University Bans Electric Scooters for On-Campus Residents

As of August 1, 2025, the University of Maryland (UMD) has banned personal electric micromobility vehicles, including electric scooters, for students living on campus. This means people, including students, can’t bring their own e-scooter on campus. At first glance, this rule catches a lot of people by surprise. Some students say they’re relieved; fewer scooters mean fewer chaotic sidewalks, fewer obstruction issues, and fewer worries about safety issues. Others are frustrated. For those who bought a scooter to make getting around campus easier (especially for those with mobility or health issues), the ban feels sudden and burdensome.

UMD, alma mater of Nick Verderame, says the decision came after more than a year of work by their “micromobility workgroup,” which reviewed how electric micro-vehicles fit into the campus infrastructure, safety, and policies. Part of the concern is reports of lithium-ion battery fires and repeated incidents of scooters being impounded or creating safety hazards in campus buildings. They also cited the charging infrastructure: there are few places on campus for safe charging, and dorms and buildings aren’t well-equipped to handle that many scooters plugged in.

Why are electric scooters so dangerous?

UMD’s new policy highlights risks that others have already documented. The following are some common issues that often come up in scooter-related injury reports. These are things that students and institutions need to think about carefully:

• Brake failures. One of the clearest risks of electric scooters is when the brakes don’t work as expected. Whether because of poor maintenance, design defects, or material wear and tear, brakes sometimes fail to slow the scooter down quickly enough, or fail entirely in some situations. In steep or downhill areas, that delay or failure can lead to serious loss of control or collisions.
• Throttle malfunctions. Sometimes the throttle can get stuck (meaning that the scooter continues to accelerate even when the rider lets go), or it misbehaves in a way that causes a sudden surge of speed. This can be dangerous, especially when pedestrians are nearby or when the rider isn’t expecting speed changes.
• Mechanical failures. Things like loose handlebars, collapsing stems (the pole holding the handlebars), or baseboards (the foot deck) cracking can occur. When these parts fail, they often lead to falls or a loss of control.
• Battery fire risk. Lithium-ion batteries power almost all modern electric scooters. They’re efficient, but when they’re damaged or poorly built, they can overheat or even catch on fire. UMD’s decision is partly motivated by these fire concerns.
• Inadequate safety gear. Even when the equipment works correctly, many riders don’t wear helmets. Studies show that head injuries are among the most common and most dangerous outcomes of scooter accidents. Without helmet protection, what could have been a mild concussion or scrape can become something much more serious.
• Interaction with pedestrians and infrastructure. Scooters mix with foot traffic, stairs, uneven sidewalks, obstacles, parked bikes, and narrow walkways. When riders are using scooters, or when students aren’t educated enough about safe riding (like speed, yielding, and pedestrian awareness), the risk of hitting or tripping someone increases. Also, low visibility (like nighttime or bad weather) can compound the problem.
• Lack of regulation and maintenance. Scooter companies and individual scooter owners don’t always maintain their vehicles well. Sometimes, devices are defective, or sometimes software and hardware are out of spec. Also, many user agreements attempt to limit liability, which can complicate things for injured parties.

What does the UMD scooter ban mean for students and the community?

Given these stated risks, UMD’s move to ban personal scooters on campus for residents could seem harsh to some. However, it does have logic. Here are some possible benefits and downsides.

Potential benefits include:

• If fewer off-spec scooters are around, the chances of malfunction or accidents drop.
• With fewer lithium-ion batteries being stored, charged, or used inside dorms and shared spaces, the risk of fires is lower.
• Scooters can block hallways, entrances, ramps, and sidewalks. A ban helps maintain safer traveling for everyone.
• Pedestrian traffic, classes, and campus safety work better when micromobility is managed rather than chaotic.

What are other places doing to combat this problem?

UMD isn’t alone in facing scooter-related issues. Across the United States, many universities, cities, and municipalities are dealing with how to allow micromobility in ways that are safe, fair, and sustainable. Here are some models or ideas that might help UMD or any school thinking about similar policies:

• Provide time for students to adjust, register their vehicles, upgrade to safer models, or switch to shared services.
• Require certain safety features (like good brakes, proper throttle control, lights, reflectors, and helmet use) for permitted scooters. The school could consider approving or certifying particular models.
• Whether for personal scooters or shared fleets, implement regular maintenance and inspections (checking brakes, throttle, stem, battery status, etc.).
• More charging stations, parking zones, injury-safe design in walkways, better lighting, and bike/scooter lanes.
• Teach riders (especially beginners) how to ride safely, how to maintain their device, and not to ride under unsafe conditions.

Arizona laws on personal injury and electric scooters

Arizona state law classifies electric scooters similarly to bicycles. However, local cities like Phoenix or Tempe may have their own specific rules about where these scooters can be ridden, like restrictions on sidewalks or downtown areas. Riders must follow traffic laws, obey signals, and yield to pedestrians, just like bicyclists. Although helmets aren’t legally required for adults, wearing one is strongly encouraged, especially since head injuries are one of the most common injuries in scooter accidents.

Arizona follows a pure comparative negligence rule in personal injury claims. Under this policy, if you experience injuries in a scooter accident, you can still recover damages from another negligent party who contributed to the injuries, even if you were partly at fault. For example, if a car driver hit you while you were riding a scooter, but you weren’t in a designated bike lane, the court could reduce your compensation based on your percentage of blame. In cases like these, it’s important to have a personal injury lawyer review the facts and determine who might be legally responsible, including drivers, scooter manufacturers, or even the city or campus, if poor road conditions played a role in the accident.

Arizona law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, but just one year if you are suing a public entity. This may seem like plenty of time, but these cases can take a while to investigate, especially if you’re dealing with injuries, insurance adjusters, or defective equipment. If you’ve been hurt on a scooter, it’s important to act quickly in order to gather evidence and understand your legal rights. Our personal injury lawyers can help you figure out your options, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue the compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one were injured in an electric scooter accident, whether due to a malfunction, a careless driver, or unsafe driving conditions, don’t wait. Call the personal injury attorneys at Plattner Verderame Arizona Injury Lawyers for a free consultation, or fill out our contact form to get in touch. We’ve handled cases involving defective lithium-ion batteries, and we’re here to help you understand your legal rights and fight for the compensation to which you’re entitled for your injuries and losses.