E-scooter rules likely for safer footpaths

Electric scooters and other forms of e-mobility have prompted the Government to consider a 15km/h speed limit among ways of making footpaths more pedestrian friendly.

Consultation closes on April 22 for the proposed changes which also include allowing e-scooters and other “transport devices” in cycle lanes as new forms of transport change the way people get around.

Proposals include clarifying that pedestrians and people in wheelchairs have right of way on the footpath, placing a 15km/h speed limit (about running speed) and a width limit of 75cm for transport devices used on the footpath.

“This package looks at how we can make our streets safer for those going from A to B, particularly young children when they are learning to ride bikes, and ensuring our road rules reflect real life,” associate transport minister Julie Anne Genter says.

“How we travel around our streets and footpaths is changing as more Kiwis choose to walk, cycle, and use new forms of mobility like e-scooters.

“New transport technologies like e-scooters are convenient, fun and help ease congestion, but we need to a balanced approach to ensure pedestrians retain priority on our footpaths.

“We expect mobility scooters, including those used by people with a disability, would continue to be used on the footpath as normal, as most models available are within the 75cm width limit.

“A lot of parents have called for kids to be able to cycle on the footpath so they can ride with confidence away from traffic. We want to know whether people support cycles being used on footpaths at low speeds, whether they think it should be limited only to kids under 16, or whether cycling should continue to be banned from footpaths.”

On the road, a minimum overtaking gap of either a metre or 1.5 metres depending on the speed limit is suggested for motorists when passing people riding horses, riding devices like e-scooters, cycling, or walking on roads without footpaths.

“Everyone has a right to feel safe on the road and close passes at speed are not only scary, they can be fatal,” Genter says.

Other minor changes to simplify and clarify road rules include:

• Categorising vehicles to reflect changes in technology
• Improving the safety of people walking, cycling and using micro-mobility devices by clarifying a number of give way rules
• Giving buses priority when exiting bus stops on roads with a speed limit of 60km/h or less
• Clarifying the powers of road controlling authorities in relation to parking on berms.

The collection of rule changes is known as the Accessible Streets Regulatory Package.