Stop the E Bike and Scooter Chaos in D.C. — Demand Real Parking Rules Now!

Tell DDOT: No More Sidewalk Dumping. Enforce Parking Hubs Like Paris and London.

 

 

Petitioning: District Department of Transportation (DDOT)

Created by: Save 28th Street and Georgetown Coalition for Public Spaces 

The Problem

Every day across Washington, D.C., shared scooters and e-bikes are dumped across sidewalks, curb ramps, private property, and crosswalks—blocking access for seniors, wheelchair users, parents with strollers, and pedestrians. It’s dangerous. It’s chaotic. And it’s completely preventable.

While other cities around the world have implemented strict parking regulations and in-app enforcement to clean up their streets, D.C. continues to allow a Wild West approach to micromobility. Riders can end trips anywhere—on any sidewalk, in front of any home, on any block—no accountability required.

Other Cities Have Solved This

Cities like Paris, London, Berlin, and Singapore now require riders to park in designated “parking hubs”, using GPS geo-fencing in the scooter apps. If a user tries to end their ride outside of a hub, they simply can’t—the app won’t allow it.

In Paris, for example, Lime and other operators comply with strict city mandates. The result? Safe sidewalks, clear crossings, and a livable public realm.

Meanwhile in D.C., scooters are left to rot on sidewalks, and the city shrugs.

This failure is inexcusable given that DDOT already has the legal authority to regulate these issues. The 2024 Dockless Vehicle Sharing Program Terms and Conditions require that devices be “parked upright and outside of the pedestrian path of travel” and not block crosswalks, driveways, bus stops, or ADA access (Section 3.4)¹. The permit also gives DDOT the power to mandate geo-fencing, end-of-trip photo verification, and ride termination restrictions outside approved zones (Section 4.2.e)².

Cities like Paris and London use these exact tools. In those cities, riders cannot end a trip unless they park in a designated hub. Their apps won’t allow it. Operators comply because regulators enforce it. In D.C., DDOT simply doesn’t require these safeguards—so the apps remain permissive, and our sidewalks remain obstructed.

Bottom line: The technology exists. The policy tools exist. What’s missing is will and enforcement.

Our Sidewalks Are Not Scooter Graveyards

We’re calling on DDOT to step up and fix this. Stop leaving it to the scooter companies. The technology already exists—the city just needs the will to use it.

We Demand That DDOT:

✅ Require mandatory geo-fenced parking hubs for all e-scooters and e-bikes.

✅ Enforce in-app compliance—no parking hub, no ride end.

✅ Impose fines and permit penalties for companies that fail to enforce rules.

✅ Ensure equitable parking hub distribution and ADA-compliant zones.

✅ Publish monthly transparency reports on parking compliance.

✅ Align the entire program with Vision Zero and public safety goals.

Enough is Enough.

DC residents deserve clean, accessible sidewalks—just like Londoners and Parisians. Let’s bring real order, safety, and dignity back to our streets.

Sign now to demand that DDOT overhaul its scooter and e-bike rules to match international standards.

Together, we can fix this.

✍️ Add your name and help us reclaim our sidewalks.