Lime electric scooters prompt controversy

The introduction of Lime electric scooters to Auckland and Christchurch has not been without controversy.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of the e-scooters which can reach nearly 30km/h and can be ridden on footpaths, shared pathways and even the road without a helmet – although wearing a helmet is included in Lime’s terms and conditions of use.

About 600 are in Auckland and 400 in Christchurch with US-based Lime having permits for 1000 and 700 in those cities respectively.

It could double the numbers in Christchurch if a three-month trial there proves successful.

And more e-scooters are expected with bike share company Onzo planning to introduce 500 of them shortly in Auckland, followed by a further 2000.

Two safety advocates want changes to rules around use of the e-scooters.

“Someone is going to die if we don’t see changes,” workplace safety campaigner Lance Wiggs says, the New Zealand Herald reports.
It says motoring writer Clive Matthew-Wilson also predicts multiple injuries and probable deaths unless changes are made.
“E-scooter riders are allowed to ride without helmets and share the footpath with vulnerable pedestrians, such as old people and young children,” he says. “Inevitably there are going to be horrific collisions.”
The Herald

reports a crash on Auckland’s Tamaki Dr, requiring an x-ray after cuts and bruises were suffered. ACC says it has fielded a string of e-scooter related claims.

Matthew-Wilson says he is ‘shocked’ that the government has allowed e-scooters to be used without much thought for the consequences.

“These scooters are capable of 25km/h, which is fast enough to kill a pedestrian in a collision. It’s also fast enough to kill the person riding the scooter. It staggers me that helmets are not required.”
Meanwhile, the Herald

also reports that Vaughan Rivett of Auckland appears to have won a dispute with Lime after facing a $100 penalty for a “missing” scooter he says he did not even ride.

He planned to go to the Commerce Commission after Lime advised it was going to charge his credit card.

But Lime contacted the Herald to say it decided to remove Rivett’s fine.

Rivett says he was phoned by Lime but was waiting to see the decision in writing. He says Lime also put credit onto his account. “But this is pointless because I will never use them again.”