E-scooter concerns to be heard by committees

A Dunedin woman’s concerns about e-scooter safety will soon be taken to the NZ Transport Agency and  South Island councils.

Most Otago regional councillors appeared to get behind a presentation by Lynley Hood this week in which she raised concerns about the safety of pedestrians and the process of legalising the use of e-scooters on footpaths.

Two said they would take her concerns to transport committees that included South Island councils and NZTA personnel.

But Cr Ella Lawton added a word of caution to proceedings, noting Otago needed a multi-modal model of travel, so all forms of transport were catered for.

And Lime, which recently introduced its scooters to Dunedin, said it was working to educate riders on safe riding and parking practices.

Dr Hood presented a submission to the Otago Regional Council on the issue this week.

She has questioned the legality of e-scooter use on footpaths, and raised concerns about pedestrian safety.

The co-convener of the Dunedin Pedestrian Action Network and a trustee of the Visual Impairment Charitable Trust Aotearoa has complained the process of legalising e-scooters was rushed, and said allowing their use on footpaths had led to significant injuries.

She has also criticised the NZ Transport Agency’s handling of the issue.She told the ORC’s finance and corporate committee the NZTA’s "cavalier use" of legislation meant "there’s nothing to stop e-scooters being imported privately or for sale, that can tear along our footpaths at frightening speeds".

Crs Trevor Kempton and Graeme Bell, chairman and deputy chairman respectively of the Otago regional transport committee, said they would take the presentation to the combined Otago and Southland regional transport committee.

That committee includes local government and NZTA representatives, and meets next month. As well, it would be taken to the South Island regional transport committee chairs group, made up of members from regional and district councils across New Zealand.

Cr Bell said after the meeting the benefit of taking the presentation to the committees was the message would get out to all transport authorities in the South Island.

"It is a chance for us to challenge all those aspects with a little bit more clout."

The issue could then be taken to Local Government New Zealand and the Government, and the exposure could "get something done".

Cr Bell said his view on e-scooters was planning was needed for "the 21st century innovations put before us".

However, that needed to take everybody into consideration.

But Cr Lawton said at the meeting the council should remember the region needed space for other modes of transport.

"If we build for cars, we’ll only get cars," she said.

"I don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to have diverse options."

A Lime  spokeswoman said the company was rolling out a "Respect the Ride" campaign across New Zealand to educate riders on safe riding and parking practices.

The company’s app is regularly coming up with messages on the subject.

The spokeswoman said Lime’s operations team was on call to deal with any scooters that had been left in inappropriate areas.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz