Q: I recently attended two Georgia State basketball games. I was stunned at the proliferation of scooters and the drivers’ total disregard for vehicle traffic and signal lights. Are scooters considered pedestrian traffic in crosswalks that require vehicles to stop, or must they adhere to same traffic laws as vehicles and motorcycles?
STEVE NARRIE, SNELLVILLE
A: A city of Atlanta ordinance applies to scooters, referred to as shareable dockless mobility devices and dockless mobility devices, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
The devices “may operate in vehicle travel lanes, in bike lanes, and along shared use paths throughout the city,” according to the ordinance. All applicable state and local laws should be followed, it notes.
A spokesman for the Atlanta Police Department confirmed to Q&A on the News that scooters have to obey traffic laws, such as stopping at stop signs and red lights.
The ordinance says those devices may be operated within city parks. They cannot be used on sidewalks or spaces solely for pedestrians.
When on a shared use path, the riders “must yield to pedestrians in all cases,” the ordinance notes.
Q&A on the News runs Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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