From Palm Walk to the Memorial Union, every corner of ASU's campus is teeming with electric scooters. This form of transportation has grown popular among students hoping to beat the heat and make it to class efficiently, but they have also brought discussion about their safety.
On Sept. 28, a fire inside of Hayden Library involving a scooter spurred further debate surrounding the safety of these vehicles on campus.
A spokesperson for the ASU Police Department said in a written statement that a small fire involving an electric scooter was reported to ASU PD and the Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department. The fire was small and extinguished quickly.
"The library was able to reopen Tuesday morning with some restrictions to the 3rd floor," the spokesperson stated.
No injuries were reported in connection with the fire, according to the spokesperson.
Savannah Driskill, a spokesperson for the city of Tempe, said in a written statement that ASU is conducting an investigation into the details of the fire.
University policy prohibits scooters from being allowed into ASU buildings.
The fire comes as the city of Tempe has directed greater attention to the potential dangers of e-bikes and scooters.
Oct. 4 -10 is Fire Prevention Week for the National Fire Protection Association, and the Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Department is focused on sharing information to prevent future fires, Driskill stated.
E-bikes and electric scooters pose a specific threat as they use large lithium-ion batteries, which if damaged or overheated can quickly cause a fire, Driskill stated.
The Fire Medical Rescue Department recommends using a charger approved by the manufacturer and charging the devices outside when possible, according to Driskill. Users should also never charge a damaged battery and should pay attention to any warning signs.
Driskill stated that Tempe launched the Motorized and Electric Mobility Device Safety Council Subcommittee in September 2025. The subcommittee served as a response to the growing use of micromobility devices in the city.
"The result of that subcommittee was an update to Tempe's e-bike and e-scooter guidelines, primarily from a rider safety perspective," Driskill wrote.
The updates to the city's e-bike and e-scooter ordinance were approved in June and went into effect on July 25. They outline that riders cannot exceed 10 mph on sidewalks and must slow down to 5 mph to pass pedestrians.
Beyond the Hayden Library fire, scooters remain an issue on campus.
Danny Han, a sophomore studying philosophy and history, expressed concern for both scooter riders and pedestrians.
"I've been nearly hit at high speeds multiple times, and as someone who used to ride a scooter occasionally, I find that they're also dangerous to the people that ride them," Han said.
While Han's concerns over student safety with scooters remain, he said it is a student responsibility rather than a University responsibility to ensure these vehicles are not a campus issue.
"People should be educated and more considerate of others," Han said.
The ASU subreddit also abounds with complaints of collisions with scooters and reckless speeding. After the fire, users expressed frustrations that the ban on scooters indoors is poorly enforced.
After the Hayden Library fire, the ASU Dean of Students team encouraged students across campuses to learn more about their respective city's scooter ordinances and reminded them of the rules on using the devices.
"Keeping our campus community safe is a shared responsibility," the Dean of Students Team wrote in the email.
Edited by Dhemi Bell, Carsten Oyer and Sophia Keeling.
Reach the reporters at ccbixby@asu.edu.
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