The increasing number of kids on scooters has raised concerns about road safety - but the law is murky on where they should be.
Featherston resident Val Wilton said she almost hit a child riding a scooter on Main St in Greytown on Wednesday, where a 7-year-old was hit by a ute this week.
"Kids have just got to be aware of what's around, not just going like a bat out of hell," she said.
"But they have to go somewhere, people don't have the area around their own homes anymore."
Wairarapa Road Safety Council manager Dave Ryan said the best way to describe the laws around where children can and can't ride their scooters was "grey".
But as far as road safety went, he said the message was clear: scooters should not be on the road.
The New Zealand Road Code describes scooters as a "wheeled recreational device" and says they should be on the footpath where possible but should give way to pedestrians.
But Masterton and Carterton district councils have bylaws prohibiting scooters from the footpaths of certain parts of town.
Masterton District Council prohibits the use of skateboards and scooters in the Kuripuni shopping centre and a large part of Masterton's CBD, between Bruce St to Renall St along Chapel St and Queen St.
First-time offenders can have their scooters impounded for a week, the second time will attract a fine and the third time an even bigger fine. Carterton District Council has a similar bylaw, banning scooters from High St between Pembroke and the Matador Motel, as well as Memorial Square.
South Wairarapa District Council does not have a bylaw on scooters or skateboards.
Infrastructure and services manager Mark Allingham said given the age of most scooter riders he would prefer them to be on the footpath - but riders should be courteous.
Greytown School principal Kevin Mackay said scooters had become so popular with the school's students they had to create a scooter park.
He said about 50 students brought them to school and, while they were not allowed to ride them on school grounds, he would not want to see them on the road.
"It's good to see kids actually coming to school on something, rather than being dropped by parents in a car."
Mr Mackay said scooters were just another fad, which will probably pass again soon, which may be a relief for parents.
"Parents have problems with shoes I hear - kids are only wearing out one of them."