Denver officials are moving to curb illegal scooter use on sidewalks and curbside parking violations by micromobility company Veo. Beginning November 1, the city and county will issue citations for non‑compliance, a step announced Thursday by Mayor Mike Johnston and City Councilmember Chris Hinds.

Why the crackdown matters

Johnston said the city has a duty to keep sidewalks safe and accessible for pedestrians. “Veo riders should do their part by riding and parking responsibly and keeping sidewalks clear for pedestrians,” he said in a press release. He added that the city expects Veo to reinforce expectations and will hold the company accountable.

Legal basis for enforcement

A review by the City Attorney’s Office found Veo in violation of its contract and the city ordinance that bans sidewalk riding. The ordinance, passed in May 2025, shifted responsibility for sidewalk safety onto micromobility operators, but it did not specify exact penalties. The city will determine punishments on a case‑by‑case basis.

Veo’s response and safety plan

Veo’s spokesperson, Paige Miller, said the company shares Denver’s commitment to safe sidewalks. The firm outlined a “Safe Sidewalks Plan” that includes detection technology, rider education, and a graduated violation schedule: warnings for the first two offenses, a $5 fine for the third, a $10 fine for the fourth, and a possible suspension after the fourth violation.

Veo also reported that sidewalk‑riding events fell nearly 22 % in its third quarterly report, after recording 338,620 such events in the first two months of operation. Overall rides in May and June totaled 1.34 million, a 12 % increase over the same period a year earlier, despite the transition from former operators Lime and Bird.

Future technology rollout

The company plans to equip all vehicles with a second form of sidewalk‑detection technology by September 2027, part of a phased rollout to improve compliance.

Councilmember Hinds on the ordinance

Hinds, who sponsored the 2025 ordinance, emphasized that the law now places the onus squarely on the operator. “Veo’s own numbers showed more than 338,000 sidewalk riding events in its first two months. That is not a rider‑education problem. It is a compliance problem, and starting November 1 the city will treat it as one,” he said.

Johnston and Hinds said the city will continue working with Veo until full compliance is achieved.

Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.