Kazakhstan has become the first country in Central Asia where public concern over electric scooters reached such intensity that the issue was addressed by the president himself. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev mentioned electric scooters in his latest Address to the People of Kazakhstan, a key policy document that outlines the country’s development priorities for the year ahead.

In recent weeks, multiple high-profile incidents involving electric scooters have dominated headlines: a woman suffered a broken leg after being hit by teenagers on a scooter; schoolchildren collided with a baby stroller in Almaty; two girls were struck by a bus while riding a scooter; a passerby lost an eye after confronting an aggressive rider; and a fight broke out between two scooter users unable to share the road.

These events, widely reported in local media, have fostered growing public frustration toward both scooter riders and the companies that rent out these vehicles.

Demonstrating a commitment to what he calls a “responsive state,” Tokayev addressed the issue directly in his national address.

“Attention should also be paid to electric scooters, a topic that is being actively discussed in society,” he said. “Two years ago, legislative changes were made that impose restrictions on riding on sidewalks. But the situation in public places has not changed much, and citizens are still at risk. Legislative amendments regulating this area have now been prepared and must be adopted without delay.”

The changes referenced by the president came into effect on August 30, 2023. They prohibit scooter use on public roads without a driver’s license, helmet, and reflective elements. Riders are also barred from exceeding 6 km/h on sidewalks.

However, these regulations have had limited impact, largely due to a lack of enforcement. Scooter rental companies pledged to implement technical solutions such as speed limiters on sidewalks, single-rider restrictions, and designated parking zones to prevent scooters from obstructing pedestrian pathways. But many of these promises have yet to materialize.

On the issue of underage riders, operators have deflected responsibility, saying parents must supervise their children. “It is the parents themselves who give teenagers access to rental scooters,” one business representative noted.

In response to the president’s remarks, a roundtable was quickly convened in Astana with participation from police and kick-sharing companies. Authorities reported that of 31 traffic accidents involving scooters this year, 18 involved minors.

In Almaty, the epicenter of most high-profile incidents, raids were carried out in response to mounting public pressure. In a single day, police recorded over 800 scooter-related violations, including 11 cases involving parental negligence. A total of 259 scooters were impounded. To bolster enforcement, 50 additional police patrols were deployed in high-traffic areas using scooters provided by rental companies.

The Almaty City Administration’s Urban Mobility Department also announced plans to expand infrastructure to manage the problem of scooters left haphazardly on sidewalks. Currently, 67 workers, referred to as “scouts”, relocate abandoned vehicles to 15 designated parking zones. An additional 10 parking areas are expected to be operational by October.

In short, the problem may not be the lack of regulation, but the failure to enforce existing rules. As scooter-related incidents continue to spark public backlash, the path forward may depend less on new legislation and more on effective implementation of measures already in place.