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freitasm

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#302596 5-Dec-2022 09:42
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From press release:

 

 

On Thursday 8 December, Wellington City Council’s Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee will consider whether to trial a public e-bike share scheme.

 

If Councillors give the go-ahead, e-bikes could be on the streets from early in the new year, allowing people to give them a try over summer. They would be hireable, locked and unlocked via apps just like the share e-scooters are.

 

Council staff are recommending the city’s existing e-scooter operators Beam and Flamingo be permitted to trial up to 50 e-bikes each initially, rising to a maximum of 150 each if things go well.

 

Operators and users will need to demonstrate they are prepared to leave bikes in safe, or designated spots and use the bikes in a way that keeps Wellington streets and footpaths as safe as possible.

 

The Committee will make the decision on whether to allow a trial, when it could start and how long it would run, but it is suggested one could get under way in January and be evaluated towards the end of next year ahead of the existing licences to operate on our streets coming up for renewal in March 2024.

 

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau is keen to see share e-bikes trialled.  

 

“Share schemes like this are great because they make e-bike use possible for more people as we create a city where climate-positive lifestyles are more affordable and accessible.

 

“There is good evidence from other cities on how share e-bikes are used. Testing them here would highlight the local potential and allow more permanent arrangements to be tailored specifically for Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

 

“For those who enjoy the experience, and can afford it, share hire can also be a catalyst to buying an e-bike of their own.”

 

Mayor Whanau says she was proud when the city was recently awarded an A score for environmental action by global non-profit CDP. 

 

“But we must continue to build momentum to further reduce emissions. Share e-bikes will play their part in that,” adds the Mayor.

 

Experience in New Zealand and elsewhere shows that e-bikes are often used by people who don’t use e-scooters. They can be a more appealing option for longer trips, and relatively low complaint levels indicate most people use them in a responsible way.

 

Like e-scooters, they would be available from suburban locations in the morning so people could pick one up and come into the city. They would also be available outside the railway station so people who have commuted in by train or bus have more options about how they make the next leg of their journey.

 

In the central city, e-bike users would be encouraged and offered a discount to leave bikes in designated spots.

 

The committee meeting where this proposal will be considered will be screened live and recorded on our You Tube channel.

 





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alasta
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  #3005827 5-Dec-2022 09:48
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I would be interesting to know what they mean about footpaths being "as safe as possible". Is this an admission that pedestrians won't be safe, so they will just make a best effort to minimise the risk? 




wellygary
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  #3005828 5-Dec-2022 09:54
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Great, even more Cr@p to clutter up the footpaths, 

 

 


BlakJak
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  #3005834 5-Dec-2022 10:03
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alasta:

 

I would be interesting to know what they mean about footpaths being "as safe as possible". Is this an admission that pedestrians won't be safe, so they will just make a best effort to minimise the risk? 

 

 

How about an admission that footpaths aren't necessarily "safe" with-or-without... y'know, users of those footpaths?

 

Not everything is a conspiracy against pedestrians, though you clearly have that agenda in mind with the way you've posed this.





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mudguard
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  #3005839 5-Dec-2022 10:11
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alasta:

I would be interesting to know what they mean about footpaths being "as safe as possible". Is this an admission that pedestrians won't be safe, so they will just make a best effort to minimise the risk? 



Presumably they won't be on footpaths as it's illegal unless your wheels are smaller than 20"??
At least that's how it used to be, kids bikes only.

MikeAqua
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  #3005845 5-Dec-2022 10:21
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This is a much better use of money than fixing essential infrastructure.





Mike


alasta
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  #3005882 5-Dec-2022 10:58
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mudguard:
alasta:

 

I would be interesting to know what they mean about footpaths being "as safe as possible". Is this an admission that pedestrians won't be safe, so they will just make a best effort to minimise the risk? 

 



Presumably they won't be on footpaths as it's illegal unless your wheels are smaller than 20"??
At least that's how it used to be, kids bikes only.

 

It may well be illegal, but it's not being enforced. 


lchiu7
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  #3005888 5-Dec-2022 11:16
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I must admit every now and then I look at using a scooter to quickly get from A to B in the city but hold off since I am not sure where I can ride it. Riding on the street at Lambton Quay or Willis Street bothers me a bit as I don't know if I should be on the footpath or on the street. If I am on the street I feel like I am taking my life in my hands.

 

With a  bike I guess I would have to be on the street and that makes me nervous also.


 
 
 

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BlakJak
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  #3005898 5-Dec-2022 11:47
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I scoot around Wellington using Flamingo or Beam scooters fairly regularly - the Flamingo website is pretty clear on rules for Wellington CBD.

 

Basically "don't be a dick"... don't hold up cars when you don't have to, don't make pedestrians feel too threatened, defer/give-way to them at all times, and park considerately.

 

I used to ride Onzo bikes in Wellington (remember them? ) so this isn't too different, to be honest.  Similar rules apply, you need to be clear about your rights when riding a bike in traffic and 'assert your position' on the road.  I think if you use them often you'd want your own helmet.

 

I think this is a great idea; e-bikes might hold their own a little better (being able to keep up with the flow of traffic more readily) but I fully expect louts to ruin it by trashing the bikes and otherwise being dicks.

