What Exactly are Those Scooters?

Summer is already in full swing here in Tampa Bay, as the kids are getting out of school and the temperatures are rising. Sometimes you get tired of having date nights inside, but you don’t want to suffer in the heat. We live in Florida; we might as well enjoy the outdoors. Luckily, Tampa has just rolled out a one-year pilot program for popular e-scooters that can make your dating life in the sunshine state a lot more fun!

All you need to do to activate the scooters is download the app that goes along with them and they can take you at speeds up to 15 mph through the sidewalks of Downtown Tampa. It costs a low $1 to activate the scooters and only $0.15 per minute to glide on your way to Armature Works or Sparkman Wharf. People normally spend about $5-$20 using the scooters for a new way to get around town or just a different idea for a date night in the city, so it’s great if you are on a budget. There are only about 200 scooters available right now, but 2,400 are supposed to roll out in the coming months, so you and your significant other have plenty opportunities to take one of them for a spin!

Here’s What You Need to Know:

• The scooters have a GPS technology that that allows the companies to know where you are using them.
• All you must do to pay for the scooters is download the app displayed on the scooter and enter your credit card information, along with a photo of your driver’s license and then it will populate your app with the location of scooters for you to ride.
• The only banned areas for the scooters are 7^th Avenue in Ybor, Bayshore Boulevard, and the Riverwalk. The companies have developed technology that will slow your scooter down if you enter these “no-ride zones” until you proceed to go back to the approved areas.
• You can leave the scooters anywhere Downtown when you are done with them, but you must snap a picture of where you parked in order to end the ride. However, be respectful of others’ safety and do not leave them in sidewalks!
• For now, they are only allowed on the sidewalks but that could change soon to where you could ride them in bike lanes. Stay tuned!
• You don’t have to wear a helmet with the scooters, but they are recommended.
• Be courteous and respectful to drivers and pedestrians, so no one gets hurt.
• Most of all, have fun!

Looking for more fun? How about Fun Day Trip Transportation: Cross-Bay Ferry or Four Places to Go Ziplining in Tampa Bay.