On Aug. 30, the University Police Department (UPD) sent out an email reminding students about the ban on electric scooters, also known as Skywalkers. This came after what UPD described as “concerning behavior” on campus.

Louisiana defines electric scooters as devices “weighing less than one hundred pounds with handlebars and an electric motor, solely powered by an electric motor or human power, and has a maximum speed of not more than twenty miles per hour.”

Though electric scooters are not considered vehicles, they are still required to observe many of the same rules that cars do, including speed limits, traffic signs and yielding to pedestrians.

When asked about the safety of the scooters, junior pharmacy major  Zy Villanueva expressed concern.

“They shouldn’t be used on the sidewalk. Like the scooters you rent in the city, you have to use them on the road.” said Villanueva.

There is already legislation surrounding these scooter s. According to Louisiana statute 32 300.1.1, “electric low-speed scooters may operate on sidewalks, bicycle paths, and highways, except that the department or any parish or municipal governing authority, or both, may limit or prohibit the operation of such scooters…if such prohibition or regulation is in the interest of safety.”

Scooters are generally allowed, but it is well within ULM’s power to prohibit their use on campus. On page 45 of the student handbook, it states that electric scooters (referred to as Sky Walkers) are banned along with other similar devices. Despite this,  the consequence of being caught with one is not specified.

UPD urges campus goers to comply with both the scooter ban and traffic laws in order to maintain a safe learning environment.