 

I'm considering buying my own e-scooter in the new year (relative to the big price hikes of rental e-scootering), but e-bikes might actually be better if you're routinely crossing-town, in terms of speed... avoiding Lambton and Cuba and Willis on scooters can be a bit of a mess sometimes.





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MikeAqua
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  #3005904 5-Dec-2022 11:50
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lchiu7:

 

I must admit every now and then I look at using a scooter to quickly get from A to B in the city but hold off since I am not sure where I can ride it. Riding on the street at Lambton Quay or Willis Street bothers me a bit as I don't know if I should be on the footpath or on the street. If I am on the street I feel like I am taking my life in my hands.

 

With a  bike I guess I would have to be on the street and that makes me nervous also.

 

 

Well the good news is that the Golden Mile will soon be off limits to most vehciles.  IIRC Lambton, bits of Willis, Manners and Courtney will be off limits to 'private', taxi/rideshare and most delivery vehicles.

 

Sadly you'll still have that most lethal of vehicles, the bus, to contend with.





Mike


lchiu7
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  #3006023 5-Dec-2022 14:42
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MikeAqua:

 

lchiu7:

 

I must admit every now and then I look at using a scooter to quickly get from A to B in the city but hold off since I am not sure where I can ride it. Riding on the street at Lambton Quay or Willis Street bothers me a bit as I don't know if I should be on the footpath or on the street. If I am on the street I feel like I am taking my life in my hands.

 

With a  bike I guess I would have to be on the street and that makes me nervous also.

 

 

Well the good news is that the Golden Mile will soon be off limits to most vehciles.  IIRC Lambton, bits of Willis, Manners and Courtney will be off limits to 'private', taxi/rideshare and most delivery vehicles.

 

Sadly you'll still have that most lethal of vehicles, the bus, to contend with.

 

 

Cycling or scootting along LQ, Willis or Courtney Place gives me the chills :-( I can just picture myself falling off the bike/scooter and getting hit by a car coming along behind.

 

 

 

I guess the safe place is along the waterfront which I have done a few times but there are not many corporate offices along there :-(


wellygary
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  #3006028 5-Dec-2022 15:10
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lchiu7:

 

Cycling or scootting along LQ, Willis or Courtney Place gives me the chills :-( I can just picture myself falling off the bike/scooter and getting hit by a car coming along behind.

 

 

Don't worry LGWM are going to make that "better" for you with a cycle lane in the middle of the road down Willis street,  *between* the bus lanes, with one lane coming toward you and one lane potentially passing you on the inside, 

 

Oh and 2/3 of those buses are still diesel to boot...

 

Talk about transport planners in ivory towers...


MikeAqua
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  #3006036 5-Dec-2022 15:58
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wellygary:

 

Don't worry LGWM are going to make that "better" for you with a cycle lane in the middle of the road down Willis street,  *between* the bus lanes, with one lane coming toward you and one lane potentially passing you on the inside, 

 

Oh and 2/3 of those buses are still diesel to boot...

 

Talk about transport planners in ivory towers...

 

 

But on a positive note.  A bus won't leave you with horrid injuries, like  car might.  It will kill you outright. 

 

A bus can kill you with a thought, just like Geoff Vader.  Well OK maybe with not a thought, but definitely with a wing mirror and probably also with a tray.





Mike


mattwnz
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  #3006606 7-Dec-2022 00:37
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MikeAqua:

 

 

 

Well the good news is that the Golden Mile will soon be off limits to most vehciles.  IIRC Lambton, bits of Willis, Manners and Courtney will be off limits to 'private', taxi/rideshare and most delivery vehicles.

 

Sadly you'll still have that most lethal of vehicles, the bus, to contend with.

 

 

 

 

I hadn't been into the Golden mile of Wellington for quite a number of years. I was shocked at how dead it was these days. A huge difference from the 90's. Maybe many people are still WFH.


MikeAqua
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  #3006927 7-Dec-2022 14:44
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mattwnz:

 

I hadn't been into the Golden mile of Wellington for quite a number of years. I was shocked at how dead it was these days. A huge difference from the 90's. Maybe many people are still WFH.

 

 

  • More people WFH
  • The switch from brick and mortar to online retail
  • Workforce shortages
  • ?Fewer visitors?
  • Police making it harder and harder to get/retain liquor licenses
  • Safety issues in the vicinity of manner and Dixon Streets.   I say that as a <6ft, <100kg male, who grew up in a very rough neighborhood.  I can only imagine what it's like for more vulnerable people




Mike


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  #3006952 7-Dec-2022 15:35
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Loved the e-bikes in Copenhagen when we visited there.

 

They have charging stations all over the town that you pickup and deliver the bikes to. You pay for a period of time, and can actually use them (with a subscription set up) for short rides for free. AND you will get charged a lot if you just leave the bike and don't return them to a charging station.

 

That is the way to go for sure, if that was the rule for the scooters they wouldn't be a problem in the city and littering up the sidewalks.

 

Copenhagen is brilliant in another way too - most of the streets have cycle lanes so you can actually move about quite efficiently and not worry about cars or pedestrians.

 

It is really a good model for how to do e-bikes in a city.





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