Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Experts from the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies (IMRI) analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of kicksharing in the country.

Kicksharing  - short-term rental of electric scooters.

In April 2022, the first online electric scooter rental service was launched in Tashkent, which gained great popularity in a short period of time.

But the sudden influx of electric scooters, in the absence of special parking spaces and certain rules for use, has caused havoc for other road users (for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers).

Benefits of kicksharing:

- a convenient means of transportation from point A to point B in the shortest possible time;

- more affordable compared to cars;

- is an alternative to private cars and reduces traffic congestion;

- environmentally friendly transport.

Flaws:

- The chaotic movement of electric scooters on roads creates stress for drivers;

- racing on sidewalks creates a risk for pedestrians, especially the elderly, children and the disabled;

- movement with a second person on the same device;

- unsystematic parking of electric scooters on the roads, blocking access to traffic;

-use by minors and people under the influence of alcohol.

Statistics of incidents involving electric scooters:

1. 17 people have died in Italy over the past two years in electric scooter incidents.

2. In France, electric scooters have killed at least 27 people in 2022. In Paris itself, 3 people died in 2022, and 459 were injured.

3. In the UK in 2021, 10 electric scooter riders were killed in collisions and 331 others were seriously injured.

4. In Germany, in 2022, there were a total of 442 accidents involving electric scooters.

Given the growing number of injuries associated with the use of electric scooters, governments have begun to take a number of measures aimed at regulating the irresponsible use of devices. In particular:

▪️ In April of this year, a referendum on a complete ban on electric scooters was held in Paris, in which 90% of respondents were in favor of banning these vehicles.

▪️ In 2022, authorities in the Finnish capital Helsinki banned the rental of e-scooters after midnight on weekends.

▪️ In Japan, there is a rule that electric scooters must have a license plate and side mirrors. Also, driving on the sidewalk is prohibited.

▪️ In the UK, you must have a category Q driver’s license to use electric scooters.

▪️ In Denmark, Spain and Norway, helmets have been introduced as a minimum technical standard since 2022.

▪️ In Russia, since 2023, users of electric scooters are prohibited from carrying cargo and other passengers.

It should be noted that the concept of "electric scooter" is not included in the current traffic rules of the Republic of Uzbekistan. For the development of electric scooters as a valuable means of urban transportation, it is proposed to improve legislation and regulate their use by:

- introduction of the concept of electric scooters into the rules of the road and give them the status of transport;

- apply the technology of automatic speed reduction in certain areas;

- to develop a mechanism that prevents the simultaneous ride of two people on a scooter, as well as in a state of intoxication;

- introduction of age restrictions on the use of devices and the development of a mechanism to comply with this restriction (use Face-ID technology);

- the introduction of restrictions on the night rental of electric scooters (since most cases of drunkenness occur at this time, and visibility on the roads is also reduced);

- create special parking zones.

These measures will increase the safety of using electric scooters, prevent undesirable consequences and help avoid the emergence of a negative image among the population towards this ecological and convenient mode of transport.