Council ponders greater control over e-scooters

Remember when skateboards came to Dunedin? After much steam-powered cogitation the ruling came forth - they were wheeled means of transport therefore they belonged on streets, not footpaths where they were proving a nuisance and potential danger to pedestrians. 

Another thing, local people operating businesses on the streets or parked beside them are hit with costs, permits - the usual blend of money+control councils use, often wisely and fairly. Food vendors in vans, cafes with tables on the footpath.

Lime scooters though? 

Before they arrived in Dunedin there were problems in Auckland that even I in my cardboard box on't side of dead-end road was aware of. Accidents to riders and pedestrians, annoyance about these overseas-owned pests not even contributing to the city's finances. 

So what did the DCC do? Baa-baa-b-uggerall to indicate ability to learn from what happened up north. "Yes come on in, welcome to Dunedin!"

Lynley Hood has done her best to point out the danger to people with imperfect sight. Ignored.

I'd like to see Dunedin become an (excuse me, slogan alert) Inclusive City. Te Reo names for e.g. Settlers Museum, yes, got that. Now how about noticing the deaf and blind and wheelchair users, and those like Lynley who don't make the cut for "legally blind" but are disadvantaged not to mention endangered when their need for safety on the footpaths is disregarded, disrespected?

And parking, how about noticing the number of elderly and others who have physical conditions that do not disable them, but combined with low income prevent their ability to get around in this cycle/walk/bus city that is the green planet-savers' vision? Cycles aren't cheap, certainly not for a whole family. Walking long distances is not an option for people with worn-out hips and dodgy tickers. Buses aren't cheap and hardly practical if you need to take a kid to the doctor, or keep up valuable social contacts through visiting friends, belonging to a club.

Cars are a fact, parking is a necessity. Cycle lanes have reduced parking spaces, e-scooters have reduced safety on the footpaths. 

At the very least how about cycle lanes being for other wheeled transport: e-scooters, skateboards. They go fast and unpredictably compared with mobility scooters and wheelchairs which really need to be on the footpath.

Monday, 29 July 2019

Bylaw may change Lime rules

By Chris Morris

 

......The move comes after the Dunedin City Council voted in March to start an early review of its mobile trading bylaw, not scheduled until 2024, to give it greater control over e-scooters. Councillors at the time asked for a report on mechanisms available to control e-scooters on footpaths in busy pedestrian areas such as George St.
Since Lime's service launched in Dunedin earlier this year, the company has been able to operate without a licence, permit or payment, although it did sign a memorandum of understanding with the council.
In Auckland, the company was required to have a licence from the council and had to pay a fee.....

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/bylaw-may-change-lime-rules 

Foulden Maar is safe - well, safe-ish

Thursday, 1 August 2019

Plaman withdraws; maar still vulnerable

By Elena McPhee

........Dunedin city councillor Aaron Hawkins said the withdrawal ''would appear to be the final nail in the coffin of Plaman's diatomite dreams at Foulden Maar''.
However, the consent to mine the area belonging to Plaman was attached to the land, not the owner, and what happened next depended on how the liquidation went.
''The enduring preservation of the fossil record hinges to a large degree on what happens next in that process.''
The council would be discussing options to protect the site at a full council meeting on August 27.........

 https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/plaman-withdraws-maar-still-vulnerable

Never mind the quality, look at the quantity!

Saturday, 27 July 2019

Numbers in mayoralty race growing

By Chris Morris

 

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/numbers-mayoralty-race-growing

Cr Whiley - also the spokesman for pro-drilling lobby group ProGas Otago - believed he had the experience to lead the city and tackle the challenges of clogged streets and pressure on parking as major projects loomed....

 

......Cr Jim O'Malley and contender from outside council Scout Barbour-Evans have also confirmed their plans to run, but both were yet to formalise their nominations. And, if Cr O'Malley was to be victorious, he might find himself sitting across the council table from his partner - former DCC business development adviser Sophie Barker.
Ms Barker announced on Thursday she would stand for a council seat, joining Crs Garey, Hawkins, Whiley and David Benson-Pope in the race to become a councillor.
Alongside them, with nominations confirmed, was outgoing West Harbour board chairman Steve Walker, Ms Houlahan, Ms Mayhem-Bullock and Mr Moncrief-Spittle as confirmed nominees so far.

 

 

 

 Mayoral contenders
Dunedin
Confirmed/nominations finalised:
• Cr Christine Garey.
• Cr Aaron Hawkins.
• Cr Andrew Whiley.
• Carmen Houlahan.
• Mandy Mayhem-Bullock.
• Malcolm Moncrief-Spittle.
Announced/nominations not finalised:
• Cr Jim O’Malley.
• Scout Barbour-Evans.

Seeking Parking Facts

 Mayor doesn't know what the city's parking needs are. Understandable really. He's convinced that most of us will be cycling, walking and taking the bus and nothing seems to shake that belief, least of all the opinions expressed in online and mainstream media by people who live here.

 

 

Wednesday, 31 July 2019

Parking facts needed to inform debate

By Tim Miller

 ........At a meeting of the Dunedin City Council yesterday, councillors voted to adopt a resolution from Cr Aaron Hawkins which was aimed at providing a greater understanding of parking in the central city.
Staff will be tasked with collecting information on all on and off street parking as well as the number of spaces in both public and private parking buildings.
A report that will also contain capacity and occupancy data will be presented to the council before next year's annual plan.
Private parking providers had no legal obligation to provide the information....

.... Staff were already working on a new count and Cr Lee Vandervis raised concerns about the motion complicating any work which had started.
To be relevant, any new data needed to be comparable with previous counts and asking staff to include information not gathered before could compromise that, Cr Vandervis said.
It was already clear more parking was needed and public opinion, sought on social media, backed that up, he said.
Mayor Dave Cull said throughout all recent debates on parking it had been difficult to know exactly what the facts were because it was not clear what the city's parking needs were....









https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/parking-facts-needed-inform-debate?fbclid=IwAR0Y-D6n_oOrVNM_5IJR59j8jw4ZyQJ8kTci4wyAdCq-W4mHzotn-DwtCEY