Kazakhstanis Demand Higher Speed Limit for Rental E-Scooters

A petition addressed to the Almaty Akimat has been published on Kazakhstan’s e-petition platform. Residents and visitors are calling for the speed limits on rental electric scooters to be revised, Orda.kz reports.

The petition proposes allowing shared electric scooters to travel at up to 25 km/h on separate bike paths and bike lanes. The same limit would apply on the right side of the road if the rider holds a driver’s license of any category.

According to the author, the current 15 km/h limit has deprived scooter-sharing services of their main advantage — mobility. The petition claims the lower speed is causing people to arrive late for work and classes while worsening traffic in a city already congested because of road repairs.

The author argues that a 15 km/h limit on separated bike paths is illogical and creates safety risks. Slow rental scooters cause congestion, while couriers, private scooter users and cyclists attempt dangerous overtaking maneuvers. Riding at such a low speed alongside cars also increases the risk of crashes, the petition says.

The petition calls for restoring the 25 km/h limit on bike paths while keeping the 10–15 km/h restriction only for sidewalks and parks. It also urges the city to develop and physically separate Almaty’s cycling infrastructure.

Earlier, we reported that electric scooters will be banned from sidewalks beginning August 25. In practice, rental scooter users without a driver’s license will face significant restrictions.

Original author: Eva Golovintseva

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