Companies 'Yandex Go', MTS Urent and Whoosh announced a reduction in the maximum speed of all electric scooters in Russia's kick-sharing services to 20 km/h. This decision reduces the maximum allowed speed by 20% according to traffic rules. The new measures will be tested within a pilot project starting from the beginning of the season. An IoT module installed in each scooter technically prevents it from exceeding 20 km/h.
Operators emphasized that the new measures are aimed at reducing the number of dangerous situations on sidewalks. Primarily, they limit the actions of unaware users who create hazardous situations with sudden maneuvers and hinder pedestrians' movement.
'There is a small portion of scooter drivers who allow themselves a higher speed mode. Now they will be forced to move within the limit of average speed,' it says in the press release from the companies.