Mayor turns scooter King
Suit, tie, scooter.
Have a second look if you spot that combination in central Hamilton, because it might be the mayor.
Andrew King takes his scooter to work at the city council, and business meetings around town.
And it’s earned him a pat on the back from Transport Minister Phil Twyford who says more people could take a leaf out of his book when it comes to commuting.
King’s scooter was a Christmas present from his kids and, so far, no fellow elected members have asked for a go.
‘‘It’s like a new toy. I’m pretty possessive of it,’’ King said. ‘‘I use the mayoral chains to lock it up.’’
When he’s out on the street, people stop to share scooter memories and passing buses toot – and King’s not the only Kiwi mayor to get out of the car.
Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt’s affinity for scooters became news in 2016, and Wellington Mayor Justin Lester donated a $60,000 car allowance to the arts.
Lester uses a bike to get to work – and often meetings – and otherwise walks or uses an electric vehicle, a statement from his office said.
The hilly nature of Auckland’s central city means Mayor Phil Goff will probably stick to electric bikes and cars, his office said.
King’s Yedoo City has bike-style brakes, and a Bike Hamilton bell from councillor Mark Bunting.
It cuts a 15-minute walk to work down to five minutes and King says it’s good around town.
‘‘This morning I had a 6.30 business meeting and went to that down at the far end of Hamilton, the north end. You just park inside the door. After that, I came back [to council] for an 8.30 meeting.’’
He can ride on the footpath or the edge of the road, so if the traffic light’s red he can go when the green man says walk.
Twyford said, while it was lucky for King Hamilton was relatively hill-less, he welcomed the novel commuting move.
‘‘It’s great that Mayor King’s adopted an active and zero emission form of transport.
‘‘The Government wants more people to leave their cars at home and we’re right behind him (don’t worry Andrew, not literally).
‘‘Mayor King is a tireless advocate for Hamilton. He’s exactly the kind of partner the Government wants to work with to deliver the transport and housing the city needs.’’
Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said good on him.
‘‘I’m sure Hamiltonians will also be happy to have one fewer car on the road,’’ she said.
The Government wants to put more money into protected cycle lanes and safer streets to encourage walking, cycling and other forms of active transport, she said.
‘‘Making it easier for people to go by foot, bike or scooter has spin-off benefits for our health system, for traffic congestion, and it makes our towns and cities more inviting places to live in.’’
A scooter is an often-overlooked but practical way to get around, King said, but perhaps people see it as childish.
‘‘These adult scooters, they’re absolutely fantastic. You go so fast, they’re so practical, they’re so small. You can throw them in a car or a bus. When you get to a meeting . . . you just bring it in and leave it in the foyer.’’
Scooter travel doesn’t tend to work up a sweat, King said, so there’s no need to ‘‘bring my leotard and change when I get to work’’.
The bike shop his scooter came from thinks he’s started something.
‘‘I think we’ve sold maybe a dozen [adult scooters] this year to people who are looking at commuting on them because they’ve seen the mayor,’’ Evo Cycles Hamilton assistant branch manager Connor Dove said.
‘‘He’s starting the trend, really.’’ The shop sells everything from classic kids’ scooters to offroad ones, Dove said, and sales to adults are picking up as they discover grown-up versions, which generally cost $300 – $500.
Scooters – both electric and selfpropelled – are also getting popular in Auckland, Greater Auckland blog editor Matt Lowrie said.
It’s faster than walking, good for short to medium-distance trips, reduces congestion and avoids parking woes, he said.
Scooters can also help people on to public transport, by making it easier to cover the ground between the bus stop or train station and their home or destination.
But their popularity may partly be due to a lack of safe cycling infrastructure, Lowrie said.
‘‘These adult scooters,
they’re absolutely fantastic. You go so fast, they’re so practical, they’re so small.’’
Mayor Andrew King