Electric scooters hit the streets

Ride-share electric scooters are due to appear on Auckland and Christchurch streets from October 15.

US-based company Lime says it will have its e-scooters available in Auckland and Christchurch to users through an app.

Lime has permits to operate nearly 1000 of the e-scooters in Auckland and 700 in Christchurch – doubled in the latter city after three months if an initial trial proves successful.

Bike-sharing firm Onzo is also expected to launch about 500 e-scooters in Auckland later this month.

Onzo aims to add another 2000 over coming months, the NZ Herald

reports.

Both companies say the e-scooters provide an alternative, green form of transport in cities by encouraging people to use them along with existing public transport rather than relying on cars.

Such e-scooters are reported to have flooded greater Los Angeles and San Francisco streets, with people leaving the scooters everywhere, creating a mess and nuisance in the process, the Herald says.

However, Lime says it has worked closely with local authorities and the NZ Transport Agency to ensure all risks and safety concerns have been considered and mitigated.

Electric scooters have around a 25km/h top speed and can travel 30-40km on a single charge.

They can generally be used on footpaths, roadsides, separated cycleways, and shared pathways.

Some doubt exists about whether they can be used in designated bike lanes on the road.

However, the Christchurch City Council is working on policy allowing the scooters and other wheeled recreational devices to use the cities separated cycleways which are part of the road.

A helmet is not required but is encouraged in the interests of safety.

Terms and conditions of use generally advise riding in a safe manner suitable for pedestrian safety and other pathway users.

Both companies say their e-scooters are dockless, which means a rider can use an app to collect one from wherever it is left by a previous rider or at suitable sites.

The e-scooters are expected to be collected every night and recharged under a crowdsourcing system then left at designated points.