Mykolaiv is considering introducing new rules for electric scooters following a road traffic accident involving children

Mykolaiv is looking to improve safety when using electric scooters. The city council plans to analyse the experience of other cities and draw up proposals for possible restrictions.

This instruction was given by the mayor, Oleksandr Sienkevych, during a staff meeting on 6 July, according to NikVesti.

According to Valery Vetrov, the problem has become particularly acute this summer. In the past week alone, he witnessed three accidents involving electric scooters, one of which resulted in serious injuries to children.

«Another issue that has become more prominent with the start of the summer season is the use of electric scooters, particularly by teenagers. Last Sunday, I witnessed three accidents in the Soborna area. One resulted in serious injuries — the children were taken away by an ambulance,» he said.

Valerii Vetrov pointed out that back in 2023, the Supreme Court recognised riding an electric scooter as a high-risk activity. The Expert and Public Council therefore examined how this issue is addressed in other countries and Ukrainian cities.

According to him, Paris has completely banned electric scooter hire; in Toronto, they are prohibited from being ridden on roads, pavements and in public spaces; and in Singapore, riding electric scooters on pavements was banned as far back as 2019.

Restrictions are also already being introduced in Ukraine. In Ternopil, electric scooters have been banned from the central pedestrian zone and operators have been required to limit their speed. In Lviv, proposals have been put forward to allow the use of shared scooters only from the age of 16, to make helmets compulsory, to limit speeds in dangerous areas and to designate special parking areas.

In addition, Valerii Vetrov proposed that the relevant departments of the city council prepare, within two weeks, their proposals on the safe use of electric scooters in Mykolaiv and their comments on draft law No. 3023, which is intended to regulate the use of light electric vehicles in Ukraine.

Oleksandr Sienkevych agreed that the problem needed to be addressed, but noted that some of the proposals would be difficult to implement.

«I can easily imagine someone walking along carrying a helmet, and then deciding to ride a scooter. You’d have to leave the house in the morning and think: «Maybe I’ll ride a scooter today, so I’ll take my helmet.» It’s not easy to put that into practice,» he said.

At the same time, the mayor cited the example of Paris, where automatic speed limits are already in place for shared scooters.

«There are special zones where the scooter automatically reduces its speed. There are even places where it stops moving altogether. It works,» noted Oleksandr Sienkevych.

According to him, the greatest danger comes not from shared scooters, but from private electric scooters, which are often bought for children.

«It is not so much the shared scooters that reach high speeds, but rather those sold in shops and bought by parents for their children. It is impossible to limit them via software because they are privately owned. We need to consider how to regulate this,» he said.

The mayor also supported the idea of setting a minimum age for using rental electric scooters.

«I am in favour of an age restriction. Service providers can verify users’ ages via the app,» he said.

Following the discussion, Oleksandr Sienkevych instructed the relevant departments to draw up proposals.

«Let’s draw up such a directive and involve the transport department, as this issue really does need to be resolved,» said the mayor.

Finally, he added that parents also bear responsibility for their children’s safety.

«If a child is using a shared scooter, parents can see this from the charges on their bank card. Therefore, they too must keep an eye on the situation. Parents play a huge role,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

We would like to remind you that on the evening of 25 June 2026, two electric scooters collided on the city’s main street. The incident took place near the cheburek shop (between Vadym Blahovisnyi Street and Admiralska Street). The injured required ambulance assistance. In total, 390 people, including 168 children, have been injured in road traffic accidents involving light electric vehicles in Ukraine since the start of the year. A further five people have died, including two minors.