Phoenix sets minimum age of 16 for electric scooters and e‑bikes after council debate

The Phoenix City Council adopted an ordinance on Dec. 18 updating city code to set the minimum age to operate electric scooters and electric bicycles at 16 years old.

Staff said the recommendation reflects peer city practice and noted the city’s prior ordinance had been at 16 before it was changed to 18. “We looked at a lot of our peer cities… the majority of them had the age of 16,” a staff member told council members during the hearing.

Councilwoman O’Brien urged colleagues to consider lowering the age to 14 to provide transportation options for high‑school students, saying some students begin high school at 14 and that districts and school choice can create long travel distances. “Most high schoolers are 14 their freshman year,” she said, asking council to consider access to micro‑mobility for students.

Other council members raised safety concerns and vendor constraints. Staff explained that private e‑scooters and e‑bikes would be eligible at a lower age but that shared vendors often require riders to be 18 because of insurance and liability rules. Several members said their districts had seen accidents involving younger riders and favored maintaining 16 for safety reasons.

Council members voted to approve the ordinance setting the minimum age at 16; the motion passed on roll call.