E-scooter injuries fewer than with push scooters
It has been 25 days since Lime e-scooters appeared in New Zealand and the latest ACC claims show there have been at least 90 injuries involving the machines in that time.
But in the same period, 569 claims were made from injuries arising from traditional foot-propelled scooters. The injuries were mostly scrapes, cuts, bruises, fractures and dislocations.
Lime scooter claims came from Auckland and Christchurch — the two cities where the machines were rolled out from October 14.
Since then in Auckland, 171 claims were made by users of conventional scooters, 61 in Christchurch and 337 from around the rest of the country.
A report prepared for Auckland Council suggests that accidents involving e-scooters could settle back. The report was produced after Mayor Phil Goff requested a briefing on rules and safety for the new-wave scooters when Councillor Christine Fletcher said she came “within an inch of being taken out”. The council report found “experience shows there are initial peaks in safety incidents”.
It was true for “roller skates in the 1960s and the resurgence of skateboards in the 1980s” and of “bicycles in the 1800s”.
The San Francisco company behind the e-scooters says it plans to roll out a US$3 million ($4.5m) campaign in which 25,000 free helmets would be given to applicants who signed a safety pledge.
The undertaking requires Lime riders to ride responsibly at all times, wear a helmet, abide by traffic laws and speed limits, and operate only within designated areas such as streets and bike lanes.
Lime users must also “park properly out of the way of pedestrian walkways, service ramps and metro stops and be aware of automobiles, pedestrians and fellow riders”.