Electric Scooter and Bike Rental (original) (raw)

Scooters

The scooter season in Moscow starts when the weather gets warmer and the snow melts. The exact dates depend on the weather and road conditions, but typically it begins in March and ends in October. With the season's arrival, electric scooters can be found near metro and bus stations, in parks, and other public areas.

Important! From 2025, only users who have verified their identity through the rental app using their account on the mos.ru website can rent scooters.

How to complete verification

If the user already has a confirmed account on mos.ru, it is sufficient to sign into the app via Mos ID. If the user doesn’t yet have a confirmed account, registration is required.

When registering, you can use your verified account on gosuslugi.ru or your Sber ID, T-ID (T-Bank), VTB ID, or Alfa ID.

Since foreigners must already have a verified Gosuslugi account to obtain a Russian mobile number, this step is relatively quick.

It is not possible to register using a phone number from non-Russian mobile operators. However, foreign citizens staying in Moscow can still rent electric scooters up to five times without identity verification through the rental services directly.

Guidelines for renting and using scooters

• Age: Individuals aged 14 and above are permitted to use electric scooters under the same traffic rules as adults. However, scooter rental services are only available to users who are 18 or older.
• No driving licence is required.
• Where to ride: Electric scooters are permitted in the following areas: cycle paths, pedestrian-cyclist paths, cycle lanes, roads with a speed limit of no more than 60 km/h.
• Speed: The speed limit for scooters is up to 25 km/h. Rental scooters are equipped with built-in speed limiters that prevent them from exceeding the allowed speed.

In Moscow there are 350 slow zones where the maximum speed is 5–15 km/h. There are also no-ride areas. On rented scooters, the speed is automatically reduced in these zones. You can find the location of slow or no-ride zones on the map.

• One scooter = one person: While you might see two people riding one electric scooter around the city, this is prohibited under both Russian law and the rental company's regulations. Violations of these rules may result in fines ranging from 800 to even 100,000 rubles.
• Insurance: When renting a scooter from official services, basic insurance is included by default. If a collision involving a third party occurs, the service provider will compensate for the damage.
• Parking: Scooters must be left at designated city cycle parking stations. The app of your rental service provider usually includes a map showing parking areas for scooters. A fine of 500 rubles is issued for improper parking.

The most popular rental services in Moscow are YandexGo, Whoosh, Urent, and lite. You can find detailed rental terms on the website of the providers: YandexGo, Urent, and lite (in Russian), and Whoosh (in English).

Bikes

In addition to electric scooters, both electric and standard bicycles are a common sight on the streets of Moscow. Depending on your preference, you can rent either an electric bike or a traditional pedal-powered one.

Important! The new mos.ru registration rules also apply to bike rentals.

Guidelines for renting and using bikes

• Age: Bike rental services are only available to users aged 18 or older.
• No driving licence is required.
• Where to ride: Bikes are permitted in the following areas: cycle paths, pedestrian-cyclist paths, cycle lanes, roads with a speed limit of no more than 60 km/h.
• Speed:Thespeed limit for bikes is up to 25 km/h. Rental bikes are equipped with built-in speed limiters that prevent them from exceeding the allowed speed.

In Moscow there are 350 slow zones where the maximum speed is 5–15 km/h. There are also no-ride areas. On rented bikes, the speed is automatically reduced in these zones. You can find the location of slow or no-ride zones on the map.

• Insurance: When renting a bike from official services, basic insurance is included by default, covering both your health and that of a third party. The basic package can be upgraded for additional protection.
• One bike = one person.
• Driving under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited. Violators may face fines ranging from 1,000 to 150,000 rubles.
• Parking: Bikes must be left at designated city cycle parking stations. The app of your rental service provider usually includes a map showing parking areas for bikes and scooters.

Holders of ‘Ediny’ transport cards and the Moscow Resident Social Card are entitled to free bike rides. A 30-day subscription on the transport card includes 60 free bike rides, while a 90-day subscription card includes 180 rides. Each ride can last up to 30 minutes, with no limit on the number of rides per day.

Velobike is the main bike rental provider in Moscow.You can rent a bike through Velobikedirectly. If you are an Android user, you first need to download the RuStore app, after which you can download the Velobike app. IOS users can rent a bike through the website. An easier way to use the rental service is by using the Yandex.Go app, which works for both Android and IOS users.

All the service providers offer a wide range of rates, allowing you to select the most suitable option for your journey. The average rate as of summer 2025 is 300–400 roubles per hour.