The authorities of Yekaterinburg and kick-sharing services have agreed on new measures to regulate electric scooters, which will come into force in 2025.
There will be no complete ban, as in Perm - Yekaterinburg has chosen the path of Moscow, where scooters are integrated into the transport system. The main changes will concern restriction zones, speed of movement and control over users.
The main changes to the rules include the expansion of prohibited zones where scooter traffic will be restricted, including busy pedestrian areas and near historical sites. Speed limits will be tightened: in the city center, the speed will be limited to 10 km/h, in parks and near theaters - up to 15-20 km/h, and in other areas - up to 25 km/h.
Kick-sharing services will introduce a user identification system, as well as a system for blocking violators and improving tenant verification. Responsibility for improper parking of scooters will be increased, and parking zones will be clarified.
These measures are related to the increase in the number of accidents: in 2024, 112 road accidents involving electric scooters occurred in Yekaterinburg, in which 115 people were injured. A survey of citizens through "Gosuslugi" showed that 30% of citizens support a complete ban on scooters, 21% are in favor of reducing speed, and 15% are in favor of expanding prohibited zones. The mayor's office emphasized that there will be no complete ban, but new restrictions are inevitable.
Kick-sharing services, such as Whoosh and "MTS Urent", supported the initiative of the Yekaterinburg authorities.
Existing restrictions, which have been in effect since 2024, include a ban on parking scooters on narrow sidewalks, near stops and in parks, as well as a speed limit of 10-25 km/h in the city center and recreation areas.
In the future, the city plans to balance between convenience and safety. One way to reduce accidents will be to develop bicycle paths and conduct educational campaigns for users.
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