Spring Into Scooting Safely

Cruising across campus with the sun in your face and pollen in your hair on a 70-degree day might feel tempting after slogging through a winter of “snowcrete,” slush and mud.

But not so fast—literally.

To keep more than 50,000 people across campus safe amid a sea of e-scooters and e-bikes (as well as their manual counterparts), the Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) is reminding all University of Maryland community members to do their part. 

“Safety is a shared responsibility,” said Charlie Willson, assistant director of multimodal transportation initiatives and sustainability. “In the spring, we really see a rise in usage, so it’s important to stay vigilant and alert.”

UMD is an ideal location for micromobility, since the average distance of most trips is about a mile, said Willson. DOTS has increased the number of Veo vehicles available to 650, up from 400 last school year, and more than 1,600 off-campus residents have completed the required registration for their personal micromobility devices as well (on-campus residents can’t bring their own).

But UMD’s physical landscape has changed significantly over the past few years, led by Purple Line light-rail construction, including the installation of the first traffic light on campus, and the addition of bike lanes (which may be expanded further to improve connectivity to local trails). That’s why DOTS is reminding Terps of important safety guidelines rules, which now include a 15 mph speed limit for all vehicles. 

“The most important thing you can do is to be predictable. If you’re driving, use your signal. If you’re on a scooter, don’t try to pass stopped traffic,” Willson said. “Especially at intersections, you should be watching for other people. People will make mistakes, but if you’re going slow, you can limit any bad effects.”

Think you’ve got a grip on how to stay safe as you get around campus? Take a spin at our quiz!