How fast can an electric scooter go legally?

In most U.S. cities, electric scooters are legally capped at 15–20 mph on public roads and bike paths, though the exact limit varies by state, city, and where you're riding.

Electric scooter speed laws operate on three levels: state law sets the ceiling, city ordinances often set a lower limit, and the specific infrastructure matters — many jurisdictions cap scooters at 15 mph on shared bike paths but allow up to 20 mph on roads. Some states, like California, cap electric scooters at 15 mph on public paths regardless of what the motor can do. Riders on ZapRun models with a 22 or 28 mph top speed may never legally use Mode 3 on public infrastructure in those jurisdictions.

• Most U.S. city and state laws cap electric scooter speeds at 15–20 mph on public paths and roads.
• California law limits electric scooters to 15 mph on public bike paths and Class II bike lanes.
• ZapRun W6 offers three speed modes: 9 mph, 15 mph, and 22 mph — only the first two are street-legal in most jurisdictions.
• Some states classify electric scooters differently above 20 mph, potentially requiring registration or a driver's license.
• Private property has no federally mandated speed cap — legal top speed only applies on public roads, paths, and sidewalks.