Kazakhstan to Enforce New E-Scooter Rules from July 2026

Starting July 1, 2026, Kazakhstan will implement a comprehensive set of new regulations for electric scooters, fundamentally changing how they are used and rented in cities like Almaty. The changes are a direct response to growing safety concerns and a sharp rise in accidents involving this popular mode of transport.

The upcoming rules mark a significant shift from the current regulations. Until the summer of 2026, existing rules will remain in place: e-scooters can use bike lanes as a priority, move along the right edge of the road or bus lanes (for riders over 18 with a driver's license), use the roadside, or travel on sidewalks at speeds not exceeding 6 km/h without endangering pedestrians.

The most notable change coming into force on July 1 is the prohibition of riding e-scooters on sidewalks and pedestrian walkways. This point will be removed from the current traffic rules. The only exception will be specially marked pedestrian streets with "shared movement zones," where speed is capped at 6 km/h and pedestrians have priority. Bicycles and other low-powered electric vehicles will retain their right to use sidewalks.

After the new rules take effect, permitted areas for e-scooter movement will be strictly limited to bicycle paths and lanes, the right edge of the roadway (in single file), and road shoulders. Riders must also ensure their scooters are equipped with lights for nighttime travel.

A major part of the regulatory overhaul targets rental services, known as kick-sharing. From July 2026, companies and individual entrepreneurs offering e-scooter rentals will face stringent new obligations. They must ensure every rental scooter has a registration number displayed on its body and is covered by mandatory third-party liability insurance (OSGPO). This insurance will cover treatment for victims and damage to third parties in case of an accident.

Rental operators will be required to digitally monitor their fleets. Each scooter must be equipped with technology to track speed, location, automatically reduce speed in restricted zones, and transmit data to authorities. Companies must also maintain their scooters' technical condition, immediately removing faulty units from service.

Before renting out a scooter, operators must verify the user's identity and check for a valid driver's license. Rental will be prohibited for individuals under 18 years old, those without a driver's license, or persons whose license has been revoked. A license will be mandatory regardless of whether the user plans to ride on the roadway.

Authorities emphasize that the goal is not to ban e-scooters but to integrate them safely into traffic flow following a surge in accidents. Police data from Almaty for 2025 recorded 386 accidents involving e-scooters, resulting in over 400 injuries and one fatality. Additionally, more than 24,000 administrative protocols were issued, and over 10,000 scooters were impounded.

"Electric scooters have effectively become part of the traffic flow," stated Aydyn Kabduldinov, head of the Almaty Police Department. "The rules for them should be as clear and mandatory as for other road users." He added that experience regulating mopeds showed systematic measures can reduce accidents and improve discipline.

In anticipation of these changes, city officials have announced plans to expand dedicated infrastructure. Preliminary plans involve constructing approximately 80–88 kilometers of new bicycle lanes in Almaty to accommodate both cyclists and scooter riders safely off pedestrian paths.