Petition aimed at controlling escooters
DUNEDIN writer Dr Lynley Hood is optimistic that a recently launched national petition will help remove escooters from footpaths and better protect pedestrians.
She also hopes the petition will help members of Parliament to realise there is widespread community concern about escooters being ridden on footpaths, and to promote action to protect pedestrians.
There was also ‘‘absolutely’’ a likelihood the matter could become an election issue next year, unless Parliament acted to protect pedestrians in the meantime, she said.
The petition was launched late last month by a national coalition, representing 14 member organisations across New Zealand.
The aim was ‘‘to keep footpaths safe for people who walk and for people who can’t walk’’, she said in an interview.
‘‘The purpose of this petition is to make sure Parliament gets a handle on controlling this nonsense,’’ she said.
Petition organisers said they had been working to support the Government as it brought in its planned Accessible Streets regulatory package.
Coalition spokesman Dr Chris TeoSherrell said that although there were some good things in it, the regulatory package seemed to ‘‘permanently allow personal transport devices such as escooters to be used on our footpaths’’.
Dr Hood, who is coconvener of the Dunedin Pedestrian Action Network, said she was promoting the signing of the petition in Dunedin, and it could also be found on the parliamentary internet site.
The petition was to be submitted to Parliament early next month, and it was ‘‘particularly important’’ that it was referred to a select committee, allowing greater scope for community input, she said.