Wet no barrier to scooter rider's Baldwin ambition

Sunday, 13 January 2019

A man rides down a wet Baldwin St in Dunedin on a Lime scooter - twice.

A second person has been caught on camera riding a Lime scooter down the world's steepest street.

Only hours after 300 of the electric scooters were officially launched in Dunedin on Thursday, a man was filmed taking on Baldwin St's record gradient.

On Sunday, a second daredevil was spotted successfully riding down twice about 3pm. The road was wet and full of tourists.

The man was filmed riding the world's steepest street about 3pm on Sunday.

The first video prompted concerns from police, with a police car spotted at the top of the street the following morning. The officer was concerned two Lime scooters had been left at the top of the street, which attracts thousands of people each day during the peak tourist season.

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The man takes his Lime scooter back up Baldwin St for a second ride down.

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The Lime app now notes that the street is an unserviced area and says 'please do not leave your vehicle here'.

Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen said on Friday scooter users should remember their responsibilities when using the low-powered scooters, he said, which do not require a licence.

People could use the scooters on on roads, footpaths and the city's separated cycle lanes, Dinnissen said.

Lime spokesman Matt McNeill said at the launch he was not expecting issues with the scooters and the city's high student population.

'The student population has got a lot better behaved over the years.'

Baldwin St aside, the scooters could tackle Dunedin's hills, but on steeper inclines would need a 'bit of a manual kick to help'.

'But that said, there is nothing wrong with using a foot to help out a scooter. You've got brakes so there is no problem with them coming down a hill as well.'

McNeill said the city's separated cycleways were ideal 'they are probably one of the nicest places to actually ride them'.

The Californian-based company's e-scooters first hit New Zealand pavements in Auckland and Christchurch in October, followed by Upper and Lower Hutt last month.