AZE.US
Some electric scooter riders in Baku say they reach speeds of up to 45 kilometers per hour, even as street interviews suggest that many are unaware of the traffic rules governing their vehicles.
Under Azerbaijani regulations, e-scooters may travel at no more than 20 km/h (12 mph) in bicycle lanes. The limit falls to 10 km/h (6 mph) in parks and residential zones.
Several riders interviewed in Baku admitted exceeding those limits. Some said they typically travel at 25–30 km/h in residential areas, while another estimated reaching 40–45 km/h (25–28 mph) on a clear, straight stretch of road. Others acknowledged that they did not know the legal speed limits.
The warning comes amid growing concern over unsafe scooter and bicycle use in the capital.
Cameras operated by Baku’s Intelligent Transport Management Center have recorded riders traveling against traffic, entering bus lanes, running red lights and moving through pedestrian crossings without slowing down. Some have also been seen weaving between vehicles, carrying passengers and making sudden maneuvers in front of cars.
In one recorded incident, a scooter rider moving through a pedestrian crossing caused a collision.
Drivers say scooters often appear abruptly between cars, forcing motorists to brake sharply. Although Baku has dedicated bicycle lanes in several areas, riders do not always use them and sometimes enter the roadway or travel in the wrong direction.
The Main State Traffic Police Department reminded scooter users that they must yield to pedestrians in residential areas, maintain a safe distance from other road users and avoid unnecessary lane changes.
Riders must also obey traffic lights, road signs and markings. Carrying a second person on a scooter is prohibited, as is using a mobile phone or another distracting device while riding.
At night or in conditions of limited visibility, scooters must have functioning lights. Police also recommend using reflective elements to make riders more visible to drivers.
Compliance is monitored by police officers and through footage from the city’s traffic surveillance cameras. Authorities said legal measures are taken when officers identify riders violating speed limits or other traffic rules.
Traffic police urged scooter users to recognize that they are full participants in road traffic and bear responsibility not only for their own safety but also for the safety of pedestrians and motorists.
AZE.US