E-Scooters on the Shoreline Bike Path: Rules of the Road for 2025–2026

Long Beach’s 12-month e-scooter pilot opened the Shoreline Pedestrian Bike Path to both private and shared e-scooters on May 24, 2025, with clear operating rules designed to keep riders, walkers, joggers, and cyclists safe.

The pilot covers designated portions of the path between Alamitos Avenue and 54th Place and requires e-scooters to stay in the bike lane, not on pedestrian walkways. The City posted new signs, enabled geofenced “slow zones,” and set speed rules that align with California law.

If you plan to ride in 2025–2026, use the guide below to stay compliant and courteous.

Where You Can Ride: Designated Areas Only

During the pilot, you may ride an e-scooter on designated portions of the Shoreline Pedestrian Bike Path, but only within the marked bike lane. Riding on the adjacent pedestrian walkway is not allowed. The City’s pilot announcement makes this separation explicit and notes that signs along the route direct riders to the correct side of the shared facility.

Outside the beach path, California’s Vehicle Code also limits where e-scooters can ride on streets. You may not operate a scooter on a roadway posted above 25 mph unless you are in a Class II or Class IV bikeway, and local authorities can extend that allowance up to 35 mph by ordinance. This matters when you connect to the beach path from neighborhood streets or when your trip leaves the path.

Note that this beach-path access is a pilot running through spring 2026. Check the City’s micromobility page for updates, route changes, or a permanent policy decision as the program progresses.

Speed Limits: Staying Safe and Legal

California caps e-scooter speed at 15 mph statewide. The Shoreline pilot enforces that same limit on the beach path and adds geofenced “slow zones” that reduce scooter speed to about 5 mph in busy areas and at key crossings.

City messaging also clarifies a separate 20 mph limit for bicycles. Expect an education-first approach, but plan to ride within posted limits at all times.

Parking: Where and How to Park Your E-Scooter

On the beach path, shared-fleet scooters (like Bird or Lime) must be parked in designated corrals. This keeps the walkway and access points clear for people using strollers, wheelchairs, and mobility devices.

The City requires operators to rebalance devices daily and to respond promptly to reports of misparked scooters. Private scooters are not subject to vendor corral rules but still must be parked responsibly.

State law and local guidance prohibit leaving a scooter on a sidewalk in a way that blocks the path of travel or ADA access.

Park upright, away from curb ramps, bus stops, and building entrances, and avoid creating any barrier to pedestrian flow. If you are unsure, use a corral or standard bike-rack area rather than the middle of a sidewalk.

If you see a misparked scooter, the City asks you to report it. Operators are required to move reported devices quickly and place them in acceptable locations.

Helmet Requirements: Safety First

California requires riders under 18 to wear a properly fitted, fastened bicycle helmet on e-scooters. Adults are not required by state law to wear a helmet, but the City’s pilot emphasizes safe behavior on shared paths, and a helmet remains a smart choice. Some operators may still recommend or incentivize helmet use.

Other state rules still apply on and around the path: riders must hold a valid driver’s license or instruction permit and be at least 16 years old; no passengers are allowed; and sidewalk riding is prohibited except when briefly entering or leaving property. Keep these basics in mind when your ride begins or ends off the beach path.

Reporting Violations: How to Help Keep the Path Safe

The City encourages community reporting to keep the pilot running smoothly. For non-emergency issues like improper parking, use the Go Long Beach reporting channels. For unsafe behavior that threatens immediate safety, contact emergency services. Program updates also invite general pilot feedback so the City can adjust signage, slow zones, and operations.

Reporting E-Scooter Parking Violations

Use the Go Long Beach app or web portal. Choose the category for e-scooters and e-bikes, add a photo and location, and submit. The request will route to the proper team and to the vendor if needed, and you can track status in the app. City guidance specifically notes that e-scooter parking violations can be reported this way.

Under the City’s program rules, vendors must remove or reposition reported devices within a short window and place them in a proper corral or legal location. This helps keep sidewalks, ramps, and the beach path clear for everyone.

Reporting Other E-Scooter Violations

For moving violations or dangerous riding that is not an emergency, you can submit a Go Long Beach report with details, time, and place; the pilot announcement directs the public to use this channel for shared micromobility violations.

If there is immediate danger, call 911. For issues with a specific rental device, you may also contact the operator’s support line listed on the scooter or on the City’s micromobility page.

When to Seek Legal Guidance

If you were hurt in an e-scooter crash on or near the Shoreline path, speak with a Long Beach personal injury lawyer about your options.

Document the scene with photos, save your trip history or receipt if you used a rental, and gather names of witnesses.

Independent legal advice can clarify next steps without committing you to any claim.

Share Your Experience

The City will review ridership, compliance, parking, and community feedback to decide what happens after the pilot ends in 2026. If you ride or walk the Shoreline path, share what works and what does not.

Use the Go Long Beach app for specific issues and send general comments to the City’s micromobility team so your experience informs future policy. Staying engaged helps keep the path safe and enjoyable for everyone.