E-scooter use ‘cowboy times’
The use of e-scooters on Wellington’s streets has been described as ‘‘cowboy times’’ by a councillor who wants the vehicles banned from footpaths.
City councillor Nicola Young said it was remarkable people were allowed to ride the electricpowered vehicles almost anywhere across Wellington at the expense of pedestrian safety.
While many overseas cities had imposed strict regulations on e-scooter use, Wellington had barely any regulations, she said.
‘‘Over here, it’s kind of like cowboy times. I find it extraordinary that we have been so laissez-faire about the safety of pedestrians.’’
Young made the comment during a councillor debate on Wellington’s proposal to lower speed limits to 30kmh on all streets in the CBD, except for the waterfront quays and main roads. She said the proposal made no mention of regulating e-scooters, so she could not support it.
‘‘If this is the way of getting e-scooters off the footpaths, then I will give you my full support. But there’s nothing in here about getting them off the footpaths.’’
The Central City Safer Speeds policy is part of the $6.4 billion Let’s Get Wellington Moving programme. It also includes plans to remove private vehicles from most of the Golden Mile.
A public survey on e-scooter use closed on Sunday, attracting almost 7000 submissions.
The feedback would be collated in a city council review of its e-scooter trial, scheduled to be presented on April 9.
The council’s chief city planner, David Chick, said Wellington was stuck in a legislative framework that ‘‘hasn’t caught up to micro-mobility as a mode of transport’’.
‘‘We are talking with NZTA to make that more of a priority.’’
Nicola Young
Reducing central city speed limits to 30kmh could ultimately pave the way for removing e-scooters from footpaths and putting them on dedicated or shared lanes instead, he said.
However, transport choice adviser Hugh Wilson said it was possible the council would recommend discontinuing e-scooters in Wellington altogether.
Councillors were divided about the merits of lowering CBD speed limits.
Sean Rush said he would like to see crash and injury rates on the streets included in the proposal before making any decision.
‘‘Where is the evidence the streets are not currently safe?’’
Wilson said crash data could be sourced but safety was just one priority for the proposal, along with other goals such as making the city more liveable.
Variable speed limits were also proposed but council network improvements manager Paul Barker said that was not practical.
‘‘We have been so laissezfaire about safety . . .’’