Auckland mayor orders urgent scooter safety probe after councillor almost hit

Thursday, 25 October 2018

E-scooter company Lime launched in New Zealand with hundreds of scooters scattered across Auckland and Christchurch. (Video first published in October 2018)

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has called for an urgent council report on safety issues with the region's controversial new electric scooters.

The Government is also looking at legislation of low-powered vehicles, the category the e-scooters fit into.

Lime Scooters, launched in Auckland and Christchurch just over a week ago, became a topic of rigorous debate at Auckland Council's Governing Body on Thursday morning.

Councillor Christine Fletcher raised the issue, saying she was almost knocked over on her way to the Town Hall for Thursday's meeting.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff wants his staff to take an urgent look at e-scooter safety.

* Safety concerns raised as electric scooters arrive in New Zealand

* Lime scooters launch in New Zealand's two largest cities**

Auckland Councillor Christine Fletcher was almost 'taken out' by a Lime Scooter on her way to Thursday's Governing Body meeting. (File photo)

In a statement, New Zealand Lime launcher Hank Rowe said it was committed to working with local authorities to 'tailor Lime's service to the needs of both cities and will be conducting roundtable discussions with NZTA, Auckland Transport and Christchurch City Council to prioritise safety'.

It would also be hosting a rider safety summit in the next week to teach users about 'responsible scooter usage', Rowe said.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel says she's had no complaints about the scooters and has only seen 'happy, smiling faces around town'.

Goff said he was concerned about the e-scooters, which have a top speed of nearly 30kmh and can be ridden on footpaths and roads without a helmet.

An 'urgent memo' on safety was ordered.

'I think we do need to examine whether the regulation of scooter use is adequate from a safety perspective,' he said.

'I am personally also concerned about the safety risk of the speed at which they're travelling.

'There is a trial, but I don't want to have to react after the event if there is a serious injury.'

Helmets are not compulsory when riding the scooters in NZ.

Minister of Transport Phil Twyford was also getting a report on the scooters, Goff said.

It was 'visually obvious' someone travelling at 25kmh on a footpath could create safety hazards.

'I am worried that it's occurring in a predominantly unregulated manner in regard to speed,' Goff said.

'I'd like some more information … I just think there is an issue there that could be a serious issue.'

He pointed out bikes could not be used on the footpath – 'but you can ride scooters at speed'.

The intention of the memo was not intended to stop the current trial, or stop the use of e-scooters, Goff said.

But Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel said no-one had raised any concerns about the scooters with her.

'I've only seen a lot of happy, smiling faces around town,' she said.

Christchurch City Council would review the scooters as part of the three-month pilot.

Fletcher said the scooter that nearly hit her 'must have been doing 20 kilometres at least on the pedestrian crossing'.

'All I am requesting is some consideration of perhaps some safety measures to ensure that this trial can be successful.'

Councillor Chris Darby asked councillors to 'wake up to the fact that this is a trial'.

'There is no need for an urgent report to this Governing Body,' he said.

'I think it would be really helpful if we looked at the positive side of the launch of Lime … the positive side of this incredible movement towards personal mobility that people are actually wanting.

'Around here we probably need to wake up to the fact that our fixation with personal is something that … we do, but others are wanting to do other things.'

He requested the council wait for Auckland Transport's report on the scooters after the trial was over.

Twyford said the Government is 'looking at whether we have the right level of legislation for low-powered vehicles'.

'This include looking at potential speed limits and what vehicles should be allowed on the footpath.'

He said councils could already make bylaws controlling how footpaths were used, with many regulating skateboard use.

Twyford said the scooters offered some real benefits as a cheap quick way to cover short distances and connect with public transport, but the Government were balancing people's need for mobility with people's safety.

Part of the solution would be making more street space for walkers, cyclists and those using low-powered vehicles, he said .

'The Government is already planning to invest $390 million over the next three years with councils to expand footpaths, shared paths and cycleways.'

The New Zealand Automobile Association's general manager of motoring affairs, Mike Noon, said it had some concerns about e-scooters on the footpaths and on the roads.

Not allowing e-scooters on cycle lanes but letting them go on footpaths seemed 'very short sighted', he said.

Having e-scooters on the roads was 'a little concerning putting them into traffic' as by nature, they 'zipped in and out' which meant users could 'behave erratically and had the capability to quickly change directions', Noon said.

'It's difficult to predict what they're doing,' Noon said.

He also questioned having e-scooters on the footpath as they travelled quite fast, he said.

Noon also had concerns about how e-scooter users did not have to wear helmets, he said.

Blind Foundation's access and awareness adviser Chris Orr said the foundation had been quite concerned about having e-scooters on footpaths.

While the foundation supported having e-scooters in New Zealand, it did not want them on footpaths, Orr said.

Orr, who is blind, considered that others who were blind or who had low vision would not be able to see or hear e-scooters on footpaths due to their speed, he said.

'They're quiet so we can't them and we can't get out of their way,' Orr said.

The foundation would have appreciated consultation on e-scooters like with NZ post's postal buggies, he said.

Hearing about Goff's call for an urgent report on e-scooter safety was a relief, he said.

'We just want to make the footpaths safe for our people.'

Overseas, there have been at least two electric scooter deaths due to crashes with cars.

ACC has had 14 claims relating to e-scooters since Lime launched, with near misses on footpaths raising fears an e-scooter crash could lead to serious injury.

Lime put hundreds of scooters on the streets on October 15 as it works towards having 1000 in Auckland and 700 in Christchurch in the next few weeks.

There have also been several cases of vandalism of the scooters. Christchurch City Council land drainage manager Keith Davison said a contractor had retrieved two scooters from the Avon River this week.

Lime launcher Cameron Swanson on Tuesday said there had been fewer than five cases of vandalism in Christchurch, which was low compared to launches in other cities overseas.

Two more companies plan to add another 3500 scooters in Auckland in the coming months.