Shared Scooters & Bikes

Frequently Asked Questions about Shared Scooters & Bikes

1. How do I report a scooter or bike that is blocking the sidewalk, parked incorrectly or damaged?

   • Contact the scooter or bike vendor to report the issue:

     • Lime (white & green): report issue online at https://help.li.me/hc/en-us/requests/new or call 888-LIME-345

     • Spin (orange and black): call 888-249-9698

   • Note that scooters and bikes may include a “Report a Problem” QR code on the vehicle that can be scanned with a smart phone, opening a web form that can be filled out to report an issue.

   • Each scooter and bike displays a vendor name and a visible unique ID number that may be a QR code you can use to help the vendors determine the location and identify the vehicle.

   • The vendors are required to address incorrectly parked scooters and bikes within 24 hours.

   • If the scooter or bike is blocking a sidewalk, building access, or in the way of traffic, please contact Saint Paul Public Works - only after reporting the issue to the vendor - at 651-266-6100 or email publicworksinfo@ci.stpaul.mn.us (regular business hours only). 

   • City staff will not relocate scooters and bikes except in extraordinary circumstances.

2. Where can shared scooters and bikes be parked?

   Scooters and bikes can be parked within the boulevard of the public right of way, which is generally the space between the sidewalk and the curb. Scooters and bikes may be parked on paved or grass boulevards. Scooters and bikes are not permitted to block the adjacent sidewalks or streets and must maintain a minimum of a 5 foot pedestrian walkway at all times. Scooters and bikes cannot be parked in a way that blocks access to pedestrian ramps, fire hydrants, driveways, alleys, bus stops, doors, or other uses of the public right of way. Scooters and bikes must be upright when parked. Users are asked to use common sense and courtesy when parking the scooters and bikes to keep sidewalks usable and safe for everyone.

3. What are the rules of the road for scooter and bike users?

   Scooter and bike use is regulated by Minnesota State Statute 169.222, 169.223 and 169.225. Scooters and bikes are allowed to operate on any street, and users should ride on the right hand side of the street. Scooters and bikes are also allowed in bike lanes and bike trails.

4. Can people ride scooters and bikes on sidewalks?

   No! Riding motorized scooters and bikes on sidewalks is prohibited, except when it is necessary to enter or leave adjacent property. Please exercise care when parking the scooters and bikes in the boulevard area adjacent to the sidewalk.

5. Where can people ride scooters and bikes in Saint Paul?

   People can ride scooters and bikes anywhere in Saint Paul on city streets, bike paths, bike trails and bike lanes. Vendors are required to allow trips to start or stop anywhere within Saint Paul municipal boundaries, except in areas designated for no riding or no parking by the city. Riders should check the vendor apps to determine if a location is in a no ride or no park zone.

   Vendors may have agreements with neighboring cities that allow users to travel across the Saint Paul boundary.

6. Where can I find a scooter or bike to rent in Saint Paul?

   You will find scooters and bikes across Saint Paul, with a larger concentration in and around Downtown. The vendors are limited from placing all of their vehicles Downtown, and they are required to deploy vehicles throughout the city.

   To locate a scooter or bike near your location, use the vendor companies app, which can be downloaded for free.

7. Who can rent a shared scooter or bike?

   The city allows the  vendors to establish the terms of the rental agreement with scooter and bike users. Generally, the vendors require users to be 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license or ID, and have a debit/credit/prepaid payment card available.

8. How do you rent a shared scooter or bike?

   Users download apps created by the vendors on their smartphone to locate and rent the scooters and bikes.

   Users must create an account and enter into a rental agreement with the vendors, including entering payment information into the app. There are in-app instructions to walk users through the rental process. Generally, users use a map-based interface within the app to locate an available scooter or bike, scan the QR code on the scooter or bike, and begin the ride.

   Following the ride, users again use the app to end the rental agreement with the vendors. Typically, the app prompts users to take and submit a photograph of the scooter or bike parked in a correct manner to end the rental agreement. 

9. How much does it cost to rent a shared scooter or bike?

   Rental rates are determined independently by each vendor. The city does not regulate rental rates. Typically, vendors will charge a fee to unlock a scooter or bike in addition to a per minute fee for the duration of the ride. In Saint Paul, if the scooter or bike trip starts or ends in a park there could be an additional fee.

10. Are there programs to make the scooters and bikes affordable for all users?

    Yes, users with limited incomes may be eligible for Access programs, which offer reduced price rental rates. Each vendor has their own program. Visit the vendor's website for more information:

    Lime:   https://www.li.me/why/community/lime-access
    Spin:   https://www.spin.app/spin-access

11. When are scooters and bikes available to rent?

    The operating season in Saint Paul is typically from mid-April to mid-November each year. Vehicles that have a low charge or are damaged may not be available to rent, but for the most part a scooter or bike parked in the public right of way is available to rent.

12. How does a shared scooter and bike program benefit Saint Paul?

    Shared scooters and bikes are part of a larger, citywide effort to encourage safe, affordable, and sustainable ways for people to travel around the city. Residents and visitors benefit from having multiple options to choose from when traveling around Saint Paul. These shared scooters and bikes can provide an affordable alternative to driving, and can provide “last-mile” connections for transit users to get where they need to go.

    These types of alternatives to driving in motor vehicles are also part of Saint Paul’s work to meet the goals of the City's Climate Action and Resilience Plan, which includes targets for reducing the percentage of people traveling in single-occupancy vehicles and reduction in per-person vehicle miles traveled.

13. What is the agreement between the city and the scooter and bike vendors?

    The vendors must have an annual agreement with the City of Saint Paul, which specifies payments for each trip starting or ending in Saint Paul, as well as payment for trips that start or end in city parks. 

    The City uses these funds to help oversee the contracts with the  vendors and cover costs for materials related to the shared scooter and bike program. The agreements specify the details about when and where vehicles are allowed to operate, as well as what the roles and responsibilities are for the vendors and the city, respectively.

14. What data does the City get from the scooter companies?

    The City's annual operating agreements require that the vendors provide the City with trip data. This identifies where and how the shared vehicles are used. Trip data includes information such as the location of start/end points, route, and duration of each trip. The location data is rounded to a degree that maintains privacy for users. The City does not collect or receive any information identifying the users of scooters or bikes.

    2024 Shared Micromobility Report