Denver's Shared Bike and Scooter Program

• Operator Violation – Bikes or scooters deployed by Lime or Bird. Often deployed in groups of five or more. Damage to vehicles (such as flat tires, graffiti, broken kickstands, or other vehicle damage) is also an operator violation.

• User Violation – Bikes or scooters parked by riders after use. These are often parked in groups of one to three scooters or bicycles, rather than five or ten like when the operators deploy vehicles.

• Moving Violation – Any unlawful operation of a Lime or Bird scooter or bicycle. This includes behaviors such as sidewalk riding, riding against the flow of traffic, or disobeying signage or signals.

Why are scooters and bikes allowed to park in car parking spaces?
In Denver, city ordinance allows bikes and scooters to park where cars do in most cases. If the sidewalk is narrow or doesn't have a grassy area by the street, parking bikes or scooters on the street makes room for people walking or rolling along the sidewalk. Since bikes and scooters should usually be ridden in the street, parking them there can also discourage people from riding on sidewalks.

Why are bikes and scooters parked near my house between the street and sidewalk?
The area between the street and sidewalk is usually public property. Bikes and scooters can park there if they stand upright and are at least four (4) feet away from things like utility boxes. You can check Denver's Real Property Map to see if they're on public property.

Can the City set up a no-parking or no-riding zone on my property?
GPS isn't perfect, so banning parking or riding works better in open areas like parks and large parking lots. For small spaces or areas near tall buildings, bans might not work well and could unfairly stop people from using nearby public areas. To report scooters or bikes parked illegally, use the City's online form. If you have a designated parking area for them, the City can work with Lime and Bird to encourage riders to park there.

Why does Denver let these companies make money from public spaces?
Shared bikes and scooters help Denver lower car use and improve air quality. Although companies like Lime and Bird profit, they're required to offer free or discounted rides for residents who qualify based on income, which comes out of their earnings instead of City funds.

Why did the City take a car parking spot for bikes and scooters?
Denver has poor air quality, and a lot of it comes from driving. The City wants to encourage people to get around by modes other than driving, so it creates parking for bikes and scooters as alternatives. Sometimes, a car parking space is turned into bike or scooter parking because it's a better use of space — one car spot can fit 10-20 scooters or bikes.

What should I do after a crash with a Lime or Bird scooter or bike?
Call 911 or visit urgent care if anyone is hurt. Try to find out if it was a Lime (green, white, and black) or Bird (grey, blue, and black. Or orange/red and black) vehicle and file a police report. The police will need this info to identify the rider. Use the information below:

• Lime: https://lime.request.csdisco.com/intake-form

• Bird: subpoenas@bird.co (more info available here)

For privacy reasons, only law enforcement can request this info; requests from anyone else will not be granted.

Are shared bikes or scooters allowed on buses or trains?
No, but they're a cheap and eco-friendly way to travel to transit stops if walking is too far.

Where can I ride?
Scooters and bikes can be ridden on bike paths and most streets (except where signs say otherwise, such as on freeways). Keep in mind that it is illegal to ride on sidewalks unless you have just started or are about to end your ride (within that block).

Where can I park?
Riders can park in public property in places that don't block pedestrian or vehicle traffic. This includes wide sidewalks (be sure to leave at least five feet of width for people to walk or roll past), car parking spaces (except metered spaces, time-limited spaces, or those which require a permit, such as an accessible parking permit), public bike racks or corrals, and grassy areas between the street and the sidewalk.

Where can't I park?
Bike paths, private property, blocking pedestrian or automobile/bicycle/scooter traffic.

What is a mandatory parking zone?
A mandatory parking zone is an area where Lime and Bird scooters and bikes must be parked within a designated parking area. While you can generally park where you want (with the above restrictions in mind), in areas like downtown, devices can only be parked in designated areas to prevent sidewalks, driveways, or the street from being blocked.

What happens if I try to end my ride in a prohibited area?
The app will not allow you to end your ride.

What if I just leave my scooter and wait for the ride to automatically end?
You will be charged until the ride ends, and allowing a ride to end automatically may result in action against your account, potentially even suspension or termination.

In 2018, Denver launched a Shared Micromobility Pilot Program, which permitted electric scooters and bikes to operate in the public right-of-way. Through the pilot, DOTI observed that shared micromobility provided an effective opportunity to reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips, enhance people’s connections to transit and provide other ways to get around. Over the course of the pilot, over four million trips were taken in Denver, averaging over four thousand trips per day.

In 2021, Denver City Council approved the City to move ahead with licensing agreements for Lyft and Lime to operate scooter and bike share services.  As part of those agreements, Lyft and Lime will work with the city to install a combined 400+ parking stations.  The stations will create dedicated places for people to park their scooters and bikes to prevent crowding on sidewalks. In addition, Lyft and Lime will fund and partner with the City on a large-scale engagement plan to educate people on how to ride and where to park. Both companies will also offer steeply discounted rates for residents in need-based programs and offer other discounted ride opportunities for Denver residents.

More on the Licensing Agreements:

• Each company is required to provide a shared bike service, supplying bikes at a rate of 20% of their scooter fleet, at minimum (example: 1,500 scooters = 300 bikes).

• At least 30% of vehicles will be made available daily in communities that have historically been underinvested to increase their access to new transportation options, particularly focusing on areas with low vehicle ownership and high transit ridership.

• Vehicles must be equipped with “geofencing” technology that will automatically slow the vehicles when a rider enters a designated area where pedestrian volumes are known to be high – such as the 16th Street Mall, where scooters' and bicycles' speeds are restricted.

NOTE: In December 2024, Lyft was replaced by Bird.

The City of Denver has partnered with Lime and Bird to create designated parking corrals where riders can park bikes or scooters, including marked pavement boxes, signed parking corrals, racks and stations.