Regulation .11 Vehicle Standards.
Current through 2026-01-20. Source: COBRA Register Volume 04, Issue 02. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., COBRA § 14.02.01.11 (2026)
Regulation .11 Vehicle Standards.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Vehicle Approval.
(1)
A permit holder shall ensure a dockless vehicle model intended for deployment on a public street has been approved by the Director prior to its deployment on the public street.
(2)
To deploy a new vehicle model or vehicle type, a permit holder shall submit the following to the Department at least two weeks prior to intended deployment:
(a)
Vehicle specifications;
(b)
A safety certificate;
(c)
A deployment plan;
(d)
A change to an operations plan, if any; and
(e)
A change to a maintenance plan, if any.
(3)
A permit holder may not deploy a new vehicle model or type until receiving written approval from the Department.
B.
Required Features – In General.
A permit holder shall ensure a dockless vehicle deployed on a public street:
(1)
Weighs no more than 100 pounds;
(2)
Is equipped with an operational structural feature that allows the vehicle to be stably parked upright without needing to lean on another object;
(3)
Is equipped with built-in front and back lights that:
(a)
Illuminate while the dockless vehicle is in use; and
(b)
Are visible from a distance of at least 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions at night;
(4)
Is equipped with a bell or noise emitting device;
(5)
Has tires with a diameter of at least nine inches;
(6)
Has tactile identification which:
(a)
Meets State requirements; and
(b)
Is located on the stem near the handlebars if handlebars are present; and
(7)
Has legible decals listing:
(a)
The name of the permit holder displayed in a minimum of 16-point font;
(b)
The following contact information for a permit holder displayed in a minimum of 16-point font:
(i)
A toll-free telephone number;
(ii)
An e-mail address; and
(iii)
A website address; and
(c)
A unique identification number displayed in:
(i)
A minimum of 48-point font; or
(ii)
Font that is at least 1 inch in height.
C.
Required Features – E-scooters.
A permit holder shall ensure that an e-scooter deployed on a public street:
(1)
Has a speedometer that is legible; and
(2)
Is equipped with a speed governor capable of throttling speeds to specific speed limits in geographical areas designated in the MDS Policy API.
D.
Data and Information.
A permit holder shall ensure a dockless vehicle and its associated apps do not provide false information, including:
(1)
An inaccurate speedometer reading; and
(2)
An alarm that announces that a vehicle can notify the police.
E.
Additional Requirements.
(1)
A permit holder shall certify that its deployed vehicles meet:
(a)
Applicable federal laws;
(b)
Applicable State laws;
(c)
Applicable provisions of City Code;
(d)
CPSC Safety Standards: ISO 43.150 for Pedal Bicycles; and
(e)
CPSC Public Law 107-319 for E-Scooters and E-Bicycles.
(2)
A permit holder shall certify that each dockless vehicle they deploy in the City are:
(a)
Free of defects in materials;
(b)
Free of defects in construction; and
(c)
Safe for members of the public to use in the ordinary course of usage.