Dockless bikes! Smart bikes! Electric bikes! Scooters! Los Angeles is flooded with new options for getting around—they’re part of a new breed of transportation called “micromobility.”

These small vehicles are being touted as replacements for cars: They’re shared, sometimes electric-powered, easier to park, and take up less space on roads.

As these new bikes, e-bikes, and scooters made their way onto LA streets starting in 2017, the debate about whether these modes are sidewalk nuisances or gridlock saviors has dominated the narrative. LA lawmakers have passed regulations that allow companies with permits to operate in the city, and other Southern California cities, including Santa Monica, Long Beach, and Culver City, are implementing forward-thinking policies that might portend a real shift in the way Angelenos get around.

Since the the availability of these micromobility services as well as the regulations vary widely from city to city—and change dramatically from week to week—it’s important to learn what you’re in for before you get scootin’ or pedalin’. Here’s our guide for how to ride, where to go, and what you need to know.

Where can I ride dockless scooters?

The Metro Electric Bike pilot program debuted yesterday. 10 pedal assisted, electric bikes are available to all bike share riders. Find the bikes with the green icon in the app and website and ride the bikes for no extra charge during the pilot period! https://t.co/0hfgKhpNPo pic.twitter.com/XROcrl9INz — Metro Bike (@BikeMetro) November 9, 2018

If you want to take a dockless scooter for a ride, they’re now found throughout the city. But you’ll have the best variety as well as safety infrastructure for riding in Santa Monica.

On September 18, 2018 Santa Monica launched a new pilot program with four operators—Bird, Lime, Lyft, and Uber—managing the city’s e-bike and scooter share.

In addition to scooters from Bird and Lime, Uber launched Jump electric bikes in the city, and in October, launched Jump scooters.

Ride-hailing giant Lyft also debuted its scooters in Santa Monica along with an update to its app that helps users locate the scooters and get public transportation information. Lyft also acquired Motivate, the country’s largest bike-share operator, and will soon be debuting an e-bike in Santa Monica.

You can also look for scooters in Culver City, which is operating a pilot program, too. Long Beach, which has great riding infrastructure, also has its own scooter pilot.

Although many scooters have been migrating eastward from the beach, the problem with riding most places in LA is that there just aren’t enough protected lanes for riders to feel safe.

This is why many people choose to ride scooters on the sidewalk, even though you’re not supposed to. But sidewalk-riding can be dangerous for you, other users of the sidewalk, and cars pulling out of driveways that don’t expect to see someone whizzing by at 15 mph.

Where can’t I ride dockless scooters?

On September 4, 2018, the city of LA passed regulations on dockless systems, and in March 2019 began allowing companies with permits to put e-bikes and scooters on LA streets. The largest number of vehicles are found on LA’s Westside, Hollywood, Koreatown, and Downtown. Check out the app Scooter Map to see what’s near you.

The companies have detailed no-drop zones designated by the city where you can’t park vehicles, which are clearly marked in the apps. Be vigilant when ending your ride. If you see a vehicle parked improperly or try to use a vehicle that’s broken, you can report it using 311.

The city of Beverly Hills has made dockless electric scooters illegal—you can’t even ride one through city limits, so steer clear. The no-ride zone is clearly marked in all the apps, and riders are being ticketed. West Hollywood has banned the parking of scooters within city limits, but you’re allowed to ride through the city to get somewhere else.

Redesigning our @santamonicacity streets for a multi-modal future.

First in-street drop zone for e-scooters & e-bikes. pic.twitter.com/bjRI0qOsBS — Rick Cole (@SaMoCole) November 2, 2018

In Santa Monica, the city has put together a guide for riders. Avoid the beach path, where electric scooters of any type are not allowed. Riders are being ticketed and scooters impounded. Also, you cannot ride on the sidewalks anywhere in California, but in Santa Monica it’s heavily enforced. In downtown Santa Monica there are now designated in-street “drop zones” for scooters as well.

Get to know your local micromobility options Dockless bikes: These are shared pedal bikes that don’t need to be “docked” at a station. You really can leave them anywhere that’s deemed to be accessible and safe. They just need to be parked in a way that’s not blocking the road, crosswalk, or sidewalk.

Who to ride in LA: Lime Dockless electric bikes: Shared electric bikes are like dockless bikes with a kick—these bikes use an electric motor that can boost your pedaling up to 15 mph. Also known as e-bikes, electric-assist bikes, and pedal-assist bikes.

Who to ride in LA: Jump, Lime-E Dockless throttle electric bikes: These are shared dockless vehicles that you can sit on like a bike, but they don’t have pedals. To navigate, you operate the throttle in the same way you operate a scooter.

Who to ride in LA: Wheels Smart bikes: Smart bikes are like dockless bikes but have a lock-to system that’s integrated into the bike. They don’t have to be docked in designated hubs—for a small surcharge, you can lock the bike anywhere within the system’s limits.

