Electric Scooters in Miami - Everything you need to know

• Read Time: 13 min

One of the most visited and famous cities in the world. If you like to travel, chances that you will visit Florida, and thus Miami at some point are quite high.It is a buzzing place and there is a lot to do and see. You will notice that electric scooters and rental scooters are as prevalent in Miami as in most other metropolitan world cities.

Whether you live here or are visiting, you might want to know how and where you can either rent or buy an electric scooter. What are the best places to ride one and what laws are applicable?

Let's find out.

If you are looking to buy your own e-scooter, going online is always an option.

However, in Miami, you also have the possibility of visiting a real store where you can see and touch a wide variety of e-scooters as well as hang out and chill with the excellent staff at hand to help you find exactly what you need.

Fluidfreeride can be found at 7101 N Miami Ave STE 103, Miami, FL 33150, USA. This is a place where knowledge and love of electric scooters are second to none. You will have plenty to choose from and all your queries and questions will be answered by professional staff.

Buying a used e-scooter? Is that something worth considering? Well, yes and no. It depends on a couple of factors. As with all such things, you will most likely pay a lot less compared to a brand new one.

This might be a good way of trying out if traveling by electric scooter is something for you.That is a plus. On the minus side, the battery and its life cycles are the big question mark. How many times has the battery been used and recharged? A replacement battery is expensive.

Buying from a private seller might therefore be a bit risky. The scooter may be in good overall condition but you can't visually see the condition and usage of the battery pack. All these things can be avoided if you buy a used scooter at a store such as Fluidfreerides. Here you will find a variety of used scooters that have passed the checks demanded by Fluidfreeride to be able to be resold as a good product. You might also be able to try it out and see if it fits your needs.

At the time of writing, nine different rental scooter companies are operating in Miami.

Baus, Bird, Bolt, Helbiz, Jump, Lime, Lyft, Spin, and Wheels.

If you have a favorite company, check their app to see if they are available as the number of operators can change over time.

Yes, they are. But there are rules and regulations to consider.

As part of a scooter pilot program, the city of Miami has approved the nine private operators mentioned above to evaluate the effectiveness of e scooters as far as transportation and mobility go.

The legal landscape is constantly moving and the rules and regulations vary from state to state and sometimes even down to city level. The only way to make sure is to regularly check for any updates online for your specific area.

In March 2020, scooter rentals were banned due to the coronavirus pandemic and their licenses to operate were revoked. They made a return in September but in a short time period, city officials were inundated with various complaints of improper usage of e-scooters. People were riding where they were not supposed to, left them everywhere, and underage riders were also reported.

So a second ban was imposed going into effect Dec 30 and would last until at least Jan 15. During this time, new guidelines and rules were discussed with the operators and city officials to bring back the scooter program and reinstate their licenses.

- Users must be 18 years or older and have a valid driver’s license, state identification, or passport which must be scanned or provided to vendors as proof of age.

- E-scooter's top speed can't exceed 15 mph (24 kph) on bike lanes and streets, and 7 mph (11 kph) on sidewalks.

- Helmets are not required although strongly recommended. - Only one person at a time can ride an e-scooter

- Parents are not allowed to let minor children use them
- Users are encouraged to ride on sidewalks, streets or bike paths/lanes wherever available.

- So far, e scooters are only allowed in the following neighborhoods. Coconut Grove, Brickell, Downtown Miami, Wynwood, and east side of North Miami Avenue and east only.

Parking them is another hot topic as many are annoyed with these new motorized scooters lying around haphazardly or just left in a place where they are in the way of other people.

Therefore, the Department of Resilience and Public Works (RPW) has placed parking corrals in areas with high usage. There is no requirement to park here but you are strongly encouraged to do so.

Dockless scooter rentals may have locations of such parking Corals in their apps.Places, where you should not park, are such as;

- Near utilities, fire hydrants

- Near ADA access ramps

- On landscaped areas or grass

- In front of driveways, crosswalks, transit stops, or on private property

- On a street that does not have sidewalks or a sidewalk less than 3 feet wide

- In front of loading spaces or valet parking areas

- Blocking building entrances or window displays

- Leave at least 6 feet of sidewalk space for pedestrians and persons with disabilities

Reporting violation of the above rules is done to Miami Parking Authority (MPA). They can and will issue fines to the rental company, which will then charge the user. Up to 100 USD in the case of more than one person riding the e scooter. Ouch. Best to obey the rules.

You will recognize it from movies such as Scarface and many more. With its buzzing atmosphere of restaurants playing salsa music and serving excellent food, this drive is the place to go to for people watching and enjoying the Miami lifestyle.

The beach is right next to it and offers even more of the same. You will never forget the experience. Go daytime as well as nighttime. You will feel like you are in a movie.

From US 1 to McFarlane Road. Don't miss this stretch. Marinas, beautiful parks, high rises, Coconut Grove. Tons to see.

Only 4 miles from downtown Miami, Little Havana is a vibrant capital for Cuban-American culture.

Go to Calle Ocho and experience all the activities as if you were in Cuba. Sip a coffee at a sidewalk, fresh dining experiences, or get a cigar.

You will feel the need to cool down, and one of the coolest places to visit for that is the Venetian Pool.

It is about seven miles southwest from downtown. It is the largest freshwater pool in the United States.

Another cool location. Located only two miles from Miami center you will find one of the hippest places in Miami at the time of writing.

Lots of beautiful graffiti, microbreweries, bistros, chic boutiques, and bars open at night.