Almaty bans scooters from sidewalks, restricts ridership to licensed adults

Almaty residents will see significant changes in how electric scooters are used as the city's police department announced a ban on sidewalk riding, effective August 25. Saltanat Azirbek, spokesperson for the Almaty Police Department, stated that only adults possessing a driver's license of any category will be authorized to operate these devices. The move aims to enhance safety for pedestrians and regulate the growing use of electric scooters.

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Entering pedestrian zones and sidewalks will be prohibited. Consequently, movement will only be allowed on bike lanes or along the right edge of the roadway. August 25 is just around the corner. My advice is to stop riding on sidewalks now to get used to the change.

In preparation for the new regulations, police are urging residents to adapt their habits and avoid pedestrian zones immediately. Movement will be restricted to designated bike lanes or the right edge of the roadway. Azirbek advised scooter users to begin adjusting now to the upcoming changes. "Entering pedestrian zones and sidewalks will be prohibited. Consequently, movement will only be allowed on bike lanes or along the right edge of the roadway," she explained.

Enforcement of the sidewalk ban will be a collaborative effort between police and the kick-sharing services themselves. Companies are implementing technical measures, such as gradually reducing a scooter's speed to 2-3 kilometers per hour before bringing it to a complete stop if it enters a restricted zone. This system is designed to prevent sudden jolts and ensure compliance. Patrol units, foot patrols, and scooter patrols will identify violations, while the automated system acts as a further deterrent.

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When a scooter enters a restricted zone, the system initially slows it down, for example, to 2–3 kilometers per hour, and then stops it entirely to avoid a sudden jolt. This will be a collaborative effort: patrol units, foot patrols, and scooter patrols will identify sidewalk violations, while the automated system prevents movement in prohibited areas.

Additionally, the system will prevent individuals without a driver's license from renting scooters. Azirbek highlighted that parents and older relatives often allow minors to use their accounts, a loophole authorities intend to close. Police are working with banks and kick-sharing companies to develop a verification system that blocks rental attempts paid for with a minor's bank card. Companies that repeatedly allow unlicensed or underage riders to rent scooters could face administrative liability and operational restrictions.

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Currently, we see cases where parents or older siblings grant account access to younger relatives. These minors then pay using their own children's bank cards. We are working with banks to ensure kick-sharing companies can identify when a minor is trying to pay and block that transaction.