Who to ride in LA: Breeze Bike Share, WeHo Pedals, Beverly Hills Bike Share, Bruin Bike Share, Long Beach Bike Share, Metro Bike on the westside only Station-based bike share: This is the traditional model for bike share where you must dock the bike in one of the hubs. No app is needed, and you can use your TAP card to check one out.

Who to ride in LA: Metro Bike Station-based electric bikes: The same hub-based bikes-sharing system, but with electric bikes. Metro Bike currently has a dozen or so on the streets in LA—they’re white, so easy to spot.

Who to ride in LA: Metro Bike Dockless electric scooters: These are the scooters everyone’s talking about. They’re powered by electric motors that you control with a throttle.

Who to ride in LA: Lime, Jump, Bird, Jump, Lyft, Spin, Razor

How far can I ride them?

As far as you want—kind of.

Technically you could ride Metro Bike anywhere you want as long as you dock it at a station when you’re done. You’ll just be charged for the time.

Similarly, the Bike Share Connect network, which encompasses much of the Westside, has very explicit boundaries outlined for where you can lock up its smart bikes. If you lock up a bike outside of the boundary, you’ll be charged $20.

For electric scooters and electric bikes, you’re limited to geographic zones as noted in the app, or however long the battery lasts. Or until you reach the Santa Monica Mountains, whichever comes first.

Do I need to wear a helmet?

If you’re under 18, yes. Otherwise, check local laws.

A state law was passed in September 2018 that makes helmet use on scooters optional for anyone over 18. California cities will be able to set their own laws in 2019, although none in LA County have made such laws yet.

If you’re riding bike share or a shared e-bike, helmets are only required by law if you’re 17 or under. (If you’re 17 and under you’re not allowed to ride a shared electric scooter.)

Based on the types of injuries associated with people riding an unfamiliar transportation mode, a helmet is not a bad idea, especially if you’re riding on busy streets. If you register on Bird or Lime’s app, they’ll send you one for free.

Do I need any other gear?

Not really. The great part about the design of these bikes and scooters is that they’re designed to be used in regular clothes, even suits, skirts, and dresses. To minimize the potential of your toes getting scraped, you probably don’t want to wear sandals or flip flops, although a lot of people do.

All the bike share bikes have big baskets on the front of them where you can stash your belongings so you don’t even need a special type of bag or purse. Lime and Jump’s bikes have smartphone holders. Some scooters, like Razor’s seated ones, have a basket.

What apps do I need to download?

For most of LA’s micromobility options you’ll need to download an app to locate, unlock, and pay for your rides. To make the most of what LA has to offer, we suggest downloading these apps that will give you a range of options across the region.

Lime: The most expansive of the dockless companies, Lime has pedal bikes, electric-assist bikes, and dockless scooters across a very wide geographic area.

Bird: The Santa Monica-based startup has scooters to rent.

Spin: Yet another startup with scooters, which was bought by Ford.

Razor: Yes, the scooter of your youth now has dockless electric scooters.

Metro Bike: LA’s station-based system has hubs in Downtown, the Port of LA, and Venice. It’s easily the best way to get around Downtown. You can’t pay for rides on the app, but you can register your TAP card to pay for rides that way. You can also pay for walk-up rides at the station kiosks using a credit card.

Social Bicycles: Last year, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and UCLA merged their smart bike systems into the single Bike Share Connect network. Now you can use one bike booked through one app to ride from Hollywood to the beach and a fairly wide area in between. This app will give you access to the entire Bike Share Connect network, from Santa Monica to West Hollywood. You can also ride Long Beach’s bike share using the Social Bicycles app.

Uber: Yes, Uber is best known as a way to book rides in cars. But the app now shows Jump electric bikes and scooters where available.

Jump: The e-bike company that’s part of Uber also has its own app to find bikes and scooters.

Lyft: The ride-hailing app now offers directions to its scooters—and eventually its e-bikes—as well as public transit.

Transit: The trip-planning app can locate nearby dockless bikes and scooters, and provide a detailed multimodal itinerary as well as travel time estimates.

How much do bikes and scooters cost to rent?

Generally, all the systems cost $1 to $2 per ride, with additional fees based on the length—as in time—of your trip. There are also monthly and annual plans, and plans for students and employers.

Once you register for each service through an app, you’ll link a credit card to your account, which bills you every time you complete a ride.

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All the bike share and scooter companies also have options for subsidized passes. These require applications and eligibility is based on income restrictions. Some also have passes for people who don’t use credit cards. Lime offers a local program where qualified members can get 100 pedal-bike rides for $5.

Can I use my Metro TAP card?

For Metro Bike and Bike Share Connect, yes! When you register your Metro Bike membership on your TAP card, it makes it especially easy to tap out a bike—you won’t even have to use an app. Registered TAP cards also work for Bike Share Connect smart bikes.

