Russia to Force All Scooter Renters to Log In via Gosuslugi
In a display of pure administrative genius, the Moscow Region Ministry of Transport has decided that taking a ride on a scooter now requires a government-verified digital ID. Because nothing screams 'freedom of movement' like mandatory state-linked login screens.
Starting now and finalized by September 2026, every single person wanting to rent a scooter or electric bike in the Moscow Region must link their rental account to Gosuslugi, the national portal for state services. Yandex Go has already jumped on the bandwagon, making it the first app to force users through the verification gauntlet. The stated goal is to keep minors off rental rides by verifying their age against official government databases in real-time.
This move is just one piece of a broader crackdown on micromobility that includes strict geo-fencing and designated parking zones across 32 municipalities. If a rider misbehaves, the authorities have even set up specialized chatbots on platforms like Telegram and VKontakte where citizens can snitch on violators by uploading photo or video proof directly to the rental operators. The entire system is designed to treat urban transit like a high-security clearance event, where every rental starts with a digital handshake from the state.
The transformation of public transport into a surveillance grid is truly impressive. Apparently, the only way to prevent a teenager from crashing a rented scooter is to require a full-scale digital dossier for every ride, effectively turning every sidewalk into a checkpoint.
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