In a conversation with socialbites.ca, operators of electric scooter rental services, including kicksharing, pledged tighter rider oversight for the new season, especially when a device is used by more than one person.
“We’re rolling out new methods to ensure compliance with service rules. For instance, we’re testing electric scooters that can detect when more than one person is using the device, which helps enforce proper use,” explained the Lite service press office to socialbites.ca.
They noted that the system recognizes unusual usage patterns and can pause operation until the situation is clarified. Lite added that if a violation is suspected, the incident details will be reviewed by staff.
Whoosh kicksharing disclosed plans to broaden the geographic reach of two-person usage detection to all cities where the service operates, with ongoing improvements to the underlying algorithm.
“We will evaluate performance across various climates, weather conditions, and other factors to achieve precise measurements,”
stated Whoosh’s press team to socialbites.ca.
Additionally, the companies highlighted that their scooters automatically slow to 10-15 km/h in designated rest areas and in zones with pedestrians. Urent scooters feature “slow zones” with automatic speeds of 5-15 km/h, though the firms indicated there are no plans to actively monitor traffic violations by riders.
Tariff stability and price dynamics
When discussing ride costs, service representatives emphasized the use of dynamic pricing that accounts for multiple factors, much like taxi fare calculations.
At the same time, special terms are promised at the season’s start. Urent, for example, commits not to charge riders for starting a trip on weekdays and asserts that early-season rates will be more favorable than last year, starting from roughly 5 rubles per minute. A Whoosh spokesperson described dynamic pricing at around 50 rubles per start and 7 rubles per minute in Moscow. Lite noted that dynamic pricing would be activated primarily during peak demand periods.
Scooters and traffic rules
Since March 1, 2023, the use of scooters, gyro scooters, unicycles, and other personal mobility devices has been regulated by the Rules of the Road (SDA) in Russia, with changes introduced in October of the previous year. Road signs governing the movement of such devices are to be installed in city streets.
The rules set a maximum device speed of 25 km/h. Riders aged 14 and older may use scooters on roads, and a driver’s license is not required. Protective helmets are not mandated. Scooters may operate on bike paths and sidewalks.
The SDA also requires that pedestrians have priority where pedestrians, cyclists, and personal mobility devices share space.
Passengers are not allowed on these devices unless the design permits it, and when used on pavements or pedestrian paths, the device must not exceed 35 kg in weight.
Riders may travel on the right-hand side of the road, but the device must include brakes, an audible signal, retroreflectors, and a white front light and red rear light.
Violations can bring fines of 800 rubles for riders and cyclists alike. In cases of driving under the influence, fines can range from 1,000 to 1,500 rubles, per the Administrative Offenses Code. These rules apply to devices with up to 250 W and speeds up to 50 km/h; more powerful devices are treated as mopeds under the law.
Operators ready for implementation
Kicksharing operators say they have already integrated the traffic-rule changes into their platforms, though they rely on law enforcement to ensure compliance.
“As experts, we participated in the Ministry of Transport’s working group on uniform rules and supported their adoption,” Whoosh noted.
Neural networks and safety management
The head of Moscow’s traffic police, Alexander Bykov, indicated that Moscow is exploring linking the Traffic Management Center’s neural network to detect violations involving scooters and other personal mobility devices. Trials are underway on several major roadways.
Vladimir Sokolov, head of the interregional public movement Russian Pedestrians Union, argued that current speed and weight limits do not suffice to guarantee safety. He told socialbites.ca that even if speeds are capped at 10 km/h, the combination of pedestrians with electric scooters on roadways remains risky. A 35 kg scooter is heavy and difficult to control, and police lack the tools and personnel to manage widespread noncompliance.
Sokolov also cautioned parents about riders as young as 14 using roads. He noted that hoverboards and similar devices lack steering wheels and emergency braking, increasing danger in shared spaces. “Pedestrians cannot feel secure anywhere. Speed limits of 25 km/h apply in courtyards and pedestrian areas, yet rental companies can curb speed on their devices, while consumer models often do not have such controls,” he added.