Government looks set to impose 10kmh Lime scooter speed limit

Wednesday, 16 January 2019

Work is under way on law changes that will impose a 10kmh speed limit for Lime electric scooters, with the Government set to consult on the new rules early this year.

In October 2018, the California-based company launched 600 e-scooters in Auckland and 400 in Christchurch. More have been released in Hutt Valley and Dunedin since then.

But the scooters soon became a topic of controversy, with Auckland Mayor Phil Goff ordering an urgent scooter safety report in October after councillor Christine Fletcher was almost hit by a rider.

Goff later raised safety concerns with Transport Minister Phil Twyford. In his letter, he asked that the Ministry of Transport instruct police to pull up 'dangerous scooter use' and raised the possibility of a e-scooter speed limit.

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Stuff has been provided with a copy of Twyford's response.

It shows the Government is considering a package of law changes called Accessible Streets, which aim to increase the safety of all users on the footpath.

'Among the proposed measures is a proposed maximum speed limit for all vehicles that are allowed on the footpath,' Twyford wrote.

A proposed law change will impose a 10kmh speed on Lime scooters being used on the footpath.

'I expect that this package will be ready for consultation in early 2019.'

A spokeswoman for duty minister Grant Robertson said the maximum speed limit proposed under Accessible Streets was 10kmh.

If implemented, the limit would apply to Lime scooters being used on the footpath, she said.

A spokesman for Goff said the mayor would like to hear from the public on what speed would be appropriate.

'Whether its 10kmh or something else, he believes consideration should be given to speed limits on footpaths to ensure the safety of pedestrians,' he said.

In his response to Goff, Twyford said a speed limit would not be effective unless it led to positive behavioural changes.

'As with our current requirements, that users must operate the device in a careful and considerate manner; and must not operate the device at a speed that constitutes a hazard to other footpath users, it will still largely come down to decisions by individual users to behave appropriately,' he wrote.

Twyford said he was not considering a law change to make helmets mandatory when riding Lime scooters.

In responding to Goff's request for police intervention, Twyford said he was not able to 'direct the Minister of Police, or the police force directly'.

'In this context I think it would be most appropriate for you to work with your local police force and to encourage the public to report bad behaviour so police can target enforcement if this is needed.'

This month, Auckland Council confirmed the trial period for Lime e-scooters had been extended until March, with the company wanting to branch out to other parts of the region.

Auckland Transport chief executive Shane Ellison said extending the trial would give a 'picture of the demand for and use of e-scooters in our city and enable a clear way of managing that demand in the future'.

It would also allow Auckland Council and the council to get more telling figures from organisations such as ACC in terms of injury numbers.

In November 2018, Auckland Council launched its Scoot Safe campaign, spending about $10,000 on posters, bus stop signs and social media posts.

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