Chernivtsi backs decision to terminate memoranda with e-scooter operators

On August 10, the Chernivtsi city council voted to end agreements governing the use of e-scooters in the city, according to a YouTube livestream of the council session. The proposal was led by council member Oksana Zubzhytska and colleagues from the Servant of the People faction. The city council endorsed the draft decision to discontinue the memoranda on e-scooter use in Chernivtsi, as announced by Zubzhytska on Facebook.

Under the draft, operators Bolt, Vevi, and Jet.ua must remove e-scooters, charging stations, and related gear from public spaces within 14 days. Failure to comply would result in the vehicles being stored temporarily. Zubzhytska expressed concern over young children and minors using e-scooters on roadways, pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, and crowded areas, which raised safety risks for both riders and others.

She also noted the danger of two or three individuals sharing a single scooter, increasing accident risks, and the absence of a clear accountability system for collisions with pedestrians, cyclists, or vehicles, including damages and parking regulations enforcement.

Former Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Kuleba had previously discussed setting an age limit for e-scooter use in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. He submitted similar proposals to the Verkhovna Rada committee, citing the high number of teenage users and increased trauma center visits correlated with the mode. Kuleba emphasized the need for safety requirements, including speed limits and mandatory helmet use.