specific ordinance language.
Board Reports:
Ridership Data
Operators share ridership rate data with the County to measure quantity of use.
Program data, including trip data matched to the roadway network defined by Open Street Map, number of trips, trip duration and distance and more, is available here.
Ridership Data