Vycheslav Volodin, the State Duma speaker and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has proposed a new initiative as deputies review legislation aimed at fining irresponsible electric scooter riders, including those who speed or ride under the influence. Volodin believes that the imposition of fines could help reduce traffic accidents and fatalities caused by reckless riders.
Electric scooters have gained significant popularity in Russian cities, with the e-scooter company Whoosh conducting the country's sole initial public offering in 2022, raising 2.1 billion roubles ($23.8 million). However, there has been increasing pressure to regulate these vehicles due to their involvement in over 3,000 accidents in 2023, according to a senator. Volodin's survey on the Telegram app revealed that many Russians support a ban on scooters.
A woman's comment, "Away with scooters on the streets," echoed by around 6,000 other users, highlighted the fear and risk associated with walking in areas where scooters are prevalent. Many cities globally have enacted laws to restrict the use of e-scooters, which have become popular among delivery services, locals, and tourists. Some cities, like Paris, have even imposed outright bans.
Volodin emphasized the public's concern for road safety, particularly concerning children, and advocated for increased accountability for electric scooter drivers to decrease accidents and enhance citizen safety. The legislation, which passed its first of three readings last week, proposes fines of up to 30,000 roubles ($340) for drunk riders and up to 5,000 roubles ($55) for speedsters, along with penalties for other violations such as multiple riders on one scooter or refusing a medical examination.
Since the beginning of the year, the number of scooter-related incidents has more than doubled compared to the previous year, according to Volodin. Numerous online videos from Russia depict scooter collisions and other mishaps, including a 2021 incident where a culture ministry official was assaulted by a group of intoxicated men for riding a scooter on the pavement.
