Safety stays worry for busy Lime
Ayear after Lime e-scooters hit our streets the company has acknowledged safety remains a big concern — but there are no plans to roll out compulsory helmets.
More than 2000 riders have been injured on the popular scooters, which were launched in Auckland a year ago and later rolled out in other cities.
Auckland Council temporarily pulled them off the streets because of a braking fault. But, despite the risk and plenty of injuries, their popularity continues to climb with more than 2 million rides recorded in the city.
Mitchell Price, Lime’s head of government relations Asia Pacific, told the Herald safety was a big issue.
“Safety is our first priority, and throughout the past 12 months we’ve worked with all stakeholders, NZTA, Minister of Transport, all the councils across New Zealand to create a safe riding environment . . . and we continue and remain committed to do so.”
Price said a new “bigger and safer” Lime generation 3.0 scooter being tested in the United States will be put on to New Zealand streets some time next year.
The new scooters come with a replaceable battery in the baseboard and LED face with Google map integration for navigation.
“It’s bigger, it’s safer and it’s stronger,” Price said.
“It’s the world-leading device and it’s something we’re committed to bringing to New Zealand.”
Lime hasn’t gone as far as providing helmets but Price said the company be making a greater push on getting riders to wear them.
“Lime recommends riders wear helmets and provides them for free to those participating in its ‘First Ride’ rider safety training [available for new or first-time riders].”
A global Lime survey has found 61.3 per cent of Auckland riders using the motorised scooter to commute to and from work, compared to 37 per cent globally.
Across the country, more than 4 million Lime rides have been recorded, travelling 5.8 million km.
Price said this meant the motorised scooters had helped reduce more than 6250 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air and 757,082 litres of petrol consumed.
“Thirty per cent of Auckland riders preferred using Lime rather than a motor vehicle, taxi or their own car and 34 per cent used it to get to and from public transport,” he said.
A study looking at e-scooter injuries requiring surgery at Auckland City Hospital found 21 patients needing 23 operations at a total cost of $404,925 between October 15 last year and February 22. Injuries ranged from head fractures to broken leg, ankle and knees.
Claims for ACC e-scooter injuries also topped $4.3 million with more than 2000 claims between October 2018 and July 2019. Last month, Toben Hunt, 23, died after falling off a Lime scooter.