The Government is proposing rule changes to allow kids to ride their bikes on footpaths. Photo / Jure Gasparic
The Government is proposing rule changes to allow kids to ride their bikes on footpaths. Photo / Jure Gasparic
Young children will be able to ride their bikes on footpaths and motorists will need to give way to buses pulling out of bus stops if a series of proposed changes to transport law are enacted.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop said allowing kids under 12to ride their bikes on footpaths might be concerning for pedestrians, including older people and members of the disabled community, but the changes would bring “the law into line with reality”.
“Many children already ride on footpaths, although the current rule does not allow them to,” he said.
“Education and clear guidance will be important, and parents and caregivers will need to ensure children ride at safe speeds and give way to pedestrians.”
The changes would also allow e-scooter rides to use cycle lanes and require motorists travelling under 60km/h to give way to buses pulling out of bus stops.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop. Photo / Jason Dorday
Consultation is open on the proposed changes until March 25. Feedback can be provided via the NZTA website.
The proposed changes in full are:
Allowing children up to age 12 (inclusive) to ride their bikes on footpaths.
Introducing a mandatory passing gap of between one and 1.5 metres, depending on the speed limit, to give motorists clearer guidance when passing cyclists and horse riders.
Allowing e-scooters to use cycle lanes.
Requiring drivers travelling under 60 kilometres per hour to give way to buses pulling out from bus stops.
Clarifying signage rules so councils can better manage berm parking.
The Government is also proposing a number of rule changes for heavy vehicles. Bishop said operators had told the Government the current rules created unnecessary delays and costs without improving safety.
Some permit requirements would be removed so rental operators can move empty High Productivity Motor Vehicle truck and trailer combinations between depots and customers without unnecessary delays.
Driver licence settings would be updated so Class 1 licence holders can drive zero-emissions vehicles with a gross laden weight up to 7500 kilograms, and Class 2 licence holders can drive electric buses with more than two axles with a gross laden weight up to 22,000 kilograms.
Signage requirements for load pilot vehicles would be made more practical.
Overseas heavy vehicle licence holders would be able to convert their licences either by sitting tests or completing approved courses.
These were “practical, commonsense changes” that gave operators more certainty to get on with their work, Bishop said.
“We encourage parents, cyclists, bus users, disability advocates, truck drivers, transport operators, councils and everyday road-users to have their say on the current proposals,” he said.
“Good rules are built on commonsense feedback from people who live by them.”
Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.
