Electric Scooters are legal - within the relevant regulations
In Indiana, the "Electric Foot Scooter" (IC § 9-21-11-13.6) classification remains the gold standard. You are legally a cyclist, not a motorist. This means you possess the same rights and duties as a person on a bicycle.
Licensing and Age (The "Status Check")
No License Required: You do not need a driver’s license, insurance, or vehicle registration to operate a personal e-scooter on Indiana roads.
Minimum Age: While state law is broad, municipal codes in Indianapolis and Bloomington have converged on a minimum age of 16 for operation on public streets. Rental fleets strictly enforce 18+, but as a private owner, 16 is your legal baseline.
Technical Mandates:
Weight: Must be under 100 lbs.
Speed: Must not exceed 20 mph on level ground.
Lighting: A white front lamp (500 ft visibility) and a red rear light/reflector (500 ft visibility) are mandatory from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. The Bo’s integrated 360° Light Halo significantly exceeds this state safety floor.
Braking: Must be equipped with a powerful working brake on both wheels.
Permitted Riding Areas: Road vs. Sidewalk
Roadways: Permitted on all city streets and bike lanes. You must follow all traffic signals, signs, and flow-of-traffic rules. Interstate highways are strictly prohibited.
Sidewalks: Indiana law allows sidewalk riding unless a local authority says otherwise. As of 2026:
Indianapolis: Riding on sidewalks is prohibited in the downtown Mile Square and other high-pedestrian commercial zones.
Bloomington: Strictly prohibited in the downtown "Dismount Zones." Outside of these zones, you may ride on "uncrowded" sidewalks but must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal (voice or bell) before passing.
University Campus notes:
On the Indiana University (Bloomington) and Purdue campuses, 2026 regulations have tightened. "Reckless or negligent" operation is now a cited offense, and parking is strictly regulated.
2026 Legal Alert: The "Parking Penalty"
Indiana cities have tightened enforcement on "Right-of-Way" obstructions. Under IC § 9-21-11-13.6(d), a scooter can be parked on a sidewalk only if it does not impede the reasonable movement of pedestrians.
In 2026, Indianapolis "Scooter Wardens" are authorized to impound any device - including private ones - that blocks ADA ramps or fire hydrants.
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: Since the electric scooter is legal in Indiana, 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
