Proposed 10 km/h Speed Limit for Electric Scooters on Moscow Sidewalks
A senior Russian official has urged a change in sidewalk traffic rules for electric scooters in Moscow. Senator Artem Sheikin, who serves as Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Council for the Advancement of the Digital Economy, suggested that the city set a maximum speed of 10 kilometers per hour for all pedestrians on sidewalks. The proposal was conveyed in a letter addressed to Moscow’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, and reported by RIA Novosti.
The letter emphasizes the social importance of this issue and argues that bringing sidewalks into zones with a unified speed limit of 10 km/h would improve safety for pedestrians and reduce conflicts between scooter riders and walkers. It notes that the current practice of riding electric scooters on sidewalks can pose significant risks to people on foot, particularly in crowded areas and near transit hubs where pedestrian flow is heavy.
In addition to the speed limit proposal, recent discussions have highlighted potential enforcement measures. Earlier reports indicate that the Russian Ministry of Transport is considering penalties for electric scooter users who violate traffic rules as defined by the Code of Administrative Offenses. The aim of such penalties is to ensure that scooter operators comply with established safety standards and traffic regulations. One example that has circulated in the press proposes that fines for scooter riders could match the penalties faced by drivers who exceed the rules by a certain margin. For instance, exceeding the maximum permitted speed by a significant amount could result in a fine of 5,000 rubles. These discussions reflect a broader effort to bring personal electric transport under formal regulation and to protect pedestrians across major cities in Russia. The focus remains on balancing mobility with safety, public order, and urban livability in a fast changing urban landscape.