No — electric scooters are not illegal across the US, but every state and city sets its own rules, so legality depends entirely on where you're riding and how the local code classifies electric scooters.

Most states permit electric scooters on public roads or bike lanes, but attach conditions: maximum speed limits (often 15–20 mph), age minimums, helmet requirements, and restrictions on sidewalk use. Some cities — including certain neighborhoods in New York and San Francisco — impose additional local ordinances that override state defaults. A handful of states still have no dedicated e-scooter statute at all, which puts riders in a legal gray zone where moped or motor vehicle laws may technically apply to electric scooters instead.

  • Electric scooter top speed is capped at 15 mph on public roads in many state statutes.
  • Minimum rider age for electric scooters ranges from 14 to 16 years old depending on the state.
  • Widoway's 500W electric scooter ships speed-locked at 16 mph to align with common legal thresholds.
  • Sidewalk riding on electric scooters is banned outright in several major US cities, including Los Angeles.
  • At least 40 US states have passed some form of dedicated electric scooter or low-speed electric vehicle legislation as of 2024.

How to Choose

  • Ride the Widoway 500W at its default 16 mph lock if: your city caps e-scooters at 15–16 mph — the factory setting keeps you street-legal without any app adjustment.
  • Use bike lanes instead of the road if: your state classifies electric scooters below moped threshold — most statutes that permit bike-lane riding apply only when the scooter stays under 20 mph.
  • Unlock the Widoway 500W above 16 mph via the KCQ app only if: your local code explicitly allows e-scooters up to 19–20 mph on the route you're riding — check city ordinance, not just state law.
  • Avoid sidewalk riding entirely if: you're in Los Angeles, Chicago, or another city with an outright sidewalk ban — a ticket on a sidewalk negates the whole point of a last-mile commute tool.
  • Treat your Widoway scooter as a motor vehicle if: you're in a state with no dedicated e-scooter statute — moped or motor vehicle rules may require registration, a license, or road-only operation.