Kirill Fedorov of the Moscow Department of Transport and Development of Road Transport Infrastructure said scooter rentals could operate in winter if cycling infrastructure improves. Speaking at the XIV International Eurasian Taxi Forum, Fedorov said year-round scooter use is possible if residents can access bike paths directly from their homes to reach metro stations or final destinations, news agency Moscow reported.
Fedorov emphasized that year-round service requires proper infrastructure maintenance, including regular monitoring, winter snow clearing, and stopping cars from parking on bike lanes. He noted that delivery couriers already work through the winter, showing that cold-weather scooter rentals are feasible, though significant work remains to implement the system.
Current rental limits and testing
Philipp Levchenko, adviser to the general director of the Urent kicksharing service, said pilot tests are underway for technology that could allow electric scooters to operate in colder weather. However, the press service of the Moscow Department of Transport and Development of Road Transport Infrastructure said continuing rental operations during cold weather is not currently being considered because standard electric scooters are not designed for winter conditions.
The department specified that once freezing temperatures arrive, the rental season will close and all personal mobility devices will be moved to service centers until next spring. Transport officials added that delivery couriers travel on specialized electric bicycles featuring large wheels and winter tires, and receive professional training before riding.
Rider sentiment survey
A previous survey found that nearly a third of Russians, or 30 percent, feel calmer when traveling on electric scooters. An additional 21 percent of respondents said riding scooters helps them recover their emotional state.
