WELLINGTON, March 9 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government is looking at ways to make footpaths more pedestrian friendly, as new forms of transport such as e-scooters change the way people get around.
The government will clarify that pedestrians and people in wheelchairs have right of way on the footpath, putting in a speed limit of 15 km per hour and a width limit of 75 cm for transport devices used on the footpath.
"This package looks at how we can make our streets safer for those going from A to B, particularly young children when they are learning to ride bikes, and ensuring our road rules reflect real life," Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said in a statement.
"How we travel around our streets and footpaths is changing as more Kiwis choose to walk, cycle, and use new forms of mobility like e-scooters," she said.
"New transport technologies like e-scooters are convenient, fun and help ease congestion, but we need a balanced approach to ensure pedestrians retain priority on our footpaths," Genter said.
A lot of parents have called for kids to be able to cycle on the footpath so they can ride with confidence away from traffic, she said.
The consultation will be open from March 9 to April 22.
