House Scoots Electric Scooter Bill To Senate

Indiana House lawmakers overwhelmingly approved legislation Wednesday to create some regulations for electric scooters.

The bill largely lets local communities set out rules for the burgeoning industry.

Rep. Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville) rode a scooter down the House chamber aisle to present his bill. He says the measure largely treats scooters like bicycles.

“Allow them to operate on streets and bike lanes, not sidewalks. Allow them to be parked on sidewalks," Eberhart says. "And this is important – exempt them from title and registration.”

The measure does require scooters to have brakes. And it says they must have lamps on the front and back if they're used at night.

Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) was one of only three legislators to vote against the bill. He says that’s in part because they’re a divisive issue in his community.

“Whether they are the greatest scourge ever descended upon us since the locusts or whether they are the greatest mode of transportation ever created,” Pierce says.

Pierce says he worries the bill doesn’t provide enough flexibility for local rule-making. The measure now goes to the Senate.