Lime e-scooters have been given the all-clear to return to Dunedin streets but fans may have to wait until next week for their next trip.
Representatives from Lime and the Dunedin City Council met yesterday to discuss the e-scooters' return after their voluntary removal more than a week ago, due to safety concerns.
Council community services general manager Simon Pickford said Lime had agreed verbally to a set of five conditions and once they agreed in writing the council would be happy for the scooters to return.
Conditions included reporting any serious safety incidents, anywhere in the world, to the council within 48 hours, the weekly inspection of e-scooters used in Dunedin and more information about safety and rider behaviour.
"Once we have written confirmation that they agree to these conditions, Lime scooters will be back on Dunedin streets.''
Lime voluntarily withdrew its e-scooters in Dunedin last week, hours after Auckland temporarily suspended the company's licence to operate, citing concerns about random brake lock-ups causing injuries to riders.
Auckland Council also announced yesterday it would allow Lime to operate again, providing it meets certain conditions regarding reporting safety incidents and concerning scooter maintenance.
In a statement, Lime executive Mitchell Price said there would be an update on the redeployment of the e-scooters on Monday.
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No mention of pavements then. Pedestrians watch your backs, and start wearing protective clothing and helmets if you want to walk anywhere on a Dunedin street.
Given many rider's limited skills, restricting them from the busiest pedestrian areas - maybe George, Great king and Princes in the CBD and King Edward's shopping area in South D - might not be a bad idea. However, given the years of roading mayhem about to be inflicted on us by the hospital rebuild and other works, and the annual traffic lunacy that is the tourist season, the Lime scooters might be the only thing between Dunedin and gridlock. And no, the inconvenient, sweaty, hard to secure, mandatory helmet affair that is cycling is not an option in this town of steep hills and narrow streets.