Support safe footpaths for pedestrians

Ellen Blake from Living Streets Aotearoa

Now is your chance to take a survey and support safer footpaths for pedestrians, escooter-free. The Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has a survey out asking about the soon to expire Gazette notice that declared escooters 'not motor vehicles'. This permits them to use the footpath. We say no to renewing the Gazette notice and making footpaths safer for all pedestrians.
We have heard from many people about the issues they face everyday with fast moving vehicles on the footpath whizzing past and giving them a fright - this puts many people off walking more than the minimum. Other people report frequently encountering blocked footpaths with escooters scattered over them. Many people can not move the heavy scooters and either have to backtrack in a wheelchair for instance until they can find a way around, others walk out on the road.
There are many ways to better regulate escooters as they do in most other countries and keep them off the footpaths, for instance ebikes are not registered and can use both road and cycle lane.
Please take the survey and support safer footpaths