Paris e-scooter ban sparks opinions amongst Aucklanders

Aucklanders may not want to go as far as their Parisian counterparts in banning rental electric scooters - but it seems they do want stricter regulations.

Nearly 90 per cent of Parisians voted to ban the e-scooters in their city, citing a large amount of injuries and safety concerns.

Here in New Zealand, e-scooters have been controversial topic since their arrival in late 2018.

Most Aucklanders TWN spoke to do not want a ban like Paris, but instead are calling for greater regulations.

Main concerns are riders losing control at high speeds, e-scooters and pedestrians sharing the same walkway, and drunk driving.

E-scooters are four times more dangerous than bicycles and almost a fifth of Auckland e-scooter drivers in hospital were drunk, according to a patient analysis by The New Zealand Medical Journal.

One person told TWN: “I got hit by a scooter when I was waiting for the bus last year. The sidewalk was uneven and narrow, and he came out of nowhere.”

Data from ACC Injury Prevention revealed that more than 10,577 e-scooter related injury claims have been made since their arrival here.

Many Aucklanders say they are intimidated by the shared use of space, something especially worrying for the elderly.

Banning escooters from footpaths, reducing speed and maintaining distance are regulations they would like to see.

However others highlighted the benefits of the scooters to Auckland.

“They shouldn’t be banned, scooters are beneficial to the environment," he told TWN.

"They’re a more sustainable option to driving cars and they also keep people from using overcrowded public transport.”

Auckland Council could not be reached for comment.