From page 1 // E-scooters for hire pass city safety muster

hear how many trips had been taken by Palmerston North riders and that it was prompting some households to consider having one less car. But Barrett said there were still some issues, and it would be in operators’ interests to do all they could to discourage careless use and parking.

Councillor Leonie Hapeta was the sole dissenting voice, saying the council should be doing more to make the footpaths safer for other users. As a business owner, she said there were often three or four scooters dumped outside her property. People tripped over them ‘‘all the time’’ and they were heavy to move out of the way. She said there had been a lot of near misses when people had stepped out on to the footpath and nearly been knocked over.

‘‘I am really disappointed with this recommendation.

‘‘A lot of retailers are sick of scooters on footpaths.’’

She hoped the council could get them moved into cycle lanes.

Ridge said the Government’s ‘‘accessible streets’’ programme, which could trigger a law change to allow e-scooters in cycle lanes, was still in limbo.