Kazakhstan May Push E-Bikes and Electric Unicycles Off Sidewalks
Illustration: envato
Almaty has seen a rise in electric unicycles, electric skateboards and high-speed e-bikes. Their legal status remains unclear, and the Almaty Police Department says it is preparing proposals to regulate them, Orda.kz reports.
Police spokesperson Saltanat Azirbek said at a Regional Communications Service briefing that electric unicycles are not currently recognized as full-fledged vehicles. Electric skateboards are also appearing increasingly often on the city’s streets. Police argue that creating separate legislation for every new device would be impractical. Instead, they propose classifying them as personal mobility devices, as other major cities have done. Supporters say this would establish riders’ rights and responsibilities under the law.
An electric unicycle is also a means of transportation, but it is not legally recognized as a vehicle. It is a personal mobility device, and we are seeing more of them in the city. Electric skateboards have also appeared. The Almaty Police Department will therefore most likely submit a proposal covering all personal mobility devices in the near future,Azirbek said.
Pedestrians and civic activists have supported moving e-scooters off sidewalks and onto roads, but the situation with e-bikes remains complicated. Couriers and other riders continue to use sidewalks on heavy electric bicycles.
Logically, all of them should be classified as personal mobility devices, with their obligations established at the legislative level,Azirbek explained.
According to police, e-bikes became more popular following reforms affecting two-wheeled vehicles. When mandatory moped registration began in Kazakhstan on April 5, 2025, many riders reportedly switched to high-speed e-bikes to avoid the new requirements.
High-powered e-bikes do not fall into a separate, less-regulated category: they are treated as mopeds. Owners must register them at a specialized public service center, obtain a license plate and vehicle registration certificate, and purchase insurance.
They must complete this procedure, obtain a state-issued registration plate and insurance, carry a vehicle registration certificate and bear the same responsibility as moped riders,Azirbek said.
Original author: Eva Golovintseva
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