Mobility scooters in Idaho: sidewalks, crosswalks and the law

Can I ride my scooter on the sidewalk downtown? Do I follow the rules for cars or for people walking when I cross the street? Those are the questions Idaho riders and their families ask most, and the state's vehicle code answers them more directly than many states do.

Idaho's definitions place a person operating a motorized wheelchair among pedestrians and exempt motorized wheelchairs from the ban on driving on sidewalks. The code never uses the word "scooter" in those passages, so the details below matter.

Where Idaho's Title 49 places a mobility device rider

Start with the definition of a pedestrian. Idaho Code 49-117(5) reads: "'Pedestrian' means any person afoot and any person operating a wheelchair or a motorized wheelchair or an electric personal assistive mobility device" (Idaho Code 49-117).

The code then defines the device. Under 49-114(15), "'Motorized wheelchair' means a motor vehicle with a speed not in excess of eight (8) miles per hour, designed for and used by a person with a disability" (Idaho Code 49-114). Notice the two limits: a top speed of 8 mph or less, and design for and use by a person with a disability.

On sidewalks, Idaho Code 49-605 says no person shall drive any vehicle upon a sidewalk except on a driveway, then adds: "This section shall not apply to any vehicle moved exclusively by human power, a personal delivery device, an electric personal assistive mobility device, nor to any motorized wheelchair" (Idaho Code 49-605).

At crossings, 49-721(3) sets the rider's footing: "A person operating a vehicle by human power, or operating a motorized wheelchair or an electric personal assistive mobility device upon and along a sidewalk, or across a highway upon and along a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances" (Idaho Code 49-721). Rights and duties go together: you keep a pedestrian's right-of-way in a crosswalk and you follow the signals a pedestrian follows.

What we could not confirm is whether every mobility scooter meets the 49-114(15) definition. The statute speaks of motorized wheelchairs, not scooters, and some outdoor scooters can exceed 8 mph. A model whose top speed is above that line may not fit the definition at all. If you plan to ride a faster scooter in town, ask your city or the Idaho Transportation Department how they treat it before relying on the sidewalk exemption.

Picking a scooter for Idaho riding

Match the scooter to the ground you will actually cover and to how it travels with you.

• Gravel roads, trailheads and rough yards: Pride built the Pursuit 2 for outdoor ground, with 13 in pneumatic tires, front and rear suspension and 3.8 in of ground clearance at the axle. It carries 400 lb. Its top speed of up to 9.3 mph is above the 8 mph in Idaho's motorized wheelchair definition, which is worth keeping in mind for sidewalk riding.
• Lifting it into a car yourself: the Feather Power Scooter weighs 37 lb without batteries and folds into a compact package. Feather lists an 8-degree climbing limit, so steep driveways deserve a look first.
• Air travel and uneven pavement: the Go Go Endurance Li has front and rear suspension, a heaviest piece of 40.75 lb, and a standard 8Ah lithium pack that Pride describes as airline-safe, good for up to 5 miles.
• Serious outdoor use on private land: the Golden Eagle All-Terrain rides on 13 in pneumatic turf tread tires, carries 500 lb and reaches 11 mph. At that speed it sits well outside the 8 mph definition, so treat it as a trail and property machine.

Batteries, cold and Idaho's long seasons

NOAA's Idaho State Climate Summary describes cold winters and warm summers, with large regional differences. Boise's average July high is 92.7°F and its average January low is 25.5°F (1991-2020 normals). The statewide long-term average is 7.4 nights a year at or below 0°F, a count that has been below average since 1990.

Store and charge the scooter indoors in winter, and plan shorter trips on the coldest days rather than counting on the full range printed on the spec sheet. In summer heat, avoid leaving the scooter or its battery in a closed car. Snow and ice on sidewalks are a practical limit for any scooter, whatever the law allows.

Borrow before you buy

The Idaho Assistive Technology Project at the University of Idaho runs lending libraries and device demonstrations, and the AT3 Center also lists device reutilization and financial loans for the program. Its site says its programs can help people find, borrow or purchase assistive technology "many times at little to no cost," and it can help secure a low interest loan.

Shipping a scooter to Idaho

Scooters arrive ready for you; there is nothing to build into the house. We ship to the lower 48 states and DC, with free shipping on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. Our Idaho shipping page has the details, and the scooter fit check helps you narrow the list.

Questions about mobility scooters in Idaho

Can I ride a mobility scooter on the sidewalk in Idaho?

Idaho Code 49-605 bans driving vehicles on sidewalks but says the ban does not apply to any motorized wheelchair, defined in 49-114(15) as a motor vehicle with a top speed of 8 mph or less designed for and used by a person with a disability. The statute does not mention scooters by name, so a scooter that can go faster than 8 mph may fall outside that definition.

Am I a pedestrian when I use a motorized wheelchair in Idaho?

Yes. Idaho Code 49-117(5) defines a pedestrian as any person afoot and any person operating a wheelchair, a motorized wheelchair or an electric personal assistive mobility device. Under 49-721(3), on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk you have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian, including following pedestrian signals.

Which scooter handles gravel and rough ground in Idaho?

On Idaho gravel, three features count: air-filled tires, suspension and clearance under the frame. The Pride Pursuit 2 has 13 in pneumatic tires, front and rear suspension and 3.8 in of clearance, and carries 400 lb. The Golden Eagle All-Terrain adds turf tread tires and a 500 lb capacity. Both can exceed 8 mph, the speed in Idaho's motorized wheelchair definition, so use them mainly off the sidewalk.

Can I try a scooter in Idaho before buying one?

The Idaho Assistive Technology Project runs lending libraries and device demonstrations, according to its site and the AT3 Center. Inventory varies, so ask what mobility equipment is available near you. The project also offers financial loans that may help with the purchase of assistive technology.

See every model in our mobility scooter collection, try the scooter fit check, or take the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Idaho Code 49-117, definitions (pedestrian)
• Idaho Code 49-114, definitions (motorized wheelchair)
• Idaho Code 49-605, driving upon sidewalk
• Idaho Code 49-721, sidewalks and crosswalks
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Idaho (2022)
• Idaho Assistive Technology Project
• AT3 Center: Idaho
• Pride Pursuit 2 (Faith Mobility product page)
• Feather Power Scooter (Faith Mobility product page)
• Pride Go Go Endurance Li (Faith Mobility product page)
• Golden Eagle All-Terrain (Faith Mobility product page)