BALTIMORE, MD (November 29, 2021) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) has expanded its bicycle policy to allow personally owned e-scooters and e-bikes on Local Bus, Light RailLink, Metro SubwayLink and MARC Train. Effective December 1, as part of the agency’s revised policy, customers can now bring personal foldable electronic scooters and electronic bikes weighing less than 50 pounds onto transit modes that already make accommodations to carry collapsible and full-size bicycles
“As transportation continues to evolve, MDOT MTA understands the importance of offering transit options that fit our customers’ growing needs,” said MDOT MTA Administrator Holly Arnold. “Making it easy for our customers to bring e-scooters and e-bikes onto transit demonstrates our commitment to providing a more satisfactory door-to-door travel experience, while expanding our riders’ travel options to and from our transit modes.”
“We’re seeing more and more customers using e-bikes and e-scooters on our systems as part of daily commutes and everyday activities,” MDOT Secretary Greg Slater said. “As we modernize Maryland’s transportation network, integration of the various modes of transportation with a seamless experience is a critical component. Whether you’re walking to a bus stop, driving to a transit hub, riding your bike to work or any of the various combinations of travel options, we have to continually eliminate barriers to travel. Today’s policy expansion is one more step.”
A variety of safety measures that vary for each mode have been established and can be found below. For example, boarding a vehicle with an e-bike/scooter may be restricted when passenger volume is already at or over capacity. Gas-powered bicycles and scooters are prohibited, regardless of whether they are also battery powered. Additionally, charging e-scooters and e-bikes on a train car or at a station is never allowed.
Riders can find more information on the complete revised policy at mta.maryland.gov/bike, or by contacting the Transit Information Contact Center at 410-539-5000.
Safety standards for riders boarding with personally-owned e-scooters and e-bikes
Local Bus:
- Riders must fold e-scooters when boarding bus
- E-scooters must be placed between the riders’ legs if seated or close to the rider if standing
- All bikes must be placed on the bike rack situated on the front of each bus
Light RailLink:
- E-bikes are only allowed on the last car of the train
- E-bikes must be held firmly upright in the priority seating area. Riders will need to be prepared to move the bike to make way for seniors and individuals with disabilities, who have priority for this seating area
Metro SubwayLink:
- E-bikes must be held firmly upright in the priority seating area. Riders will need to be prepared to move the bike to make way for seniors and individuals with disabilities, who have priority for this seating area
MARC Train:
- Collapsible e-bicycles and folding e-scooters are not permitted to be stowed in overhead storage bins
- Riders boarding with standard e-bicycles must use bike cars and bring two bungee cords on every trip to secure the bike
MDOT MTA operates LocalLink and commuter buses, Light RailLink, Metro SubwayLink, MARC Train service and a comprehensive Mobility paratransit system. MDOT MTA’s goal is to provide safe, efficient and reliable transit across Maryland with world-class customer service. As a participating agency in APTA’s Health and Safety Commitment Program, MDOT MTA is dedicated to keeping our employees and passengers safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more, visit https://www.mta.maryland.gov or check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/mtamaryland, YouTube.com/TheMTAMaryland and follow us on Twitter @mtamaryland.
Media Contacts
Brittany Marshall
Office: 410-767-8367
Cell: 443-970-0424
bmarshall1@mdot.maryland.gov
Paul Shepard
Office: 410-767-3935
Cell: 443-622-4181
pshepard@mdot.maryland.gov
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