E-scooter decision a nonsense
I am very disappointed at the decision to continue the practice of e-scooters being used on footpaths.
That Waka Kotahi NZ declare that e-scooters are not motor vehicles [Standard, November 9] is nonsense, the fact is they are powered by electric motors. Cycles are not motor vehicles, but operate by foot power. They are not supposed to use footpaths to traverse on.
Motorised e-scooters travel up to 30kph on footpaths. They then pose a danger to pedestrians for whom footpaths are designed for their use.
Surely our city council and our regional council has the capabilities to address the anomaly.
Earlier this year in my conversations with our mayor, I was assured a motion to change the law to allow e-scooters to use cycle lanes, was being channelled through the system.
Older residents, people with mobility difficulties, parents using prams and pushchairs for their children, or disabled community, we all are entitled to have safe accessways to enable us to get about our communities. Change the bylaw.
Russell Hallam, Palmerston North
Editor responds: The city council does not have the authority to move e-scooters off the footpath and into cycle lanes. Only Waka Kotahi can do that. The council is responsible for providing permits to the operators, and these have been rolled over until November 2023. The council has no legal powers at the moment to refuse to issue permits. A bylaw, that would cap the number of operators and e-scooters allowed in the city, was floated in April but voted down. There is a voluntary cap.