Living Streets Aotearoa is welcoming Government proposals to allow e-scooters in cycle lanes, but opposed to proposals to allow more bikes on footpaths.
"Chris Bishop's proposed new transport rules are very much a mixed bag for pedestrians," says Living Streets Aotearoa President Tim Jones. "The good news is that the proposed rules will allow e-scooters to be legally ridden in cycle lanes. That's a change that Living Streets Aotearoa, the e-scooter industry, and a number of Councils have long been calling for, and we're pleased to see it included in this package of measures."
"E-scooters don't belong on the footpath," Tim Jones says. "They belong with other vehicles of similar mass and speed, like bikes and e-bikes. We'd like to see e-scooters not just permitted, but required, to be ridden in cycle lanes where those exists. And they must meet appropriate safety standards."
"Footpaths are for pedestrians of all ages and abilities," Tim Jones continues, "but every year, we experience more and more hazards on them, both moving and stationary. That's why we oppose the proposal to allow all children to ride bikes on footpaths. Currently, only small children on children's bikes are allowed to ride on footpaths – the proposed rule could allow teenagers riding full-sized bikes to ride fast on footpaths, posing a new danger to pedestrians,"
"Living Streets Aotearoa supports safe, separated footpaths for pedestrians and safe, separated cycleways for people using bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters," Tim Jones concluded. "That approach helps to keep everyone safe as they travel to school, to home and to work."