Authorities in Rostov-on-Don plan to prohibit the lease of electric vehicles within the city center
In contrast to some European cities, Russia is not planning to impose bans or broad restrictions on the use of e-scooters across multiple cities. Instead, the Russian government is focusing on regulating the speed and traffic rules for these devices, classifying them as "means of individual mobility."
In Russia, cities such as Stavropol, Rostov-on-Don, Anapa, Novorossiysk, Sochi, Sirius, Krasnodar, and others have introduced speed limits for e-scooters. In Stavropol, for instance, e-scooters' speed is being controlled through the use of "speed humps."
These cities have also set specific usage conditions. For example, electric scooters and similar devices in Russia have a maximum weight limit of 35 kilograms, and pedestrians have priority when sharing sidewalks.
In Rostov-on-Don, there are restrictions on where e-scooters can be left. They are not allowed on children's and sports playgrounds, bike lanes, roads, sidewalks, lawns, flower beds, near monuments, dog walking zones, at bus stops, and underground passages. Similar restrictions have been implemented in other cities.
While Paris, France, has banned battery-powered rental e-scooters due to safety and public anxiety concerns, and Turku, Finland, has planned a ban on rental e-scooter use on weekend nights for safety reasons, no Russian cities are reportedly considering similar bans or rental restrictions.
In fact, two municipalities in the Stavropol region have completely banned SIM rentals, not e-scooters.
A meeting is scheduled in August to formalize a "multilateral cooperation agreement" with e-scooter operators, indicating a continued focus on regulation rather than restriction.
[1] Source: Various news articles and government announcements.
- The Russian government is not only regulating the speed and traffic rules for electric scooters but also introduces speed limits for their use in cities like Stavropol, controlled through the use of "speed humps."
- Unlike some European cities that have imposed bans on rental e-scooters due to safety concerns, Russian cities are not considering similar bans, with only two municipalities in the Stavropol region having banned SIM rentals, not e-scooters.
- In the further development of e-scooter usage in Russia, a "multilateral cooperation agreement" with e-scooter operators is scheduled to be formalized in August, indicating a continued focus on regulation rather than restriction, and possibly future expansion in industries such as transportation and lifestyle, including electric-vehicles like cars.
