Electric Scooter Rentals in San Antonio: Prices, Options, and Tips

Electric scooter rentals in San Antonio offer convenient, eco-friendly transportation with two main providers: Bird and Veo, operating under a city permit system that allows 1,000 scooters per vendor (2,000 total dockless vehicles maximum). San Antonio's e-scooter landscape transformed significantly in 2020 when Lime exited the market, leaving Bird as the sole operator until Veo deployed 1,000 scooters in fall 2023. As of August 2024, riders can now use the Lyft app to book Bird scooters, expanding accessibility. Pricing typically includes a $1 base fare plus 15-33 cents per minute. San Antonio's regulations permit riding on streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less, bike lanes when available, and sidewalks when bike lanes are absent—but scooters are prohibited on the River Walk, Alamo Plaza, Mission Reach, and select leisure areas. Riders must be at least 16 years old, cannot carry passengers, and cannot use mobile devices while riding. No driver's license, registration, or insurance is required, though helmets are strongly encouraged. Popular destinations include Pearl, Downtown, Hemisfair, and Blue Star Arts Complex, with ERYD offering flat hourly rates starting at $20 for guided tours and rentals along the Riverwalk. Understanding San Antonio's unique permit structure, prohibited zones, and best riding routes ensures safe, legal, and enjoyable scooter experiences throughout the Alamo City.

Current Electric Scooter Rental Providers in San Antonio (2024-2025)

San Antonio's electric scooter rental market operates under a controlled permit system with two main providers as of 2024-2025: Bird and Veo.

Bird Scooters

Bird is the longest-standing dockless e-scooter rental company operating in San Antonio, maintaining continuous service after Lime's exit from the market in 2020.

Key Bird features in San Antonio:

• Lyft integration (August 2024): Riders can now book Bird scooters directly through the Lyft app, in addition to the Bird app
• Fleet size: Up to 1,000 scooters under city permit
• Pricing: $1 base unlock fee + 15-33 cents per minute (varies by demand and location)
• Service area: Downtown San Antonio, Pearl District, Southtown, and surrounding neighborhoods
• How to rent: Download Bird app or Lyft app → locate scooter on map → scan QR code → unlock and ride
• Payment: Credit/debit card through app; automatic charges when ride ends

Veo Scooters

Veo entered the San Antonio market in fall 2023, taking over the city permit previously held by Razor and deploying 1,000 scooters citywide.

Veo scooter features:

• Fleet deployment: 1,000 dockless e-scooters as of October 2023
• Pricing: Typically $1 unlock + per-minute rates (competitive with Bird)
• How to rent: Download Veo app → create account → locate scooter → unlock via QR scan
• Service area: City-wide deployment focusing on high-traffic areas

ERYD Scooter Rentals (Guided Tours and Hourly Rentals)

ERYD offers a different rental model from Bird and Veo, providing flat-rate hourly rentals and guided tours rather than per-minute dockless service.

ERYD rental details:

• Location: E Commerce St, next to 24/7 Whataburger near the Riverwalk
• Pricing: Flat hourly rates starting at $20
• Service type: Guided tours and self-guided rentals
• Popular destinations: The Alamo, River Walk, Market Square, Pearl, Hemisfair, Blue Star Arts Complex
• Booking: On-site or through ERYD website/app

What Happened to Lime in San Antonio?

Lime ceased operations in San Antonio in 2020 and has not returned to the market as of 2024-2025. The company exited during the COVID-19 pandemic and did not resume service when the market recovered. Bird and Veo now fill the gap Lime left.

San Antonio E-Scooter Pricing Breakdown

San Antonio e-scooter rental pricing follows a standard two-part structure: unlock fee + per-minute rate.

Bird Pricing Details

Bird's pricing in San Antonio:

• Base unlock fee: $1.00
• Per-minute rate: $0.15-$0.33 (varies by time of day, demand, and location)
• Average 15-minute ride: $1.00 + ($0.15-$0.33 × 15) = $3.25-$5.95
• Average 30-minute ride: $1.00 + ($0.15-$0.33 × 30) = $5.50-$10.90

Peak pricing: Bird may implement surge pricing during high-demand periods (weekends, events, evenings) with per-minute rates reaching $0.33 or higher.

Veo Pricing Details

Veo's pricing structure:

• Base unlock fee: $1.00
• Per-minute rate: Approximately $0.15-$0.25 (competitive with Bird)
• Estimated costs similar to Bird for comparable ride durations

ERYD Flat-Rate Pricing

ERYD offers hourly and tour-based pricing:

• Hourly rental: Starting at $20/hour
• Multi-hour discounts: Available for 2+ hour rentals
• Guided tours: Variable pricing based on tour length and group size
• Advantages: Predictable costs; better value for rides exceeding 45-60 minutes compared to per-minute pricing

Cost Comparison: Per-Minute vs. Flat-Rate

When to choose Bird/Veo (per-minute):

• Short trips (under 20 minutes)
• Point-to-point transportation
• Spontaneous, one-way rides

When to choose ERYD (flat-rate):

• Extended tours (1+ hours)
• Exploring multiple destinations
• Budget certainty (no surprise per-minute charges)

San Antonio E-Scooter Regulations and Laws (2024-2025)

San Antonio established comprehensive e-scooter regulations to balance accessibility with safety and pedestrian protection.

