From 1 July 2026, a number of new requirements for the operation of rental e-scooters came into force in Kazakhstan. E-scooter sharing services are now obliged to identify users, verify their age and driving licence status, and use digital tools to monitor the use of the vehicles.
WHAT REQUIREMENTS HAVE COME INTO FORCE
According to Digital Business, the changes are provided for by amendments signed in December 2025.
From 1 July, e-scooter sharing services are obliged to:
- monitor the technical condition of e-scooters and carry out their maintenance;
- take out compulsory insurance for each scooter;
- keep a register of vehicles and affix unique identification numbers;
- use technology to track location and speed;
- automatically limit speed in designated zones;
- transmit data as stipulated by law to the authorised bodies;
- integrate with state information systems to identify users, verify age and check driving licence status.
At the same time, a driving licence is only required to ride a rental e-scooter on the carriageway. Users without a driving licence may use e-scooters on cycle paths and cycle lanes.
WHAT WILL CHANGE FROM 25 AUGUST
On 25 August 2026, a further amendment comes into force, under which e-scooters are banned from travelling on pavements.
Previously, legislation allowed travel on pavements at a speed of no more than 6 km/h if cycle paths or cycle lanes were not available. Following the introduction of the new rules, users without a driving licence will only be able to travel on cycle paths and cycle lanes.
HOW WILL ENFORCEMENT BE CARRIED OUT
As explained by the official representative of the Administrative Police Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (APC MIA), Aktoty Boranova, enforcement will be carried out using digital tools, including GPS, geofencing, automatic speed limiting and the registration of each e-scooter.
According to her, the services will be able to record technical data, limit speed and transmit information required by law to the authorised bodies. However, the decision to hold someone accountable is made by the police.
Representatives of several e-scooter sharing services reported that the current accuracy of GPS does not allow for reliably distinguishing between adjacent pavements, cycle paths and the carriageway. Therefore, in their assessment, it is technically impossible to completely eliminate violations using geolocation alone.
HOW THE INDUSTRY VIEWS THE CHANGES
Representatives of e-scooter sharing companies said they support the regulation of the industry, but have differing views on the potential impact of the new requirements.
At the company Whoosh, they stated that they do not expect a significant impact on demand. JET suggested a potential decrease in the number of trips by 20–30%, noting that the future situation will depend on how the new rules are applied in practice. Yandex Go believe that some users may give up rentals and switch to personal e-scooters or other modes of transport.
Industry representatives and urbanists who were surveyed also noted that the further development of micromobility largely depends on the development of cycling infrastructure.
