Mobility scooters in Minnesota: riders count as pedestrians

Minnesota settles the legal status of a mobility scooter in two short definitions, and then goes a step further than many states: its pedestrian rules mention wheelchairs by name. For a rider, that means a clear answer to where to ride, both on sidewalks and along roads without them.

The harder Minnesota question is the weather, so after the law we look at scooters, batteries and the long winter.

How Minnesota defines you and your scooter

In Minn. Stat. 169.011, subdivision 53 says "'Pedestrian' means any person afoot or in a wheelchair." Subdivision 93 then says that, for the purposes of the traffic chapter, "'wheelchair' is defined to include any manual or motorized wheelchair, scooter, tricycle, or similar device used by a disabled person as a substitute for walking."

Put those together and a scooter you ride in place of walking is a wheelchair under the statute, and you, riding it, are a pedestrian. The same section treats a "motorized foot scooter" as something else entirely: a device with handlebars and "no more than two 12-inch or smaller diameter wheels" (subdivision 46). Those rules are not written for mobility scooters.

Where to ride

Minn. Stat. 169.21, subdivision 5, is direct: "Pedestrians when walking or moving in a wheelchair along a roadway shall, when practicable, walk or move on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder giving way to oncoming traffic. Where sidewalks are provided and are accessible and usable it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk or move in a wheelchair along and upon an adjacent roadway."

So: use an accessible, usable sidewalk where there is one, and where there is not, keep to the left side of the road or shoulder, facing traffic. The words "accessible and usable" matter in winter, when a sidewalk buried in a plow ridge may not be either. At crossings, subdivision 2 says that where signals are not in place or not working, "the driver of a vehicle shall stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk." The same subdivision adds that no pedestrian "shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety" into the path of a vehicle too close to yield.

For questions about specific streets or trails, your city is the place to ask; this is general information, not legal advice.

Picking a scooter for Minnesota seasons

NOAA's Minnesota climate summary describes "large temperature variations across the seasons," with recorded extremes from −60°F to 115°F and annual snowfall of 30 to 70 inches over most of the state. Warming has been "concentrated in the winter," and the number of very cold days (highs at or below 0°F) has been below average since 2000, but snowstorms remain "a normal part of the winter and early spring climate." A scooter that is pleasant in July may sit in the garage in January, so think about the months you most want to ride.

• Larger tires for rougher ground. The Golden Eagle All-Terrain has 13-inch pneumatic tires, 4 inches of ground clearance and a 500 lb capacity (Golden).
• A sturdy full-size scooter. The Pride PX4 pairs full suspension and 13-inch pneumatic tires with up to 23.4 miles per charge (Pride).
• Easy to carry into the house. The Pride Go Go Super Portable weighs 41.6 lbs. without its battery and folds to a 12-inch depth (Pride).
• Batteries that come inside without the scooter. Golden offers an optional battery docking station for the Buzzaround EX 4-Wheel so the batteries can charge off the scooter; range is listed at up to 18 miles, per its product page.

Ground clearance and tire size help on uneven ground, but no scooter makes ice safe. Keep winter trips short and plan your route around cleared paths.

Try a device through STAR

STAR, Minnesota's federally funded assistive technology program in the Department of Administration, offers demonstrations, loans, reuse and an exchange (AT3 Center). Borrowing first is a sensible way to learn what you actually need, and the exchange can be a way to find or pass on equipment.

Shipping a scooter to Minnesota

Scooters ship to Minnesota addresses ready to ride. Faith Mobility ships to the lower 48 states and DC. Shipping is free on orders over $500 ($15 under $500), we cover the sales tax on every order, and most products are processed in 2-5 business days, though some brands differ. Check fit with the scooter fit check and see our Minnesota shipping page.

Questions about mobility scooters in Minnesota

Is a mobility scooter rider a pedestrian in Minnesota?

Yes. Minn. Stat. 169.011 defines a pedestrian as "any person afoot or in a wheelchair," and defines "wheelchair" to include any motorized wheelchair, "scooter, tricycle, or similar device used by a disabled person as a substitute for walking." A scooter you use in place of walking falls inside that definition.

Can I ride my scooter in the street in Minnesota?

Only where there is no accessible, usable sidewalk. Minn. Stat. 169.21, subdivision 5, makes it unlawful to move in a wheelchair on an adjacent roadway "Where sidewalks are provided and are accessible and usable." Otherwise, move on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder, giving way to oncoming traffic.

Do drivers have to stop for me at Minnesota crosswalks?

Where traffic signals are not in place or not working, 169.21, subdivision 2, says the driver "shall stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection with no marked crosswalk." Do not pull out suddenly in front of a car that is too close to stop.

How do I handle a scooter battery in a Minnesota winter?

Follow the maker's charging and storage instructions, and keep the scooter indoors when you can. Golden offers a battery docking station for the Buzzaround EX 4-Wheel so batteries can charge off the scooter, and lighter folding models like the Go Go Super Portable are easier to bring inside.

Is a motorized foot scooter the same as a mobility scooter in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota defines a "motorized foot scooter" as a device with handlebars that has "no more than two 12-inch or smaller diameter wheels." A mobility scooter used by a disabled person as a substitute for walking is counted as a wheelchair instead, under a separate subdivision of 169.011.

Find the right model in our mobility scooter collection, check it with the scooter fit check, or take the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Minn. Stat. 169.011, Definitions
• Minn. Stat. 169.21, Pedestrian
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Minnesota (2022)
• Golden Eagle All-Terrain
• Pride PX4 specifications
• Pride Go Go Super Portable specifications
• Faith Mobility: Golden Buzzaround EX 4-Wheel product page
• Minnesota STAR
• AT3 Center: Minnesota