Scoot Smart, Wolfpack!
Get to know more about using these devices on campus and best safety practices
Micromobility devices like electric scooters have become a fast, convenient, and eco-friendly way to get around campus—but because they’re relatively new, consistent rules and regulations haven’t yet caught up at the city or state level. To help keep our community safe and ensure scooters remain a positive part of campus life, we’ve developed a set of best practices for NC State scooter riders.
E-scooter riding on NC State’s campus has exploded in just a short time. A study by Dr. Nicole Odell found that students took about 15,000 rides in Spring 2023 and 30,000 rides in Fall 2023—basically doubling in one semester. Fast-forward to the current year, and campus scooters have been used over 215,000 times.
To put that in perspective: what used to be a few full residence halls’ worth of rides per semester has now grown into the equivalent of the entire student body hopping on scooters multiple times each. Scooters have gone from a small convenience to a major part of how students get around our campus.
Read Before You Ride
Before your ride, take a moment to review the key guidelines and safety information below. This section provides a brief overview of important rules and best practices to help you ride safely and responsibly on campus. Comprehensive details and additional guidance about scooter safety are available under Best Practices for Scooting and Following Traffic Laws.
- Wear a helmet
- Stop at stop signs and red lights
- Ride with a removable strobe light
- Remove headphones when riding
- One person per scooter
- Avoid parking scooter in walkways
Best Practices for Scooting
Whether you’re renting a scooter for a quick ride to class or using your own personal device, these guidelines will help you ride responsibly, protect yourself and others, and make our campus safer for everyone.
Safety Gear
- Wear a helmet: Wearing a helmet is essential because it significantly reduces the risk of serious head injuries in the event of a fall or collision.
- Be visible at night: Carry a removable front/back flashing light for riding after dark.
Where to Ride
- Ride in bike lanes, not sidewalks: Use designated bike lanes on main roads like Hillsborough St, Western Blvd., and Varsity Drive. Scooter riders have a higher chance of colliding with a pedestrian on a sidewalk instead of a bike lane.
- Ride at reduced speeds: When riding on inner campus roads like Sullivan Dr., Cates Ave., or Main Campus Dr., ride on roads (not sidewalks) at reduced speeds, with the flow of traffic.
- Give pedestrians plenty of space: We know that riding scooters on campus walkways (like the Brickyard and the Court of Carolina) is unavoidable. If no bike lane is available, ride at reduced speeds, give pedestrians lots of space, and avoid riding during congested times.
- Avoid unpaved areas: Riding on uneven pavement increases the risk of collisions and falls.
Riding Safely
- Ride sober: Never drink and drive a scooter. DUI laws apply to electric scooters, just like cars and bicycles.
- One person per scooter: Electric scooters are designed for one rider only. Never carry passengers.
- Remove headphones: Hearing traffic sounds and pedestrians around you is essential for safe riding.
- Be mindful of weather impacts: Rainy and wet conditions can make for slippery roads and sidewalks.
- Drive calmly and cautiously: Avoid any erratic moves on a scooter.
- Walk your scooter on ramps and in tunnels: Ramps and tunnels are often narrow, steep, or crowded, and riding increases the risk of colliding with others.
After the Ride
- Park responsibly: Don’t block sidewalks, building entrances, or accessibility ramps when you are finished riding.
- No charging personal scooters in campus buildings: Devices may not be charged in university parking garages or in other University buildings without an approved accessibility request via Disability Resource Office, Office of Equal Opportunity and/or University Human Resources.
Following Traffic Laws
- Stop at all stop signs and red lights
- Ride in the same direction as traffic
- Follow posted speed limits
Road Rules
Before you start riding, it helps to know the different kinds of paths you’ll come across on campus. Each space is designed for different types of traffic — and each comes with its own set of expectations and rules. Understanding where you are and how it’s meant to be used is the first step to riding safely.
- Main roads: Public streets meant for cars, buses, and other vehicles, that usually have traffic lights, stop signs, and painted lanes. Ex.: Hillsborough Street or Dan Allen Dr.
- Sharrows: A regular car lane that’s marked with a bike symbol to show that bikes and scooters can use it too. Cars and scooters share the same space—there’s no separate bike lane. Ex.: A street where you see painted bike symbols in the middle of the lane.
- Sidewalks: Concrete paths next to roads meant mainly for people walking. They often run along campus buildings and parking lots. Ex.: The sidewalk along Varsity Drive or by Talley Student Union.
- Walkways: Paths designed just for walking, often running through the center of campus between buildings. These are usually tighter spaces with lots of foot traffic. Ex.: The paths between Bragaw, DH Hill Library, or the Court of North Carolina.
- Greenways: Wide, paved trails separate from roads that are meant for walking and biking. They’re surrounded by trees or lawns and usually feel quieter and more scenic. Ex.: The Rocky Branch Trail near Centennial Campus.
Resources
- Accidents – If you’re ever involved in an accident or incident while riding an e-scooter, the first step is to contact NC State University Police at 919.515.3000. Even if you don’t call right away but later start feeling hurt, dizzy, or just “off,” make contact as soon as quickly as possible.
- Safety Videos – Check out the safety videos on the “Safety First” page from SPIN. The videos teach the basics like wearing a helmet, riding solo, following traffic laws, using bike lanes (not sidewalks), watching out for pedestrians and cars, and parking responsibly so walkways stay clear.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to Jill Willett, Graduate Student in the Master of Education in Higher Education Administration program here at NC State for all of her work with the Scoot Safe campaign.