Police investigate e-scooter and bicycle collision

Auckland police are investigating a collision between a cyclist and an electric scooter rider on Auckland’s Quay Street, reported to be probably the first such collision in New Zealand.

Cyclist Michael Cannon was riding home from work along the Quay Street on November 26 when he was in a collision with an e-scooter and was knocked out with his wrist broken. About $1000 damage was done to his carbon fibre road bike, Stuff reports.

“Police have been in contact with both parties involved and are trying to establish what happened and who may be liable,” a police spokesperson says.

The officer in charge of the investigation says it’s the first incident between an e-scooter rider and a cyclist he is aware of, Stuff adds.

E-scooters have soared in popularity since Lime introduced about 600 of them to Auckland in October, with more than 100,000 people using the e-scooter hire service in the first two months.

Lime’s end-of-year report found 22% of riders had replaced vehicle transportation with a Lime e-scooter on their last trip.

That equates to 20,000 fewer vehicle trips on city roads in the past two months, according to the company.

In Auckland, 56% of riders reported commuting to and from work or university during their most recent Lime trip.

Hank Rowe launched Lime in New Zealand and says he’s thrilled to see how people embraced the scooters, the NZ Herald reports.

“I have been amazed with the take-up, and how a full cross section of the community is relishing the opportunity to Lime in our great cities, from business people to commuters, university students to seniors.”

E-scooters can be ridden on roads, footpaths and cycleways, with city councils yet to decide further rules around their use.

The Auckland Council does have a code of practice for dockless cycle and e-scooter share companies. It includes the operator ensuring users understand where they are allowed to operate them and to ride safely and carefully and be considerate of other road users, not riding at speeds that put other users at risk.