Kia ora

I would like some information about the recent exemption granted (18-9-2018) for e-scooters not to be considered a motor vehicle and allowed to be used on the footpath.

Can you please provide what evidence was gathered that e-scooters will be safe for use on the footpath? What speed is a safe speed for footpath use? I understand the scooters can travel at 27km/hour.

Can you please provide information on how a scooter user is to determine what a safe speed is, and what careful and considerate use is. How will a pedestrian know when an e-scooter is not used in such a manner and what recourse have we as pedestrians?

What monitoring and review provisions will NZTA undertake to ensure that pedestrians remain safe on footpaths from riders of scooters and from footpath parking of scooters?

The Gazette notice states "the purpose of this notice is to remove the requirement for scooters designed in the style of traditional children’s toys, with a footboard, two or three wheels and a long steering handle, to be registered as motor vehicles if they are also fitted with low powered electric auxiliary propulsion motors."

Does the NZTA consider that children's toys are suitable to be fitted with electric motors and used by children on the footpath? If not, what is to stop that use?

In an OIA response from January 2018 the NZTA states:
"This means that an electric scooter would be considered to be a motor vehicle and would need to be registered. However, as it would not be able to meet any of the standards it would not be able to be registered as a moped. In addition, as it is considered a motor vehicle it cannot be driven on a footpath "

What standards does an e-scooter not meet, and why is it now considered appropriate for e-scooters not to meet those standards?

Another excerpt from the same OIA response states "Please note: It would be a significant change in current classification for further small powered vehicles not to be treated as motor vehicles. Any change would require considerable investigation and consultation into the appropriateness of making a change as there are significant possible risks in these vehicles using and sharing both the footpath and the roadway. The legislation also requires the Transport Agency to investigate and make separate determinations for each low-powered vehicle type and model. At this point of time, until the Transport Agency receive more information on the impact, both now and in the future, of increasing the total number of vehicles declared not to be a motor vehicle and what types of low powered vehicles could appropriately be declared not to be a motor vehicle, we are unable to assist with individual models."

Can you please provide the results of your considerable investigation into the appropriateness of allowing this exemption, including the impact of increasing the total number of vehicles declared not to be a motor vehicle?

Can you please advise who was consulted on this exemption? Can you please provide reasons why Living Streets Aotearoa, the New Zealand pedestrian advocacy group, was not consulted on this significant change?

Ngā mihi

Ellen Blake
Living Streets Aotearoa - Tumuaki tuarua, Kaituitui a Whanganui a Tara
PO Box 25-424, Wellington 6146