Electric Scooters are not currently legal for public use in Pennsylvania.
As of early 2026, Pennsylvania remains one of the few states that has not passed a permanent law to legalize electric scooters on public roadways.
While significant legislative efforts like Abby’s Law were introduced in late 2025, PennDOT still maintains that these devices are illegal to operate on any public street or sidewalk in the Commonwealth.
The previous authorization for pilot programs has expired, returning the state to a default prohibition on all public rights-of-way.
State-level classification and definition
Under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code (Title 75), electric scooters do not have a specific classification and are often technically categorized as motor-driven cycles.
Classification: Because electric scooters are considered vehicles, they are subject to titling and registration requirements as set forth by PennDOT.
Equipment: Most electric scooters lack the necessary equipment—such as turn signals, mirrors, and specific braking systems—required to pass state inspection for motor vehicles.
Status: Since they cannot be registered or insured as motor vehicles, they cannot be legally operated on public roads.
2026 Legislative Updates and Pending Status
Note: As of January 2026, Senate Bill 1008 (Abby’s Law) and House Bill 1633 represent the primary efforts to finally legalize micromobility in the state.
Current Status (January 2026): Both bills have been referred to the Transportation Committee and are awaiting final votes; until enacted, the statewide ban persists.
Abby’s Law: This legislation aims to define "low-speed electric scooters," exempt them from titling, and set a statewide speed limit of 20 mph.
Local Authorization: The proposed bills would grant municipalities the explicit authority to regulate shared-scooter programs and determine where private scooters can be used.
Licensing and age requirements
License: No driver’s license is currently available for e-scooters because they are not yet legal for road use.
Minimum Age: The pending Abby’s Law proposes a minimum operator age of 16 years old for all public operation.
Certification: Future regulations may require younger riders to complete a safety education course if they do not hold a valid driver's license.
Performance and equipment limits
To be compliant with future legal standards currently under debate, a scooter would likely need the following:
Speed: Operation would be capped at a maximum speed of 20 mph on any roadway or path.
Weight: Proposed rules typically limit the device to less than 100 lbs.
Night Lighting: Any future legalization will mandate a white front lamp and a red rear light or reflector for low-light use.
Operational rules and permitted areas
Because state law currently prohibits their use, the following rules reflect the current enforcement environment:
Roadways: Riding on public streets can result in a summary offense, heavy fines, and the potential impoundment of the scooter.
Sidewalks: Section 3703 of the Vehicle Code specifically prohibits motorized vehicles from being operated on sidewalks.
Pittsburgh: The Move PGH pilot program authorization expired in July 2023; as of 2026, shared scooters are no longer legally permitted on Pittsburgh streets.
Philadelphia: The city continues to follow the state-level prohibition, meaning riding on public streets or sidewalks is technically illegal throughout Philadelphia.
Helmet laws
Mandatory: If the 2026 legislation is signed into law, helmets will be mandatory for all riders under 18 years of age.
Adults: There is no law mandating helmets for adult riders.
Disclaimer: Bo USA Inc. endeavours to keep these documents up to date and relevant, however does not in any manner guarantee the accuracy of the included findings regarding electric scooter laws in the United States. Always carry out secondary research to validate any statement - and refer directly to the relevant authority before presuming accuracy.
Electric scooter riders or those considering to purchase or begin riding electric scooters should refer to their local governments to obtain the most up-to-date information on the applicable, local legal standing of scooters.
The Bo Model-M: When legislation finally arrives, it is worth investing in a vehicle that is going to have a real integrity and quality to its manufacture. This means it will bring you pleasure every time you use it.
To that end, it is interesting to know that Bo is the only electric scooter designed and engineered by a team of real car guys. Where the rest of the scooter industry took plasticky toys and ruggedised them, we started with a blank sheet of paper to develop the best vehicle in the world for local journeys.
Of course, you can only really feel the benefit of that when you ride it for yourself; that is why we give an extraordinary 60 day return policy and have a customer response team full of the engineers who made it. When you contact Bo, you're going straight to the source.
Visit the Model M page - click here
Learn more about how we made the 'M' - click here
Go watch a Youtube about the Model-M - click here
Return to the State-by-State regulation page - click here
