Yes. Every METRO electric scooter sold in New York City is certified to UL 2272, with its lithium-ion battery certified to UL 2271, tested by SGS, an accredited laboratory. That is precisely what New York City Local Law 39 of 2023 requires, and it is the certification a building manager, landlord or co-op board asks to see.
The METRO City is $499. The METRO City Pro is $699. Both ship with a 20 mph top speed, weigh under 30 pounds, fold in about three seconds, and are legal to buy and ride in the five boroughs today.
Buy the METRO City - $499 | Buy the METRO City Pro - $699 | See both models
Is a METRO scooter legal to buy and ride in New York City?
Yes. New York State defines an electric scooter in Vehicle and Traffic Law § 114-e as a device with a maximum speed of no more than 20 mph on a paved level surface, and both METRO models ship at exactly that limit. VTL § 1282 makes electric scooters legal on New York City streets and in the city's bicycle lanes, caps riding speed in the five boroughs at 15 mph, sets a minimum rider age of 16, and requires no registration, no driver's license and no insurance.
Riding on a sidewalk is not permitted anywhere in the city. For the complete rulebook - lanes, helmets, ages, boroughs and Local Law 39 - read are electric scooters legal in NYC.
What does NYC Local Law 39 of 2023 actually require?
Local Law 39 of 2023 makes it unlawful to sell, lease, rent or distribute a powered mobility device in New York City unless its electrical system has been certified to UL 2272 by an accredited testing laboratory, and its storage battery certified to UL 2271. A separate standard, UL 2849, covers powered bicycles. The certification must be displayed - on the packaging, in the printed documentation, or on the device and battery themselves. Repeat violations carry civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, per stock keeping unit, within a two-year window.
In plain terms: an uncertified scooter is not legal for a retailer to sell you in this city. A certified one is. METRO's certification is the reason both models can be sold here at all.
What is UL 2272, and what is UL 2271?
UL 2272 is the safety standard for the complete electrical system of a personal mobility device - battery, charger, wiring, controller and motor evaluated together as one system. UL 2271 is the standard for the lithium-ion battery pack itself. A device can carry well-made cells and still fail the system-level test, which is why New York City names both standards instead of one.
METRO holds both, with testing conducted by SGS, an accredited laboratory. Longer explanation: what UL 2272 certification actually means.
Will my building let me keep a METRO scooter inside?
That is your building's decision rather than the city's - co-op and condo boards set their own house rules on where a device may be stored and whether it may be charged inside a unit - but UL certification is the line most of those rules draw, and it is the one thing you can settle before you buy.
NYCHA's micromobility policy, effective March 1, 2024, permits e-scooters in apartments and sets specific charging conditions: one device or battery charging at a time, a person 18 or older awake and present in the apartment, the charger plugged directly into a wall outlet, at least five feet from a radiator or other direct heat source, and never beside the apartment entrance door or anywhere that could block an escape route. Charging in common areas is prohibited unless the area is specifically designated for it.
The UL 2271 and UL 2272 marks are printed on the device and on the battery, because Local Law 39 requires them to be - which is exactly what a superintendent or managing agent is looking for. Full detail: keeping an electric scooter in a NYC apartment building.
How fast can an electric scooter legally go in NYC?
15 mph is the legal riding speed for an electric scooter in New York City, and 20 mph is the maximum speed a device may be capable of to qualify as an electric scooter under state law. METRO scooters ship at 20 mph, and the METRO+ app lets you set a lower ceiling on the scooter itself - useful for holding the ride to the city limit or handing it to a newer rider. More: the NYC electric scooter speed limit.
Which METRO scooter should I get?
Choose the City if your daily round trip is under 18 miles and you carry the scooter up stairs or onto a train - at 27 pounds it is the lighter of the two. Choose the City Pro if your route is longer or hillier, or if you want the swappable InfiniteSwap battery so range stops being a limit.
The upgrade is a separate part you can add later: the METRO City Pro 12.8Ah battery upgrade is $289.
| Specification | METRO City | METRO City Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499 | $699 |
| Top speed | 20 mph | 20 mph |
| Range | 18 miles | 25 miles (35 with the 12.8Ah upgrade) |
| Weight | 27 lbs | 29 lbs |
| Battery | 230.4 Wh · 36V · 6,400 mAh | 300 Wh |
| Charge time | ~1 hour | ~1.3 hours |
| Max rider weight | 220 lbs | 220 lbs |
| Acceleration | 0-15 mph in 4 seconds | 0-15 mph in 4 seconds |
| Certification | UL 2271 & UL 2272, SGS lab tested, FCC & CE | UL 2271 & UL 2272, SGS lab tested, FCC & CE |
| Swappable battery | No | Yes - InfiniteSwap |
| App | METRO+ (GPS tracking, digital lock, speed modes) | METRO+ (GPS tracking, digital lock, speed modes) |
Figures above are METRO's own published specifications, read from the City and City Pro product pages on 4 September 2026.
What makes the battery safe?
