Fragmented Rules Hold Back a Market Ready to Move
Local Use Vehicles (LUVs)—modes that are smaller and lighter than cars but more robust than traditional bicycles—are the transportation innovation America hasn’t caught up to yet. The lack of consistent rules in the United States prevents manufacturers from selling, operators from using, and consumers from accessing the benefits of these cheaper, safer mobility options.
Where the Rules Break Down
States adopt federal definitions but modify or expand them, creating gaps that even legislators struggle to reconcile.
Cities layer on their own rules, too: where vehicles can operate, speed limits, curb and fleet permits, often differing between neighboring jurisdictions.
The result: a patchwork where neither manufacturers nor operators can easily tell which rules apply. That raises compliance costs, complicates enforcement, limits infrastructure investment, and makes it less likely that new vehicles enter the US market.
What Alignment Unlocks
Safer, Affordable Trips
Households and small businesses get safer, more affordable options for the short trips that make up most of their daily travel.
Less Energy, Less Space
Lighter vehicles use less energy and take up less space on the road and at the curb — echoing what’s already happening with Europe’s quadricycles and Asia’s electric two- and three-wheelers.
Lower Cost, Lower Risk
Manufacturers, dealers, and fleet owners face one clear set of rules instead of dozens of conflicting ones, lowering compliance costs and legal risk enough to make real investment worth it.
Pilot to Policy
Cities get a real path from one-off pilot to permanent policy, and states stop straddling federal definitions through case-by-case rulemaking. Nobody has to build a rulebook alone from scratch — nor should they have to.
Other Countries Show What’s Possible
Clear definitions and consistent enforcement let compact electric cars and quadricycles thrive in Europe, while in Asia, electric two- and three-wheelers are displacing a growing share of gas-fueled vehicles. Right-sized vehicles already make millions of trips and deliveries every day, with lower costs, more safety, and less impact on the places where they operate. There’s no reason the U.S. should keep falling behind and closing that gap is exactly what this coalition is built to do.