Riccarton Ward city councillor Tyla Harrison-Hunt intends to put forward a motion to get Christchurch City Council staff to investigate additional no-parking and slow-speed zones for e-scooters.
“I have been looking at issues around accessibility. I’ve heard if someone’s in a wheelchair, for example, in an area with limited footpath space, it can be difficult to navigate around e-scooters,” Harrison-Hunt said.
He wants staff to consider parking restrictions in high foot traffic locations such as the central city, central Riccarton, Hornby and Papanui.
Harrison-Hunt believes designated pick-up and drop-off e-scooter parking areas could help prevent obstruction.
If his idea progresses towards city council approval, slow-speed zones could also apply in these high foot traffic areas.
“It is just about finding common-sense solutions and looking after people’s safety, both the riders and the pedestrians,” he said.
Currently Lime and Ario e-scooters are limited to a maximum speed of 25km/h.
No-parking zones are already in place on a small scale at Margaret Mahy Playground and the Botanic Gardens with 15km/h slow-speed zones along Manchester St and Cashel Mall.
Lime senior director William Peters supported Harrison-Hunt’s efforts.
“Lime is supportive of continuing to identify additional locations where parking or speed zones could further benefit the community.”
National data from ACC shows an increase in e-scooter injury-related claims, rising from 1018 in the first quarter of 2024 to 1236 in the first quarter of 2025.
Central Riccarton Residents’ Association chair Garth Wilson also backed Harrison-Hunt’s plan and said the city council has a “duty of care” to keep people safe from e-scooter accidents and prevent footpath obstruction.
“There needs to be some more rules for the scooters because right now it’s a bit of a wild west,” he said.
Harrison-Hunt plans to introduce the e-scooter motion at the next city council meeting in two weeks.
