Electric scooter restrictions pass Georgia House

A bill that would regulate motorized scooters in Georgia passed the state House of Representatives on Thursday.

House Bill 454 would prohibit users of scooter services like Bird and Lime from parking the devices on sidewalks and other places where they would obstruct pedestrians or vehicles. It also would allow anyone who encounters a device parked in a dangerous manner to move it.

The bill, approved on a 133-28 vote, would allow people to ride electric scooters on bike paths, in bike lanes and on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less if no bike lane or path is available.

It also includes provisions that would protect riders. For example, motorists would be required to yield to riders if they’re operating a device in a bike lane.

The bill wouldn’t pre-empt local regulations. It now advances to the state Senate.

Atlanta, Decatur and other cities have wrestled with how to regulate the devices, which began popping up on local sidewalks last spring.

—Staff writer Mark Niesse contributed to this article.