Approximately 15,000 scooters and bicycles will appear on the capital's streets alone with the arrival of the warm season. This season, travel on the two-wheeled personal mobility devices loved by many will be governed by new rules. The changes concern parking; provisions have come into effect for which violations can lead to blocking by a car-sharing company (for example, for riding double. - BELTA note), and city zones free of scooters and bicycles have appeared.
 
As noted by Viktor Rotchenkov, Head of the Main Traffic Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a mandatory rule has been introduced: when crossing the roadway at a pedestrian crossing, scooter and bicycle riders must dismount.

"Exceptions apply in cases where a regulated pedestrian crossing is equipped with a bicycle traffic light or an information sign. Dismounting is also not required if a cyclist or scooter rider is moving along the line of sidewalks. Here, they must be guided by road signs and traffic lights," Viktor Rotchenkov explained.
 
New speed limits have been set for PMV drivers. "Within the first city ring, we have speed limits for rental PMVs up to 15 km/h, within the second city ring - 17 km/h, and in the remaining territory of Minsk - 20 km/h. There are also 'quiet' zones in Minsk: about 200 intersections and pedestrian crossings are accident-prone, where the speed is programmatically limited to 7 km/h, which is practically close to the speed of a fast-walking pedestrian," said Denis Livvanovich, Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Department of the Minsk City Executive Committee's Internal Affairs Directorate.

Victory Park, Chelyuskintsev Park, Gorky Park, and the territories adjacent to kindergartens in the capital have been declared scooter and bicycle-free zones.

The start of the season for scooter and bicycle users is a busy time for traumatologists.

"Most often, such road users suffer from forearm fractures, upper shoulder girdle injuries, namely clavicle fractures and dislocations, comminuted fractures of the olecranon. Lower extremities are less affected. For example, comminuted patella fractures occur. Sometimes the injuries are very severe, requiring limb fixation with metal structures," said Vladimir Malets, Head of Traumatology and Orthopedics Department No. 1 of the Healthcare Institution "6th City Clinical Hospital."

Specialists state that scooters themselves are not dangerous; the danger for PMV drivers lies in reckless behavior on the road, ignorance of traffic rules, and intentional violation thereof.

"BelTA"