An Invercargill women has asked councillors to guarantee her safety during a trial of electric scooters in the city.
Carolyn Weston is legally blind and has a brittle bone condition.
Her concern lies with her own safety and that of young children, the disabled and older pedestrians.
The Invercargill City Council has approved a trial of up to six months.
Speaking to a full council meeting on Tuesday, Ms Weston said the biggest problem was e-scooters did not make any sound.
She knew of at least two accidents involving an e-scooter and a blind person.
"We will not know where the scooter is until it is too late. We will be knocked over.''
Ms Weston said the council should find ways to make people share the footpath.
She suggested e-scooters be allowed to travel only on the street side of the pavement, as blind people used storefronts to guide them.
Reducing the maximum speed allowed was another possibility.
"Some [other] councils reduced it to 15kmh but even that is quite fast.''
The council should also ensure e-scooter users only parked in safe places.
Cr Graham Lewis asked her how she would feel if the area of trial was limited.
Ms Weston said this could be a good an idea but needed to be well discussed, as one of the main areas - Queens Park - was very close to the Blind Foundation.
When asked by Cr Alex Crackett if she was aware e-scooters had a horn, she said it was still up to the rider to use it.
"They may not see your white cane or may not know that you can't see. This means that we would put our lives into the hands of somebody who might or might not press the horn.''
