Lime-e scooters on the way to Hamilton

Friday, 23 November 2018

Lime-e scooters launched in Christchurch and Auckland in October (file photo).

Loved and loathed e-scooter provider Lime is heading to Hamilton…. and it's not alone.

The California-based company has spoken to Hamilton City Council about launching its electric scooters in the city and is also looking for staff.

But with council officials revealing other operators also expressing an interest, pedestrians could soon be dodging more than just bright green electric scooters.

The transport disrupting company, which launched last month in Auckland and Christchurch has been touted as helping unclog roads of traffic but has led to a rise in ACC claims and emergency department visits.

* Auckland Council wants to reduce Lime speed limit to 10kmh

The launch of Lime-e scooters in Hamilton could reduce congestion on the roads, Mayor Andrew King says (file photo).

* Lime scooter ban suggested during famed Auckland Christmas lights display

* ACC receives 38 electric scooter-related injuries two weeks after share scheme launch* Lime recalls one of its models amid fears the scooters can break apart**

Within the first two weeks of Lime's launch in New Zealand ACC had 38 claims connected to the service.

On Wednesday, Lime's website listed job openings for operation managers in Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Dunedin and Queenstown.

Mayor Andrew King is keen on Hamilton getting the trendy new ride, but he's worried about injuries.

Lime - which already has scooters and bikes in more than 80 cities around the world - met with Hamilton City Council about a month ago, Mayor Andrew King said.

Now, Council awaits the company's formal proposal.

'They're very keen to come to Hamilton,' King said. 'We'll be putting a policy together quite quickly, but it won't just be for Lime, it will be any e-scooter type companies that come into our cities and share those spaces.'

King owns three self-powered scooters himself, which he rides to council, business meetings and the supermarket.

But these new two-wheeled vehicles are battery charged and can travel about 12 kilometres per hour and cover distances of up to 60 kilometres.

'I can see that I'll use them, for sure.'

It costs $1 to hire and 30 cents a minute after each hire, which equates to about $18 an hour.

Hamilton Mayor Andrew King rides a self-powered scooter to work, but he'd give the Lime-e ones a go.

They're unlocked using an app and recharged by 'juicers' who are paid up to $15 per scooter to collect and recharge the batteries.

Hamilton City Council transportation unit manager Jason Harrison said similar operators have approached Council, too.

'We're looking at what the best approach would be for our city for scooters like theirs and other similar vehicles looking to use our streets and footpaths.'

While King thinks the e-scooters would be good for the city, he's worried about head injuries.

'[It] is an emerging type of new transport and I think we have to accept that there's a learning phase that we go through. But when you're talking about protecting people's heads and long term brain injury, it's a no-brainer for me.

'I'm personally, very keen to ensure that if they come, there is a helmet available with each e-scooter.'

The scooters would target the CBD to begin with and later spill out to the suburbs, King said.

'It will be a decision of all of council in the end on whether we make spaces available to them.'

Meanwhile, Council awaits Lime's business proposal, but once it hears back from, King imagines it will all move 'quite quickly'.

'At the moment, the ball is in their court.'

Councillor Mark Bunting - who swears by his e-bike - reckons the green two-wheelers will add to Hamilton's character.

Waikato emergency doctor John Bonning says the launch of Lime-e scooters in Auckland and Christchurch led to more ED presentations.

He hopes they spread to suburbs like Chartwell and Dinsdale, rather than just the CBD.

In Christchurch, they'd been a big success with only a scattering of injuries, Bunting said.

But reports of injury increases had seen the company 'pretty well beaten up'.

Scooter-related injuries are a concern, Dr John Bonning, president of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine said.

And while they may reduce car congestion, he doubts it will reduce car crash related injuries staff come across at Waikato Emergency Department.

'I don't necessarily want to say I'm completely negative about the introduction,' Bonning said. 'I think any reduction in car traffic is a good idea.'

But reckless riders could end up clogging an oft overflowing ED.

'Certainly when they were introduced in Auckland and Christchurch there was a significant [increase] in presentations to local emergencies departments. Two to three patients a day, across an age range.'

Those injuries included broken collar bones, knee caps, ribs, collapsed lungs and concussions.

'The company needs to warn people about the dangers and councils need to consider regulations.

'The main issue is the public just needs to be aware about the risks of these [scooters]. Helmets won't solve [all] the issues.'