On May 10, during the plenary session of the Lower Chamber of Parliament (the Majilis), deputies adopted a draft law recognizing electric scooters as vehicles, QazMonitor reports.
Deputy Yekaterina Smyshlyayeva outlined the introduced amendments, stating that the category of electric scooters will include vehicles with a speed of up to 25 kilometers per hour.
“Electric scooters can move without restrictions on bicycle lanes and they will be allowed to move on sidewalks at a speed not exceeding 6 kilometers per hour, matching that of pedestrian traffic. This approach represents a compromise solution for the owners of this new mode of transportation and pedestrians, as limiting the speed on the sidewalk will ensure pedestrian safety,” said Smyshlyaeva
In addition, owners of electric scooters who wish to drive in the rightmost lane of the roadway, including the bus-only lane, must be over 18 years old, wear a properly fastened helmet and reflective clothing, and possess a driving license of any category. It is prohibited to carry loads or passengers on an electric scooter.
Smyshlyayeva also noted that many cities across the country lack the necessary urban infrastructure and that the legislative group has already begun developing a second set of regulatory tools for urban transport planning.