Are Electric Scooters Legal in Knoxville?

City guidance keeps shared scooters on the roadway, not on sidewalks or greenways, and geofences off-limits blocks such as Market Square, portions of Cumberland Avenue, and the Henley Bridge. Riders must be at least 16 with valid ID, speeds are capped at 15 mph (and can be throttled lower during festivals or football weekends), and operating hours generally run from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Bird and Link are also required to restage cluttered devices daily. After a surge of sidewalk complaints, Knoxville announced in August 2025 that Bird and Lime are deploying AI-powered parking validation that reviews rider photos and blocks the trip from ending if the scooter impedes a sidewalk or ramp, so plan to park in marked corrals, bike racks, or the furniture zone. Violations can earn fines or suspension, so obey traffic laws, ride single file with traffic, and heed in-app warnings when you approach a no-ride zone.