Restricting the pace of electric bike couriers' travel.
Riding Through Russia: Delivery Dilemmas and the Race to Safety
On the Record Anton Orlov, the big-shot director of the Institute for the Study of Modern Politics, has dropped a bombshell in the Russian scene. He's suggested restricting the speed of those dashing delivery drones - you know, our trusty Individual Mobility (IM) devices.
Orlov's drawn a letter, addressing none other than the head honcho of Transport, Roman Starovoyt. His letter's all about restricting the zippiness of these delivery devices in Russia due to a spike in accidents caused by breaching pedestrian zones, as RT's been chirping about lately.
As it stands, these speedy delivery dudes (and dudettes) dash around with no regard for speed limits. The public's not amused, and it's Orlov's idea to give these regulatory acts a nudge, capping the max speed of IM devices used by delivery couriers at an even-Steven 20 km/h.
Last year, reports tickled out about wayward IM usage in the town of Nizhny Novgorod.
Behind the Scenes Here's the lowdown on the current situation and looming changes to our piloting playground:
- Steady Steeds: Did you know that electric scooters, even the pros used for kick-sharing services, are now hobbled at 20 km/h? That's a 20% shave off the previous max for personal mobility equipment[1].
- Riding Quotas: Muscle is being flexed to limit the number of rental electric scooters in towns, in a bid to ease urban infrastructure tension and bolster traffic order[1].
- Deterrents: To nip violations in the bud, the thought of hefty fines is lurking for serious offenses, like renting scooters to minors or pedaling while inebriated. The discussion's also stimulating improvements in infrastructure, such as designated lanes for scooters akin to cycling trails, heightened oversight for underage users, and spectacles like speed cameras to monitor scooter use[2].
- Infrastructure Development: The dream of infrastructure geared to scooter users is alive. It includes creating dedicated scooter lanes like cycling lanes to protect scooter rookies and give pedestrians a clean run[2].
By throwing these new rules into the mix, the authorities hope to take control of the safety wobbles caused by scooters and bicycles used by delivery services[1].
- Anton Orlov's proposal suggests a regulatory change for delivery devices in Russia, aiming to restrict the maximum speed of Individual Mobility (IM) devices used by couriers to 20 km/h.
- The proposed changes in the Russian transportation industry also include deterrents such as hefty fines for rental scooter violations, like renting to minors or riding while inebriated, and improvements in infrastructure such as designated lanes for IM devices and speed cameras.
- In the finance sector, the proposed changes could potentially impact delivery companies, as they may have to invest in new devices with the restricted speed or revise their delivery strategies to maintain efficiency.
- The public transit industry might also be affected by these changes, as the increased safety measures for IM devices could potentially reduce road congestion and accidents, enhancing the overall safety of public transit systems.
- By 2025, the delivery industry in Russia could experience a shift as a result of the proposed regulatory changes, leading to the development of more safety-focused IM devices and strategies to ensure safe and efficient deliveries.
