Kazakhstan to Enforce Stricter Rules for Electric Scooters Starting July 2026

New regulations governing the use of electric scooters will come into effect in Kazakhstan on July 1, 2026. The changes, developed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, aim to address growing safety concerns and integrate scooters into the formal traffic system.

The upcoming rules represent a significant shift from current practices. Until July 2026, existing regulations will remain in place, allowing scooters on bicycle lanes, the right edge of the roadway (for riders over 18 with a driver's license), shoulders, and sidewalks at speeds not exceeding 6 km/h without endangering pedestrians.

A key change will be a ban on riding electric scooters on sidewalks and pedestrian paths. The only exception will be specially marked pedestrian streets designated as "shared movement zones," where speed is capped at 6 km/h and pedestrians have priority. After the new rules take effect, permitted areas for scooter movement will be limited to bicycle lanes and paths, the right edge of the roadway (in single file), and road shoulders.

The most stringent requirements will apply to rental scooters provided by kick-sharing companies. From July 2026, rental operators—individual entrepreneurs and legal entities—will face a series of new obligations. They must ensure each scooter is in proper technical condition through regular maintenance and immediately remove faulty units from service.

Operators will also be required to verify a user's identity and possession of a valid driver's license before renting a scooter. Rental will be prohibited for individuals under 18 years old, those without a driver's license, or persons whose license has been revoked. Crucially, holding a license will be mandatory regardless of whether the user plans to ride on the roadway.

Each rental scooter must be equipped with digital control technology to track speed, location, automatically reduce speed in restricted zones, and transmit data to authorities. Operators must also prevent improper parking that obstructs pedestrians or traffic.

A major new requirement is mandatory third-party liability insurance (OSGPO) for every rental scooter. Access to roadways will only be permitted if the scooter is both insured and registered with an official license plate displayed on its body. In the event of an accident, the insurance company will cover treatment costs for victims and damage to third parties.

Authorities emphasize that the goal is not to ban electric scooters but to regulate them due to rising accident rates. 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 has shown that systematic measures can reduce accidents and improve discipline.

In parallel with stricter rules, city officials have announced plans to expand dedicated infrastructure. Preliminary plans in Almaty include constructing approximately 80–88 kilometers of new bicycle lanes.