In an interview with socialbites.ca, representatives of electric scooter rental services (kicksharing) promise to tighten control over users in the new season, especially if the driver of such a device decides to ride it not alone, but with passengers.
“We offer new ways to monitor compliance with the rules of service. For example, we are now testing electric scooters that can track the use of the device by more than one person, ”the press service of the Lite service told socialbites.ca.
They explained that the system recognizes the atypical use of an electric scooter and blocks it until conditions become clear. Lite added that if a violation is suspected, the details of the incident will be reviewed by employees.
Whoosh kicksharing reports that they plan to expand the geography of detecting two people on a scooter in the new season to all cities where the service is available, and the algorithm itself will be improved.
We will observe the calculations in different climate, weather and other conditions and achieve excellent measurement accuracy”,
– Explained “socialbites.ca” on Whoosh’s press service.
They also emphasized that their scooters automatically slow down to 10-15 km/h in resting places and in places where pedestrians are gathered. Urent scooters also have “slow zones” with automatic speed limits of 5-15 km/h, but the company stated that it is not planned to monitor traffic violations by users.
Tariffs promise not to increase
Speaking about excursion prices, service representatives emphasize that dynamic tariffs are applied, taking into account many factors when renting scooters – this is how collectors calculate the cost of a taxi ride.
At the same time, exclusive conditions are promised to scooters at the beginning of the season.
In particular, the Urent service promises not to charge users for starting a trip on weekdays and guarantees that the rates at the beginning of the season will be more profitable than last year (from 5 rubles per minute). A Whoosh representative talks about dynamic pricing (50 rubles per start and 7 rubles per minute in Moscow). At the same time, Lite promises to offer dynamic pricing only when demand peaks.
Scooter in traffic rules
From March 1, 2023, the use of scooters, gyro scooters, unicycles and other means of individual mobility (SIM) in Russia is regulated by the Rules of the Road (SDA). The changes were made in October last year. In addition, road signs regulating the movement of scooters and similar vehicles should be located on the streets of cities.
According to the new rules, the maximum speed of the SIM is no more than 25 km / h. Citizens over the age of 14 have the right to use scooters on the roads. You don’t need a driver’s license to use a SIM. In addition, there is no obligation to use a protective helmet while riding a scooter. Scooters are allowed to ride on bike paths and sidewalks.
At the same time, the SDA specifically stipulates that pedestrians should be given priority in all situations where pedestrians, cyclists and scooters move together.
Passengers cannot be transported on the SIM unless stipulated by the design,
and if it is used on pavements, bicycle and pedestrian paths, the mass of the device itself should not exceed 35 kg.
You can also drive a scooter on the right side of the road, but in this case the SIM must have brakes, an audio signal, retroreflectors, as well as a white headlight or lamp at the front and a red taillight.
For violation of traffic rules, a scooter driver and another SIM are fined 800 rubles, as well as a cyclist.
To drive such a vehicle while intoxicated, the driver must comply with Article 12.29 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. fine of 1-1.5 thousand rubles.
The aforementioned liability measures apply to sims with a maximum power of 250 W and a maximum speed of up to 50 km/h. More powerful devices in their legal status equate to mopeds.
Rental services are already prepared
Kicksharing operators assure that they have already implemented the innovations contained in the traffic rules on their own, but they rely on the traffic police to monitor compliance with the rules.
“As experts, we took part in the Ministry of Transport’s working group on the development of uniform rules and supported their adoption,” Whoosh said.
The neural network will take care of
The head of the Moscow traffic police, Alexander Bykov, said that Moscow is considering connecting the neural network of the Traffic Management Center to detect violations on scooters and other SIMs. It is already being tested on some highways.
However, the head of the interregional public movement Russian Pedestrians Union Vladimir Sokolov believes that the restrictions on the maximum speed and weight of the SIM currently introduced in traffic rules are insufficient to ensure traffic safety.
“Even if the SIM speed is limited to 10 km/h, pedestrians and electric scooters are incompatible on the roadway. A scooter weighing 35 kg is heavy and powerful, and it will not be possible to control its movements, since the police do not have the appropriate tools and numbers, ”Sokolov told socialbites.ca.
Allowing 14-year-olds to ride scooters on roads raises concerns among many parents, he said. When it comes to hoverboards and segways that equate to scooters, an added hazard is the lack of a steering wheel and emergency braking system.
“Pedestrians cannot feel safe anywhere. Speeds of 25 km/h are allowed everywhere, including in courtyards and pedestrian areas. Rental companies limit the speed of their scooters, but the devices that citizens buy do not have them, ”Sokolov concluded.