Beam Mobility is calling for safer e-scooter operations in light of several accidents and injury claims to the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
The e-scooter firm pointed out that a safe and well-run e-scooter service could provide significant benefits and even overcome obstacles that experts believe to be a cause for concern.
Brad Kitschke, head of public affairs at Beam, urged operators to have appropriate insurance coverage so taxpayers don’t have to shoulder costs.
“While [e-scooters] are fun to ride there needs to be a greater focus on the benefits of a properly connected and safe multi-modal approach to e-scooters. Given the challenges faced by a city like Auckland, it makes sense that e-scooter providers focus on meeting these challenges,” Kitschke said.
“There is also a need to mandate better safety outcomes and reduce the imposition on taxpayers, owing to the number of accidents and injury claims to the ACC. Beam is the only provider that covers riders with accident insurance. We don’t pass the burden on to the public purse.”
The e-scooter firm is also calling out for a greater focus on the potential benefits of micro-mobility as e-scooters could be an “effective and sustainable first and last mile.”
“We are finding that e-scooters are an essential part of the transportation ecosystem. When you examine the data from our operations there are very clear patterns emerging which demonstrate that e-scooters are being used as a transport service,” Kitschke said.
“In Christchurch, many Beam trips start or end right in the city centre, are connecting users to public transport hubs often as part of a morning or evening commute.”
