The electric scooter mania sweeping many big cities hasn’t motored through Buffalo yet. But that could potentially change under new legislation passed in Albany, which will soon allow cities and towns across the state to set their own rules for the devices.

Prior to this legislation, which is scheduled to take effect this year, both electric scooters and bikes were technically banned from public thoroughfares. That has stalled their deployment in New York State, even as they’ve swarmed streets in cities such as San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Nashville.

Here are answers to seven big questions about the new legislation, the scooter debate, and how it may play out in our region.

What is an electric scooter? (Or an electric bike, for that matter?)

Both electric bikes and scooters are motorized vehicles that do some of the work for their rider. Electric scooters have standing platforms and handlebars. (Think Razor, not Vespa.) Electric bikes, on the other hand, come in two main varieties: pedal-assist and throttle-controlled, which differ in how and how much they help the rider pedal.