E-scooters share cycle lanes but not helmet rules
Kate Judson|Wairarapa Times-Age
November 10, 2026 • 4:00am
E-scooters can now share cycle lanes with cyclists, but not the same helmet rules, and Wairarapa riders and road safety advocates want to see that change.
Since e-scooters arrived in New Zealand in October 2018, riders have been able to use footpaths, shared paths, cycle paths and roads, but not on-road cycle lanes.
A change to the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 on October 1 allowed qualifying e-scooters to use cycle lanes alongside cyclists.
However, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi confirmed helmets remained recommended rather than compulsory for e-scooter riders, despite cyclists having been legally required to wear them since January 1994.
Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) data recorded 3865 new claims, 4314 active claims and $14.2 million in active claim costs relating to e-scooter injuries between January 1 and September 30, 2026.
Masterton resident Mark Pacey rode an Apollo Ghost with dual 800W motors, capable of reaching 54kph, but had programmed it to a maximum speed of 25kph and only used one motor.
He bought a helmet before purchasing his scooter, initially wearing a standard cycling helmet before upgrading to an open-faced motorcycle helmet.
“I like my brain functioning the way it does and wouldn’t do anything to risk that,” he said.
He said helmets might not look cool or could mess up a rider’s hair, but the protection was worth it.
“I am quite disappointed that this is not a legal requirement.”
Pacey also supported age restrictions and said some newer models could reach extreme speeds.
“One I looked at could do 120kph. This grumpy old rider thinks 25kph is plenty.”
He said small tyres made scooters vulnerable to rocks and uneven surfaces, while pedestrians distracted by phones, dogs and vehicles meant riders needed to remain alert.
“You might think you can ride up and over a concrete lip or uneven brick, but you might just find yourself with a mouth full of blood.”
He said a similar incident had happened only recently in a Wellington tunnel.
“And it wasn’t just a small amount of blood, it was enough for a police investigation.”
Wairarapa Road Safety Council projects co-ordinator Holly Hullena welcomed the changes allowing e-scooters into cycle lanes, saying they could ease pressure on footpaths and improve pedestrian safety.
However, she warned that busier cycle lanes could bring together different speeds and riding styles in a confined space.
“Like any form of sustainable travel, riders don’t have the ‘shell’ of a large vehicle around them, so they are more vulnerable in any impact,” she said.
“When you are riding an e-scooter, the rules should be the same as for cyclists: ride with a helmet, especially on the road.”
Hullena said parents and caregivers also had an important role in setting an example for children, while making e-scooters safer required action from central government, councils, police and road safety organisations.
She said clearer controls on scooter power and speed, compulsory helmets and ongoing education would help reduce risks.
Police Wairarapa area commander Inspector Nick Thom said police had not noticed significant e-scooter issues or changes in the region since October 1.
However, a March incident in Queen St, Masterton, resulted in a rider receiving infringement notices after colliding with a car.
Police found the scooter had sufficient wattage to be classified as a vehicle and the rider was already disqualified from driving.
The rider was convicted and discharged in July on charges of dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.
Thom recommended all e-scooter riders wear helmets, warning that coming off at speed could cause serious injury or worse.
Several fatal e-scooter crashes had been reported since their introduction, including the deaths of Auckland riders Toben Hunt, 23, in 2019 and Thiyagalingam Thanababu, 53, in 2021. Neither was wearing a helmet.
In February 2024, a coroner found Thanababu's death would most likely have been prevented had he worn a helmet.
A police serious crash investigation estimated the scooter was travelling between 36kph and 41kph when the crash happened.
ACC data did not record whether e-scooter riders were wearing helmets when they were injured.
-Wairarapa Times-Age - Link to online article
