Quick answer: shared e-scooters are widely available in US cities, but each city decides which companies can operate. As of September 2026 the biggest operators are Lime, Bird and Veo, with Beam in a small number of cities and Divvy (run by Lyft) offering scooters in Chicago. You book through the operator’s app, and most programmes require riders to be 18 or over. Rules on helmets, pavement (sidewalk) riding, speed and parking are set locally, and prices vary by city and are shown in the app.
How shared e-scooters work in the US
There is no national rental scheme in the United States. Cities and states set their own rules and usually issue permits or licences to a limited number of operators. That means the same company can have different prices, speed limits and parking rules in neighbouring cities. New York City, for example, runs a programme limited to parts of the Bronx and Queens, while Chicago licenses scooter companies alongside its Divvy bike share system.
Who operates where (as of September 2026)
The cities below come from each operator’s own locations page, checked in September 2026. Operators sometimes list cities where they only run e-bikes, and city permits change, so check the app for your city.
| Operator | Selected cities | Notes | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lime | Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Tampa and Washington, DC, among many others | Lime’s US list is split into East, Central and West regions and includes over 60 places. Holds one of the licences in Chicago and is one of three operators in New York City’s programme. | li.me |
| Bird | Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, Orlando, Phoenix, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tampa and Tempe, among others | One of three operators in New York City’s programme. Bird says some cities offer cash payment at participating retailers and SMS unlock for riders without smartphones. | bird.co |
| Veo | Bronx and Queens (New York), Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Orlando, Cleveland, Columbus, Oakland, Berkeley, Albany, New Haven and Hartford, plus several university campuses | Also one of the three New York City operators. Campus locations include Purdue University, Rutgers University, the University of Florida and UCLA. | veoride.com |
| Beam | Albuquerque and Tulsa | Beam launched in the US in October 2022. It merged with Neuron in 2025 and both brands continue. | ridebeam.com |
| Divvy (operated by Lyft) | Chicago | Divvy scooters are part of Chicago’s city-owned bike share and can be parked in Divvy stations. | City of Chicago scooter page |
You may still see older names such as Spin or Superpedestrian in articles. We could not find a current official US city list for Spin, and we have not included companies we could not verify.
City examples: what the rules look like
New York City
NYC DOT’s shared e-scooter programme runs in the East Bronx (about 22 square miles) and Eastern Queens (about 23 square miles), with Bird, Lime and Veo as operators. Key rules from the official FAQ:
- Shared e-scooter riders must be 18 or older (16 for privately owned scooters).
- Riders aged 16 or 17 must wear a helmet, and everyone is encouraged to.
- The citywide e-scooter speed limit is 15 mph.
- New users start in “Beginner Mode”: the first three trips are slower and cannot take place overnight.
- Rides must begin and end inside the service area.
- Parking is either free-floating in the furniture zone of the sidewalk, upright, or in mandatory painted corrals, and must never block the pedestrian path or ramps.
Chicago
The City of Chicago says shared scooters are available through Divvy and through Lime, which holds a city business licence. The city’s rider rules include:
- Riders must be at least 18, or at least 16 with parent or guardian consent.
- Always wear a helmet, and never ride on sidewalks.
- Scooters can be rented between 5am and midnight.
- A rider’s first trip is limited to 10 mph, and no shared scooter may exceed 15 mph.
- No riding on the Lakefront Trail, The 606 or the Chicago Riverwalk.
- To end a trip, you must lock the scooter to a fixed object such as a bike rack, retired meter, street sign or light pole, leaving at least 5 feet of clear sidewalk.
General rules to expect elsewhere
Every city is different, but the official examples above show common patterns:
- Age: 18 is the usual minimum for shared scooters.
- Licence: the New York and Chicago rules we checked do not mention a driving licence, but some places may ask for ID. Bird says you may be asked to verify your ID depending on your location.
- Where to ride: bike lanes where available, not sidewalks, and never on paths where scooters are banned.
- One rider only: no passengers.
- Speed: capped by the operator, often lower for new riders or in slow zones.
- Parking: follow the in-app map, keep sidewalks and ramps clear, and take the end-of-ride photo if asked. Bird warns that blocking access is subject to fees.
- Alcohol: never ride impaired.
How to book a shared e-scooter in the US
- Check which operators hold a permit in your city (city transport department pages usually list them) and download the app.
- Create an account, confirm your age and verify ID if asked.
- Add a payment method, or ask the operator about cash and low-income options if you need them.
- Complete any in-app safety training or beginner mode.
- Find a scooter on the map and scan the QR code on the handlebars to unlock it.
- Ride in bike lanes where available and follow the local speed and zone rules.
- Park in an allowed spot (or lock it to a fixed object in Chicago), take the photo and end the ride.
What does it cost?
Prices vary by city and are shown in the app. Operators usually offer pay as you go (an unlock fee plus a per-minute rate) and subscriptions. As one example, Seattle Bike Blog reported in December 2025 that Lime’s monthly LimePrime subscribers in Seattle pay a flat fare for rides up to 20 minutes with no unlock fee, then a per-minute rate after that. Those figures are specific to Seattle and may not apply elsewhere.
Many cities also require discounts. Chicago requires its scooter licence holders to offer low-cost options for residents with financial barriers and low-tech options for people without smartphones. Ask the operator or look in the app for access or reduced-fare programmes.
Tips for US riders
- Check your city’s official scooter page for the list of permitted operators and local rules.
- Rules can change at a city boundary, and some programmes stop rides that leave the service area.
- Wear a helmet even where it is not required for adults.
- Budget for per-minute pricing: short, direct trips are cheapest, and subscriptions can pay off if you ride often.
- Keep sidewalks clear when parking, as poor parking can lead to fees.
Sources
- Lime: Locations (li.me)
- Bird: Locations (home page city list) (bird.co)
- Bird: How to ride (bird.co)
- Bird: City partners (bird.co)
- Veo: Locations (veoride.com)
- Beam: Global footprint (ridebeam.com)
- Neuron: Merger completes (22 September 2025) (rideneuron.com)
- NYC DOT Shared E-Scooter Program: FAQ (nycdotscootershare.info)
- City of Chicago: Scooter sharing in Chicago (chicago.gov)
- Seattle Bike Blog: LimePrime pricing overhaul (22 December 2025) (seattlebikeblog.com)