Powered Micromobility Devices

What it does

• •Establishes a separate regulatory definition for powered micromobility devices (e-scooters, hoverboards, Segways, electric skateboards) distinct from motor vehicles, bicycles, and human-powered coasting devices.
• •Creates management rules for where and how powered micromobility devices may be used within units of the National Park System.
• •Removes powered micromobility devices from the existing broad motor vehicle regulatory framework to apply tailored rules based on their smaller size, lighter weight, and different operational characteristics.

Why it matters

• •Powered micromobility devices have become increasingly prevalent in urban parks (84.9 million trips in North America in 2024) and shared rental fleets now commonly occupy park spaces like the National Mall.
• •The devices serve transportation and public health goals by providing low-emission, affordable transit options that close first-mile/last-mile gaps, particularly benefiting underserved communities and individuals with disabilities.
• •Applying heavy motor vehicle regulations to devices weighing under 50 pounds created regulatory misalignment; this rule tailors rules to the actual characteristics and impacts of these lighter devices.

Who is affected

• •Visitors to National Park System units who own or rent powered micromobility devices.
• •Private companies operating shared micromobility fleets (Uber, Lyft, Bird, Lime) that deploy e-scooters and similar devices in urban parks.
• •National Park Service administrators managing park lands and determining permitted uses within System units.

What happens next

The rule becomes effective September 11, 2026; specific usage rules and park-by-park designations are to be implemented by individual National Park System units under this new framework.