'Don't be a d...': E-scooter numbers to rise in Wellington

Wellingtonians are calling for more safety measures after the number of e-bikes and e-scooters has been set to almost double.

Wellington City Council agreed to increase the number of micromobility devices - e-bikes and e-scooters - up to 2000 from 1300.

The increase would be split evenly between providers Lime and Flamingo, who would decide how many of each type of device would make up the total increase.

Meanwhile, people who have been hit by e-scooters are raising the alarm about the plan, saying it increases the risk of people being seriously hurt.

And disability advocates are saying poor e-scooter parking blocks people's paths.

Currently, there are 1000 e-scooters and 300 e-bikes being used in the city.

Flamingo boss Jacksen Love said he was "really pleased" with the decision.

"[It's] a decent increase and definitely really positive in response to really the strong demand that we've seen for shared micromobility in Wellington."

He said there had been increased demand for environmentally friendly transport.

"At the end of the day, it's about getting more people transport choices," said deputy mayor Ben McNulty.

However, many locals said they were worried for pedestrians and riders' safety if e-scooter numbers increased.

McNulty said: "Look, rule one on micro-mobility is don't be a dick.

"Just because you can go full speed doesn't mean that you should. When you're parking, be actually alert and aware of where you're parking, and people need to take that responsibility."

He said the council had worked with providers to limit speeds in certain areas.

He added that the council would welcome a law change to get e-scooters on cycleways rather than footpaths to further ensure the safety of all road users in the city.

Finding a lane

Under the land transport rules, e-scooters are classed as "mobility devices" which means they are not legally allowed to use cycle lanes.

Local Rob Birse, who was struck by an e-scooter, said more e-scooters would raise the risk to pedestrians.

In March, an e-scooter, being ridden by two people at once, knocked him down and the passenger riding pillion fell into the road.

"I was in a state of shock because - getting hit from behind, it's 10 minutes past seven as you're heading to work - I wasn't expecting that."

He said there were no lights or horn sounds to warn him ahead of the collision.

"They certainly weren't wearing any head protection or high visibility equipment, you know. And I was really upset and annoyed."

He said e-scooters did not belong on footpaths and weren't well integrated into the city.

"They're classified, according to the council, as a mobility device, which I find bizarre. So they're in the same category as a wheelchair," he said.

Signs

Fellow Wellingtonian Tanya Eastgate said signs or mirrors could help prevent collisisons by letting pedestrians and riders know to look out for each other - similar to signs on mountain bike trails.

She was hit by an e-scooter on her way home from work, walking down the City to Sea steps near St John's Bar and Restaurant.

"The force of that hitting you side on is just unbelievable." She said she worried about what would have happened if she'd been a vulnerable pedestrian - if she had been pregnant or a child.

She said the location was an accident waiting to happen "again and again" without a sign.

"There's actually a large post on the corner, so I think I would have been in her blind spot."

Eastgate was left with bruises and a sprained ankle, but did not report the injury to ACC.

"I didn't visit the hospital or the doctor, and that's a statistic that's not captured."

She said she tried to report the incident to the council but could not find a way to.

Ben McNulty said incidents could be reported through the FixIt app, which also let the council know of repairs needed on pavements.

Disability

First-year university student Carter Drake, who uses an electric wheelchair, said he frequently found his path blocked by e-scooters in the middle of the way.

"So in most cases there's a degree of room that I can move around but that room's commonly near a ledge which then leads to a road so I have to be very careful about moving past it and sometimes it's in such a bad position that I sometimes have to kind of scrape the e-scooter as I go past it."

He said he was annoyed at people's thoughtlessness in dumping e-scooters, which often could not be easily moved by non-riders.

He added he occasionally woried he might get in trouble for damamging a scooter he could not move past.

"As long as that issue is at least to some degree resolved I'm completely fine with more of these e-scooters coming around," he said.

Flamingo's Jacksen Love said that all riders had to submit a parking photo.

He said parking compliance was assessed through AI and in-field safety amabassadors.

"And those riders who do demonstrate good parking behaviour receive incentives. And then those who aren't parking safely can expect to hear from our customer support team.

"We take a clear stepped approach from education through to fines and suspensions and permanent bans."

He said members of the public could report parking problems with Flamingo on its app, website or on the phone.

McNulty said the council had also considered more dedicated e-scooter parking spots.

Helmets

Wellington resident Sarah Fussell reached out to RNZ to express her concerns for riders' safety.

"My main concern is a lot of scooter riders ride them without helmets and I just find that really disturbing from a public health point of view because of the danger of traumatic brain injuries."

The number of new ACC claims for e-scooter related injuries had more than doubled in 2025 to 4000 since 2020.

The active costs of e-scooter-related claims in the same time frame had tripled to $16 million.

"No one wants brain scrambled all over the pavement," said McNulty. He advised wearing a motorcycle helmet, especially when at high speeds, or a cycle helmet at the least.

He added that providers also had safety training and inductions to teach people how to ride safely.

E-scooter provider Flamingo lets riders request helmets for free.