Age and Passenger Requirements

City of San Antonio e-scooter age rules:

• Minimum age: 16 years old (strictly enforced through app age verification)
• Passengers: No additional passengers allowed (one rider per scooter)
• No driver's license required: Unlike some cities, San Antonio does not require a driver's license to rent or operate e-scooters

Where E-Scooters Are Allowed in San Antonio

Permitted riding areas:

• Roads and streets: E-scooters may be operated on streets or highways with posted speed limits of 35 mph or less
• Bike lanes: Riders should utilize bike lanes when available (preferred over sidewalks and roads)
• Sidewalks: In the absence of bike lanes, riders may ride on sidewalks (but must yield to pedestrians)

Prohibited Riding Areas

Where e-scooters are NOT allowed in San Antonio:

• San Antonio River Walk: Completely prohibited for e-scooter riding (walking scooters allowed in some sections)
• Alamo Plaza: No riding permitted due to heavy pedestrian traffic and historic preservation
• Mission Reach: E-scooter riding banned to protect trail users
• Select leisure areas and parks: Check signage for "No E-Scooters" restrictions
• Roads with speed limits over 35 mph: Illegal and dangerous

Helmet and Safety Equipment

San Antonio helmet requirements:

• Helmets encouraged but not legally required for riders 16 and older
• Bird and Veo apps both recommend helmets in safety notifications
• Some rental providers offer helmet sales or rentals

Mobile Device Use Prohibition

San Antonio law explicitly prohibits:

• Using mobile phones while operating an e-scooter
• Texting or browsing while riding
• Holding phones in hand (hands-free navigation allowed via handlebar mounts)

Violation can result in fines and citations.

City Permit System and Fleet Limits

San Antonio regulates e-scooter companies through a permit system:

• Maximum scooters per vendor: 1,000 scooters
• Total citywide limit: 2,000 dockless rental vehicles at any time
• Current permit holders (2024-2025): Bird and Veo
• Permit requirements: Companies must comply with parking, safety, and data-sharing regulations

Nighttime Curfew (Lifted in 2019)

Important update: San Antonio City Council lifted the 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. e-scooter curfew in December 2019. E-scooters can now be ridden 24/7, though some companies may limit availability during late-night hours.

Best Places to Ride E-Scooters in San Antonio

San Antonio offers diverse e-scooter riding routes, from urban streets to scenic trails (where permitted).

Downtown and Pearl District Route

Recommended route:

1. Start at Pearl: Begin at the Pearl Brewery complex (bike lanes available)
2. Head down Broadway: Follow Broadway Avenue south (bike lanes present)
3. Turn onto East Jones Avenue: Navigate toward Hemisfair
4. Stop at Hemisfair: Explore public art and relax in Hemisfair Park
5. Continue to Blue Star Arts Complex: Ride south to Southtown's arts district

Distance: Approximately 4-5 miles one-way

Estimated ride time: 25-35 minutes

Highlights: Pearl dining, Hemisfair gardens, Blue Star galleries

River Walk-Adjacent Exploration

Important note: You cannot ride on the River Walk itself, but you can ride on adjacent streets and park scooters to walk the River Walk.

River Walk-adjacent route:

• E Commerce Street: Ride along E Commerce to access River Walk entry points
• Market Square: Scooter to Market Square, park, and explore on foot
• The Alamo: Ride to Alamo Plaza perimeter (park scooter and walk to Alamo)
• Briscoe Western Art Museum: Accessible via nearby streets

Southtown Arts District

Cultural exploration route:

• Blue Star Arts Complex: Galleries, studios, and dining
• Artpace: Contemporary art space
• Hopscotch: Interactive art installation
• King William Historic District: Ride through tree-lined streets (observe traffic laws)

University Area and Medical Center

For students and medical district visitors:

• UTSA Downtown Campus: Scooter-friendly streets around campus
• Medical Center area: Well-connected by bike lanes
• Trinity University surroundings: Residential streets with lower speed limits

How to Rent an E-Scooter in San Antonio: Step-by-Step

Renting a Bird Scooter (via Bird App or Lyft App)

Step-by-step Bird rental:

