Lime scooters set to squeeze into Tauranga market

Tuesday, 20 November 2018

Lime co-founder and vice president of expansion Caen Contee hopes to see scooters across New Zealand.

Electric scooters may become a common sight in Tauranga with Lime e-scooters announcing plans to squeeze into town.

Lime's Hank Rowe told Tauranga City Council it intends to apply for a permit to operate in Tauranga on the back of launching in Christchurch and Auckland.

Lime scooters are expanding across New Zealand as a transport solution.

The Californian-based company has scooters and bikes in more than 80 cities around the world with 400 scooters in Christchurch and 500 in Auckland but the service has run into some criticism over safety.

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

**READ MORE:

* [The lowdown on Lime Scooters

*](https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/107911180/The-lowdown-on-Lime-Scooters-New-Zealands-newest-transport-trend) Lime scooters launch in New Zealand's two largest cities

* Safety concerns raised as electric scooters arrive in New Zealand**

The scooters are permitted to operate on roads and footpaths and helmets are not required by law.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff sent out an 'urgent memo' on the safety of the service shortly after issuing permits for the company to operate following a councillor almost being hit by a scooter on her way to the town hall.

There have also been concerns raised from the Blind Foundation about their use on footpaths.

Lime's New Zealand launcher, Hank Rowe, said he planned to operate in Tauranga once council approves a permit and says the company takes safety seriously.

He said since the service started people have taken more than 300,000 rides.

Rowe said they plan to partner with some providers in busy locations to have helmets available with each scooter.

The scooters can travel about 12 kilometres per hour and up to 60 kilometres depending on the terrain.

Lime scooters cost $1 to hire and 30 cents a minute after each hire (about $18 an hour).

Used scooters are collected by 'juicers' who are paid up to $15 to collect and recharge scooter batteries. Some juicers report making up to $100 a day finding and charging the missing scooters.

A permit is yet to be issued.