Scooters
Electric Scooter Rules and Regulations
If we start with this piece from the the NZTA website regarding low-powered vehicles, we find a definition of sorts:
'Low-powered vehicles that do not require registration or a driver licence.
The following do not meet the definition of a motor vehicle or have been declared not to be a motor vehicle and you can use them without registration or a driver's licence.
E-scooters can be used on the footpath or the road – except in designated cycle lanes that are part of the road (which were designed for the sole use of cyclists).
On the footpath the user must:
On the road, e-scooters must be operated as near as practicable to the edge of the roadway. A helmet is not legally required to be worn when using an e-scooter, but is recommended.'
But then this Gazette (notice) was published (very quietly) on 18th September 2018. This was just prior to the launch of Lime Scooters in Auckland, and we feel it was perhaps lobbied by the operators of Lime to facilitate the launch (That's just our opinion, Lime, please don't sue us!):
E–SCOOTERS (DECLARATION NOT TO BE MOTOR VEHICLES) NOTICE 2018
Pursuant to section 168A(2) of the Land Transport Act 1998, and pursuant to an authority delegated to me by the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Transport Agency, I, Brandon Mainwaring, Senior Manager, Operational Policy, Planning and Performance, declare an electric scooter not to be a motor vehicle if all of the following apply:
This notice expires on 30 September 2023. Dated at Wellington this 18th day of September 2018. BRANDON MAINWARING, Senior Manager, Operational Policy, Planning and Performance, NZ Transport Agency.'
If we start with this piece from the the NZTA website regarding low-powered vehicles, we find a definition of sorts:
'Low-powered vehicles that do not require registration or a driver licence.
The following do not meet the definition of a motor vehicle or have been declared not to be a motor vehicle and you can use them without registration or a driver's licence.
- Electric scooters or e-scooters. An electric scooter is designed in the style of a traditional push scooter, with a footboard, two or three wheels, a long steering handle and an electric auxiliary propulsion motor. In order to meet the requirements for a low-powered vehicle, the wheels must not exceed 355mm and the motor must have a maximum power output not exceeding 300W.
E-scooters can be used on the footpath or the road – except in designated cycle lanes that are part of the road (which were designed for the sole use of cyclists).
On the footpath the user must:
- Operate the device in a careful and considerate manner
- Operate the device at a speed that does not put other footpath users at risk
- Give way to both pedestrians and drivers of mobility devices.
On the road, e-scooters must be operated as near as practicable to the edge of the roadway. A helmet is not legally required to be worn when using an e-scooter, but is recommended.'
But then this Gazette (notice) was published (very quietly) on 18th September 2018. This was just prior to the launch of Lime Scooters in Auckland, and we feel it was perhaps lobbied by the operators of Lime to facilitate the launch (That's just our opinion, Lime, please don't sue us!):
E–SCOOTERS (DECLARATION NOT TO BE MOTOR VEHICLES) NOTICE 2018
Pursuant to section 168A(2) of the Land Transport Act 1998, and pursuant to an authority delegated to me by the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Transport Agency, I, Brandon Mainwaring, Senior Manager, Operational Policy, Planning and Performance, declare an electric scooter not to be a motor vehicle if all of the following apply:
- The electric scooter is comprised primarily of a footboard, two or three wheels, and a long steering handle;
- The electric scooter’s wheels do not exceed 355mm in diameter;
- The electric scooter has one or more electric auxiliary propulsion motors.
This notice expires on 30 September 2023. Dated at Wellington this 18th day of September 2018. BRANDON MAINWARING, Senior Manager, Operational Policy, Planning and Performance, NZ Transport Agency.'
