UT-Austin Issues New E-Scooter Use Rules

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Starting this week, the speed on electric scooters at the University of Texas at Austin campus will be calibrated to not exceed 8 miles per hour as part of a set of new policies dictating use of the devices.

In a notice to staff and students, the university's Parking and Transportation Services Departmentsaid affected scooters — from Bird, Lime, Lyft and Jump — will operate at the reduced speeds in critical areas of campus, not achieving their full 15-mile-per-hour capabilities. The university has installed signs throughout the campus alerting to the reduced speed zones.

Officials provided a map of the from the school's Parking and Transportation Services Department showing the areas of campus will speeds will be reduced, an area encompassing much of the main campus. Areas outside that core will allow for higher scooter speeds, according to the map.

Scooter providers are able to reduce speeds on their two-wheeled vehicles within specific boundaries through the use of GPS technology in a process called "geofencing."

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University officials explained the lowered speed limits are an offshoot of recommendations made by a campus work group for the spring 2019 semester. Another scooter-related recommendation involves creation of scooter parking zones in 10 areas of the campus, officials said. In addition, UT-Austin officials reiterated that e-scooters are only allowed where bicycle traffic is currently permitted.

Scooters along Guadalupe Street, not far from UT-Austin. Photo by Tony Cantú/Patch staff.