Are Electric Scooters Legal in Cincinnati?
OHCincinnati
Fully Legal
Quick Facts
Max Speed
E-scooters are typically limited to a max speed of 15 to 20 mph, depending on the scooter model and local regulations.
Minimum Age
Riders usually must be at least 18 years old to rent e-scooters, though some providers may allow riders aged 16 or 17 with a valid driver’s license.
Helmets Required?
Helmets are recommended for all riders for safety, but the requirement may vary based on rider age and local ordinances.
Summary
Cincinnati lets Lime and Bird operate daily 6 a.m.–11 p.m., bans sidewalk riding citywide, and now shuts rentals off in Downtown/OTR from 8 p.m.–6 a.m. on summer weekends while police evaluate the pilot crime-suppression zone.
Detailed Information
Cincinnati’s Department of Transportation & Engineering (DOTE) keeps the standing rules in place for shared scooters: only one rider per vehicle, no sidewalk riding, park in the furniture zone with a six-foot pedestrian clearance, and respect the 6 a.m.–11 p.m. citywide operating window that’s enforced through the Lime and Bird apps.citeturn5search0 Because violent incidents spiked downtown, City Manager Sheryl Long authorized weekend geofencing south of McMicken Avenue; every Friday and Saturday through at least August, Bird and Lime devices cannot start trips between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. in Downtown, Over-the-Rhine, and the West End even though riders may end an existing trip there.citeturn5search3turn0search0 Expect additional enforcement this fall as the city weighs whether to extend the pilot alongside broader juvenile curfew changes that tightened access to central riverfront parks.
Official References
2025-11-09
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