San Jose continues to take a laissez-faire approach to the electric scooters that landed without permits throughout the city back in April 2018. While neighboring cities quickly instated regulations of their own or even cease and desist orders, San Jose has been regulating electric scooters using the state’s laws surrounding motorized scooters. According to the City of San Jose’s website, city leaders have been strategizing electric scooter regulations for months.
In June 2018, city leaders held a public meeting where people were invited to ask questions, voice their opinions and test drive the scooters. Since June, there have been no further signs of emerging regulations. In fact, the city’s website asks the public to direct questions and concerns to either Bird or Lime, the two scooter companies operating in San Jose.
In the meantime, the state of California is softening its scooter regulations. On January 1, 2019, adult scooter users will no longer be required to wear a helmet when riding. In addition, users will be permitted to ride on the streets with cars when the stated speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. You can read the full bill here.
Current crash data is unknown, but there have been national reports of serious injuries and at least two fatalities linked to electric scooter accidents within the last month. Once this law goes into effect, scooter users will be at a higher risk for injuries. Unfortunately, California did not address the insufficient liability placed on these scooter companies when users incur injuries. It is unknown whether San Jose officials will address these issues.
If you have been injured in an electric scooter accident in San Jose or the surrounding areas of Santa Clara County, contact Braid Pezzaglia at the Law Offices of Braid Pezzaglia to discuss your situation.