The biggest news for Metro Bike is that fares have been slashed to $1.75 per trip, meaning rides are now the same cost as taking a Metro bus or train. Plus, since your Metro Bike account can be linked to your TAP card, you’ll soon be able to “transfer” from bus or rail to a bike, and vice versa, saving you even more money.

What’s up Long Beach! Come find us pic.twitter.com/kW1AMNGfhq — RazorShare (@RazorShare) November 20, 2018

Can I ride my bike or scooter on the sidewalk?

If you’re riding a bike, technically, yes—in some cities in LA County. Use this LADOT guide to see where sidewalk-riding is allowed.

Most people don’t know this but riding a bike on the sidewalk is legal in the city of LA. The city acknowledges that sometimes the sidewalk is the safest place to ride on a busy street, and allows it, as long as bike riders do not endanger pedestrians.

California law says you can’t ride an electric scooter on the sidewalk. A bill tried to change that to make the law similar to bikes. But a lot of people do ride on the sidewalk because there aren’t safe places to ride. When in doubt, walk the bike or scooter.

How do I find the safest place to ride?

Google Maps and the trip-planning apps Transit and Citymapper have decent bike and scooter directions, but the bigger challenge across the LA region is the lack of infrastructure—there are major gaps in the bike route network and few protected lanes.

A handful of LA-area cities like Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and Long Beach have better infrastructure for biking and scooting.

Also, be vigilant about potholes and uneven pavement. Bike share bikes are fairly sturdy and can handle a bumpy, unpredictable road. Scooters have tiny wheels and low clearance and you’ll very likely bottom out. Do not ride the scooters downhill—you won’t be able to stop.

Can I take a dockless bike or scooter on the train?

No, you’re not supposed to. But along many lines, and especially on the Expo Line, most stations have a variety of micromobility options to choose from once you get off.

Can I ride at night?

Yes, you can ride bikes at night. All of the bike share bikes in LA have pedal-powered lights that activate as you ride. Some scooters do have lights but some are taken off the streets to charge them.

Why do I need a drivers’ license to ride a scooter?

Good question. This is perhaps the most incongruous state law to govern what should be a smart alternative to driving, but, in the state of California you must have a valid driver’s license to operate an electric scooter. The apps will make you check a box or scan your license before you ride.

For bike share, riders must be 16 and over. Scooter share riders must be 18 and over.

What’s the difference between dockless and docked bike share?

Since late 2017, a half-dozen dockless companies have deployed their bikes and e-bikes on LA-area streets. While traditional “docked” bike-share systems require that bikes be parked in stations where riders can find them, “dockless” bikes use GPS technology and smartphone apps to help riders locate bikes. In the cities that allow them, they don’t have to be locked to anything, and there are no designated pick-up spots or drop-off points.

Some cities in LA have “smart bikes,” which are also located by app on a smartphone, but they can’t just be left anywhere, they need to be locked. Riders can lock them to designated hubs for no extra cost, or to any public bike rack for a slightly higher fee. On the Westside, the city’s bike share operator, Metro Bike, uses smart bikes that don’t need to be parked in hubs. The same smart bikes will soon be launched in North Hollywood.

Micromobility companies operating in the LA area have also started offering electric bikes and electric scooters, which are dockless as well. These can also be found using apps, which display the location as well as the current battery life (the scooters and bikes get charged at night and put back on streets).

What’s the difference between a pedal bike and an electric bike?

LA’s hills, mild climate, and long distances make it a perfect candidate for electric bikes. These are bikes with electric motors that offer what’s known as “pedal assist,” meaning you get a boost while you pedal—up to 20 mph—but if you stop pedaling, the bike slows just like it would on a regular bike.

Jump, which is owned by Uber, can be found throughout Santa Monica where its e-bikes are part of a pilot program, as well as in the City of Los Angeles as of mid-November. The bright red bikes are technically electric smart bikes since they can be locked to racks. Lime has a limited number of dockless electric bikes on LA streets that don’t have locks.

The Metro Electric Bike pilot program debuted yesterday. 10 pedal assisted, electric bikes are available to all bike share riders. Find the bikes with the green icon in the app and website and ride the bikes for no extra charge during the pilot period! https://t.co/0hfgKhpNPo pic.twitter.com/XROcrl9INz — Metro Bike (@BikeMetro) November 9, 2018

In November 2018, Metro Bike debuted electric bikes as part of its docked bike share system. For a limited time, the bikes are available to rent for the same price as pedal bikes, and can be checked out and returned to any hub. They can be located through Metro Bike app, but they’re also white, making them easy to spot. Metro Bike plans to have at least 300 e-bikes spread across the network.

What’s next for LA’s micromobility scene?

Watch for traditional station-based systems experimenting with options beyond pedal bikes. And many cities are looking at adding bikes that can serve a wide variety of users. In Detroit, MoGo bike share launched a fleet of adaptive bikes including recumbent bikes, tandems, and cargo bikes.