Shared electric scooters operated by the company Bird are shown underneath an overpass in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy Bird.

Connecticut lawmakers are seeking to regulate electric foot scooters, or e-scooters, which have become popular across the U.S. in many cities and tourist locations, particularly in tech hubs like Boston and San Francisco where residents and office workers use them to commute or bridge the gap between public transit lines and their final destinations.

The House of Representatives voted 143-1 on Tuesday in favor of legislation giving e-scooter riders the same rights, privileges and duties that currently exist for bicycle riders. The bill also allows cities and towns to regulate the scooters, which are often offered for rent by companies.

The bill awaits Senate action.

Shared electric scooters are becoming increasingly popular and can be seen zipping along city streets or littered on sidewalks. A report released by the National Association of City Transportation Officials found more people took trips on shared electric shooters than shared, docked bicycles in 2018.

Lawmakers contend scooters will be a problem if left unregulated.