Kazakhstan to Enforce Stricter E-Scooter Rules from July 2026

Starting July 1, 2026, Kazakhstan will implement a comprehensive set of new regulations governing the use of electric scooters. The changes, which have been in development for months, aim to address growing safety concerns and integrate e-scooters formally into the country's traffic system.

The most significant shift will be a ban on riding e-scooters on sidewalks and pedestrian pathways. Currently, riders are permitted on sidewalks if they travel under 6 km/h and do not endanger pedestrians. This exception will be removed from the traffic rules. The only allowance will be on specially marked pedestrian streets designated as "shared movement zones," where speed is capped at 6 km/h and pedestrians retain the right of way.

After the new rules take effect, permitted areas for e-scooter movement will be strictly limited to bicycle lanes and paths. In their absence, riders may use the right edge of the roadway or the shoulder. Riding after dark will require functional lighting on the scooter.

A major focus of the reform is on rental scooters, known as kick-sharing services. From July 2026, rental companies and individual entrepreneurs will face a series of new obligations. They must ensure each scooter is in good technical condition through regular maintenance and immediately remove faulty units from service.

Operators will be required to verify a user's identity and check for a valid driver's license before renting out a scooter. Rental will be prohibited for individuals under 18 years old, those without a license, or persons who have been deprived of their driving rights. Crucially, holding a driver's license will be mandatory even if the user does not plan to ride on the roadway.

Every rental scooter must also be equipped with digital control technology to track speed, location, automatically reduce speed in restricted zones, and transmit data to authorities. Companies must also control parking to prevent scooters from being left in places that obstruct pedestrians or traffic.

Furthermore, each rental scooter must have mandatory third-party liability insurance (OSGPO) and a registration number displayed on its body. This insurance will cover treatment for injured parties and damage to third parties in case of an accident. Access to roadways will only be permitted for scooters that are both insured and registered.

The push for stricter regulation follows a sharp increase in accidents involving e-scooters. In Almaty alone during 2025, police registered 386 such accidents resulting in over 400 injuries and one fatality. Authorities also issued more than 24,000 administrative citations and impounded over 10,000 scooters.

"Electric scooters have effectively become part of the traffic flow," said Aydyn Kabduldinov, head of the Almaty Police Department. "The rules for them must be as clear and mandatory as for other road users."

He added that experience regulating mopeds has shown that systematic measures can reduce accident rates and improve discipline among road users.

The authorities emphasize that the goal is not to ban e-scooters but to regulate them effectively amidst their rising popularity. In parallel with the new rules, plans are underway in cities like Almaty to expand dedicated infrastructure by constructing approximately 80–88 kilometers of new bicycle lanes.