Police could be asked to enforce Lime speed limit on footpaths

Sunday, 20 January 2019

The police could soon be in charge of enforcing a footpath speed limit, which could be imposed under new laws being drafted by the Government.

On Wednesday, Stuff reported work was under way on law changes that would impose a 10kmh speed limit for Lime electric scooters.

The footpath speed limit was part a package of law changes called Accessible Streets, which would likely go out for consultation in early 2019.

A law change could create a 10kmh speed limit for Lime scooters being used on the footpath.

In a statement released Friday, Ministry of Transport safety and mobility manager Brent Johnston said if the speed limit was introduced an enforcement agency would also be nominated.

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Although a footpath speed limit is in the pipeline, Transport Minister Phil Twyford is not considering a law change making helmets mandatory.

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Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has raised Lime scooter safety concerns with Transport Minister Phil Twyford.

'This could be Police or another enforcement agency. No decisions have been made,' he said.

'Any fines or enforcement action will be decided on once any rule changes have been agreed to.'

Asked if the speed limit would apply to the likes of mobility scooters, skateboards, bikes and push scooters, Johnston said it would impact 'any vehicle travelling on the footpath'.

'It would not apply to pedestrians, which includes runners and people pushing prams or wheelchairs,' he said.

'The purpose of the Accessible Streets regulatory package is to ensure our footpaths are safe and accessible to all users.

'We want to encourage vibrant towns and cities where people can enjoy and use active travel (for example walking or scooting) and feel safe while doing so.'

Accessible Streets was likely to go out for consultation in the next few months.

'Consultation will give us the opportunity to understand different viewpoints and hear from a wide variety of interested groups and individuals, who frequently provide valuable insight,' Johnston said.

'Once consultation is complete, findings will be fed into a draft rule to be considered by cabinet.

'Part of the consultation will involve testing the public's thoughts on speed restrictions on footpaths.'

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff last year wrote to Transport Minister Phil Twyford to raise safety concerns.

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.

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

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'.

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'.

Lime has been approached for its reaction to the possible speed limit.