National parks could fine-tune hoverboard and e-scooter access

By Michael Doyle | 01/15/2025 04:21 PM EST

Park superintendents could get more say over how to regulate so-called micromobility devices.

A man rides a scooter by a flagpole at the WWII Memorial along the National Mall in Washington on Jan. 6, 2022.

A man rides a scooter by a flagpole at the World War II Memorial along the National Mall in Washington on Jan. 6, 2022. Jacquelyn Martin/AP

The rules of the road could now be rewritten for hoverboards and their transportation kin in national parks.

Citing the examples of e-scooters, hoverboards and Segways, the National Park Service on Wednesday proposed changing the rules that govern how the so-called micromobility devices will be managed on the agency’s lands. Individual park superintendents could end up with more say over what’s permitted and where.

“Superintendents could tailor these conditions to the characteristics of the designated locations to minimize impacts to resources and other visitors,” the park service stated.

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For example, park superintendents could limit the size of powered micromobility devices on sidewalks or limit their speed.

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