1. **State the problem:** Deon paid a $5 fee plus $0.09 per minute for a scooter ride, and the total bill was $16.16. We need to find the number of minutes, $x$, Deon rode the scooter. 2. **Write the equation:** The total cost is the sum of the fixed fee and the variable cost per minute: $$5 + 0.09x = 16.16$$ 3. **Isolate the variable term:** Subtract 5 from both sides: $$5 + 0.09x - 5 = 16.16 - 5$$ $$0.09x = 11.16$$ 4. **Solve for $x$:** Divide both sides by 0.09: $$\frac{\cancel{0.09}x}{\cancel{0.09}} = \frac{11.16}{0.09}$$ $$x = 124$$ 5. **Interpret the result:** Deon rode the scooter for 124 minutes. **Final answer:** $$\boxed{124}$$ minutes