1. Download app: Install Bird app or Lyft app (both work as of August 2024)
2. Create account: Enter email, phone number, payment method
3. Enable location services: Allow app to access your location
4. Find scooter: Use in-app map to locate nearest available Bird scooter
5. Walk to scooter: Follow GPS directions to scooter location
6. Scan QR code: Use app camera to scan QR code on scooter handlebar
7. Unlock scooter: App unlocks scooter; display lights up
8. Start riding: Push off with one foot, then engage throttle
9. End ride: Park legally (upright, out of pedestrian path), take photo in app, tap "End Ride"

Renting a Veo Scooter

Step-by-step Veo rental:

1. Download Veo app: Available on iOS and Android
2. Register: Provide email, phone, payment information
3. Locate scooter: Use map view to find nearby Veo scooters
4. Unlock via QR: Scan QR code on scooter
5. Ride: Follow San Antonio traffic laws and permitted routes
6. End ride: Park in designated zones, photograph parking, end trip in app

Renting from ERYD

ERYD rental process:

1. Visit location: Go to ERYD's E Commerce St location (near Whataburger on Riverwalk)
2. Choose rental type: Hourly rental or guided tour
3. Provide ID and payment: Valid ID required; pay via credit card
4. Receive scooter and safety briefing: Staff provide quick orientation
5. Explore: Ride within agreed time frame
6. Return scooter: Bring back to ERYD location by end of rental period

E-Scooter Safety Tips for San Antonio Riders

Riding e-scooters safely in San Antonio requires awareness of local conditions and traffic patterns.

Navigating San Antonio Traffic

San Antonio-specific safety considerations:

• Use bike lanes on Broadway, McCullough, and other major streets whenever available
• Avoid riding during rush hour (7-9 AM, 4-6 PM) on busy streets without bike lanes
• Watch for uneven pavement and potholes, especially in older neighborhoods
• Be extra cautious at intersections—San Antonio drivers may not expect scooters
• Reduce speed on sidewalks and yield to pedestrians at all times

San Antonio Weather Considerations

Weather-related safety tips:

• Summer heat (May-September): Temperatures exceed 95°F; ride early morning or evening, stay hydrated
• Thunderstorms: Common in spring/summer; avoid riding during lightning or heavy rain (slippery surfaces)
• Wind: Strong gusts can affect stability, especially on lighter scooters
• Winter (December-February): Generally mild but occasional freezing—avoid riding if ice is present

Proper Parking and Scooter Etiquette

How to park e-scooters legally in San Antonio:

• Park upright: Use kickstand to ensure scooter stands upright
• Out of pedestrian paths: Do not block sidewalks, ramps, or building entrances
• Designated zones: Park in bike racks or designated scooter parking when available
• Avoid private property: Do not park on private lawns or driveways
• Take required photo: Both Bird and Veo require end-of-ride parking photos to verify compliance

San Antonio E-Scooter Provider Comparison Table

Feature	Bird	Veo	ERYD
Unlock Fee	$1.00	$1.00	N/A (hourly rate)
Per-Minute Rate	$0.15-$0.33	$0.15-$0.25	N/A
Hourly Rate	N/A	N/A	Starting at $20
Fleet Size	Up to 1,000	1,000	Limited inventory
Rental Method	Bird app or Lyft app	Veo app	On-site or website
Service Type	Dockless, one-way	Dockless, one-way	Round-trip, guided tours
Best For	Short trips, convenience	Short trips, budget	Tours, extended rides

Conclusion

Electric scooter rentals in San Antonio provide flexible, affordable transportation through two main dockless providers (Bird and Veo) and guided tour operator ERYD. With city permit limits of 1,000 scooters per vendor and a maximum of 2,000 dockless vehicles citywide, San Antonio maintains a balanced e-scooter ecosystem. Pricing averages $1 unlock fee plus $0.15-$0.33 per minute for Bird and Veo, while ERYD offers flat hourly rates starting at $20—making ERYD better for extended tours and Bird/Veo ideal for short point-to-point trips. San Antonio's regulations require riders to be at least 16 years old, prohibit passengers and mobile device use while riding, and restrict e-scooters from the River Walk, Alamo Plaza, and Mission Reach. Permitted riding areas include streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less, bike lanes (preferred), and sidewalks when bike lanes are unavailable. Popular routes include the Pearl-to-Blue-Star corridor, downtown exploration around Market Square and Hemisfair, and Southtown's arts district. The August 2024 integration of Bird scooters into the Lyft app expanded accessibility and booking options. Whether you're a tourist exploring the Alamo City's attractions or a local commuting through downtown, understanding San Antonio's unique e-scooter regulations, prohibited zones, pricing structures, and best riding routes ensures safe, legal, and cost-effective scooter experiences. Always yield to pedestrians, park responsibly, wear a helmet, and avoid riding during severe weather to maximize safety on San Antonio's streets.