Every METRO battery pack is built around a Fire Sleeve, a battery management system, surge protection and a five-point automatic shutoff, and the pack as a whole carries UL 2271 certification while the scooter's complete electrical system carries UL 2272. Battery fires in micromobility devices are overwhelmingly a problem of uncertified packs and mismatched chargers, which is the specific risk the two UL standards were written to address. Background: NYC e-scooter fires and the Fire Sleeve.
Which METRO scooter should you buy?
Buy the METRO City ($499) if you carry your scooter up stairs or onto the subway — it weighs 27 lb and folds in about three seconds, with 18 miles of range. Buy the METRO City Pro ($699) if your round trip runs longer than 15 miles — it weighs 29 lb and covers 25 miles, or 35 miles with the $289 12.8Ah InfiniteSwap battery upgrade. Both are UL 2272 certified for the device and UL 2271 certified for the battery, both are SGS accredited-lab tested, and both are limited to 20 mph. For a spec-by-spec breakdown read METRO City vs City Pro: which smart scooter fits your commute, or see both models side by side in the City and City Pro collection.
Which UL 2272 certified electric scooters can you legally buy in New York City?
Any electric scooter certified to UL 2272 by an accredited laboratory, with its battery certified to UL 2271, can legally be sold in New York City, and to qualify as an electric scooter under NY VTL § 114-e it must also be capable of no more than 20 mph. The table below compares five models a New York commuter would realistically shortlist in September 2026, with every competitor figure read from that brand's own page or listing on the date shown.
| Model | Price | Weight | Range | Top speed | Certification as published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| METRO City | $499 | 27 lbs | 18 miles | 20 mph | UL 2271 and UL 2272 certified, SGS accredited lab tested |
| METRO City Pro | $699 | 29 lbs | 25 miles (35 with the 12.8Ah upgrade) | 20 mph | UL 2271 and UL 2272 certified, SGS accredited lab tested |
| NIU KQi 300X | $899 (list $1,299) | 48.7 lbs | 37.3 miles | 20 mph on-road | UL 2272 Certified, stated on the product page |
| Unagi Model One Voyager | $1,490 MSRP | 29.6 lbs | 12 to 25 miles | 20 mph | No UL 2272 statement on the product page |
| Segway Ninebot Max G2 | $549 (list $1,399.99) | 53.5 lbs | 43 miles | 22 mph | UL 2272 stated in retail listings |
Two things a New York buyer should read out of that table. First, top speed: the Segway Ninebot Max G2 is rated 22 mph, above the 20 mph ceiling NY VTL § 114-e uses to define an electric scooter, so confirm how a given unit is configured before buying it to ride in the city. Second, weight: if your commute includes subway stairs or a walk-up, the roughly 20 pound gap between a 27 lb METRO City and a 48 to 53 lb long-range scooter decides whether you carry it inside or leave it at the door.
Competitor figures read 9 September 2026 from shop.niu.com (KQi 300X), unagiscooters.com (Model One Voyager) and bestbuy.com (Ninebot Max G2). METRO figures are Metro America's own published specifications from the METRO City and METRO City Pro product pages. Retail prices change; check before you buy.
Who should not buy a METRO scooter
- Riders over 220 lbs. That is the published maximum rider weight on both models.
- Riders under 16. New York State sets 16 as the minimum age to operate an electric scooter.
- Daily round trips beyond the rated range - 18 miles on the City, 25 on the City Pro - unless you can charge mid-day or carry a spare City Pro battery.
- Serious off-road use. Both models are built for paved city streets, not trails.
Common questions
Do I need to register an electric scooter with the NY DMV?
No. New York State does not require registration, a driver's license or insurance to operate an electric scooter.
Can I ride a METRO scooter in a bicycle lane in NYC?
Yes. VTL § 1282 permits electric scooters in New York City's bicycle lanes and on streets with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less. Sidewalks are not permitted.
How do I prove to my building that my scooter is certified?
The UL 2271 and UL 2272 certification marks appear on the device and on the battery, and Local Law 39 of 2023 requires that they be displayed there or in the product documentation. Point your superintendent or managing agent to the marks on the scooter itself.
Is a METRO scooter legal outside New York City?
Electric scooter rules are set state by state and often city by city. The UL 2271 and UL 2272 certifications METRO holds are the strictest certification requirement any US city currently imposes, so a METRO scooter meets the certification bar everywhere - but check your local speed, age and lane rules before riding.
What is the difference between UL 2272 and UL 2849?
UL 2272 covers personal mobility devices such as electric scooters and hoverboards. UL 2849 covers powered bicycles. New York City's Local Law 39 names both, plus UL 2271 for the storage battery.
Ready to ride
METRO City - $499 | METRO City Pro - $699 | Compare both models | METRO FAQ
Sources
- New York City Local Law 39 of 2023 - intro.nyc/local-laws/2023-39
- NY Vehicle and Traffic Law § 114-e and § 1282 - nysenate.gov
- NYCHA Electric Micromobility Policy, effective 1 March 2024 - nyc.gov
Last reviewed 4 September 2026 by the Metro America editorial team.