Skateboards on Tauranga footpaths: yes or no?

Tauranga City Council is turning to the community to see whether or not they should allow skateboarders, scooter riders and skaters to travel on footpaths or roads.

In a post on its Facebook page, council is asking for feedback on the question.

'We are consulting on our street use and public places bylaw which currently prohibits these forms of transport in our main centres (city centre, Mount Maunganui and Greerton),” reads the post.

'We're thinking of changing the rules so people can move around freely on different devices.

'What do you think?”

The current bylaw states that no person shall ride or use a skateboard, scooter, roller skates or similar device in any public place in such a manner to be dangerous or cause a nuisance.

The bylaw also states that council may by resolution determine areas where riding or using a skateboard, scooter, roller skates or similar device is prohibited (a Prohibited Area), and no person shall ride or use a skateboard, scooter, roller skates or a similar device in any Prohibited Area.

People found to be breaching the bylaw could face a fine of $55.

Other proposed changes to the bylaw and why council want to make them are listed below:

Proposed change: Addition of a definition of begging: 'Begging means soliciting for money or goods for private benefit” Addition of two new clauses: (a) 'No person shall beg in a public place in a manner that is likely to cause intimidation, harassment, alarm, or distress to any reasonable person.” and (b) 'No person shall beg within five metres of a retail or hospitality premises.
Why: To address the anti-social behaviours of begging, and to target the negative impact it has on businesses and the wider community. To protect retailers and restaurant owners who are regularly exposed to beggars occupying the area in front of their premises. It is not intended to be implemented in isolation, but as a package of tools to address begging and anti social behaviours.

Proposed change: Addition of a definition of rough sleeping: 'Rough sleeping is defined as sleeping on the streets, pavements, doorways and anywhere other than in approved accommodation, with the exception of where council has given approval.” Addition of a new clause: 'No person shall rough sleep within five metres of a retail or hospitality premises.” To protect retailers and restaurant owners who are regularly exposed to rough sleepers occupying the area in front of their premises.
Why: Council will continue to work with other organisations across the city on initiatives to assist and support those in need.

Proposed change: Businesses can place furniture on the street, but it must be removed if requested by council for various reasons. Health and safety of the public is now included as a reason for requesting removal.
Why: To protect the public from nuisance and maintain public health and safety.

Proposed change: Merchandise displays can be in public places but must be removed if requested by council for various reasons. Health and safety of the public is now included as a reason for requesting removal.
Why: To protect the public from nuisance and maintain public health and safety.

Proposed change: Merchandise displays must be removed from the footpath outside the business' hours of operation, between 3am and 7am and when requested by council.
Why: To protect the public from nuisance and maintain public health and safety.

Proposed change: The fine for riding a skateboard, scooter, roller skates or similar in our main centres has been reduced to $55 (from $750).
Why: To better reflect the severity of the offence, and to align with other similar traffic offences, such as not wearing a helmet.

Proposed change: Real estate signs must be removed within two weeks of the property been sold.
Why: To reduce visual pollution and align with the Tauranga City Plan.

Proposed change: Local election signs can be displayed up to six weeks before polling day, whereas general election signs can be displayed up to nine weeks before polling day.
Why: To differentiate between the requirements for local election signs and general election signs.

Proposed change: Council permission is required for promotional events/activities offering free goods and services in public places.
Why: To align with the rules for businesses offering goods for sale or services and reduce litter experienced from these activities.

Proposed change: Council permission is required for commercial filming in public places.
Why: To ensure the filming doesn't create a nuisance or hazard to the community.

Proposed change: Clarify that council has the ability to issue fines under the Litter Act 1979.
Why: To clarify the penalties and council's enforcement powers.

Proposed change: Council can remove any construction, material or thing in a public place that breaches the bylaw, and recover the cost from the person who committed the breach.
Why: To protect any damage or misuse of public places.

We're also proposing various other minor amendments for clarity and consistency.

Begging and rough sleeping
The mayor and councillors voted to include restrictions on begging and rough sleeping in the draft bylaw for consultation. They now want your feedback to find out if the public supports this decision, and if the proposed wording in the bylaw needs to be refined. New Zealand Police is unable to enforce provisions around begging and rough sleeping. This is your chance to have your say.

Skateboards, scooters and roller skates
It's prohibited to ride skateboards, scooters and roller skates in public places in our main centres (city centre, Mount Maunganui and Greerton). For many people, these are convenient forms of transport that make it easy to move around without needing to drive a car. Should we allow people to travel on the footpaths and roads through our main centres on skateboards, scooters and roller skates?
What about bikes? Rules around where you can ride your bike is covered by the Land Transport Act 1998, not our bylaw.

What about bikes?
Rules around where you can ride your bike is covered by the Land Transport Act 1998, not our bylaw.

People have until 5pm on August 2 to have their say. Read more here.

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5 comments

What a coincidence

Posted on 20-07-2018 07:31 | By R1Squid

It seems that council staff have been equipped with motorised scooters so that they are able to move between council office premises.


Rewording needed about displays

Posted on 20-07-2018 12:50 | By ray y

It would be logical for shop owners to bring in their displays just before they close for the day. The wording of the proposed change would prohibit them from doing this as they would be removing the display during during their business hours "Must be removed from the footpath..." should be changed to "must not be on the footpath..."


Why not, everything else is screwed

Posted on 20-07-2018 14:46 | By Slim Shady

I have to get out of the way of every dog off it's lead, and every bike that zooms past, like they own it. They're no longer footpaths, for pedestrians. God forbid. They should be on the road, preferably in bus lanes. At least then the bus lanes would have some use. Because at the moment they're only used by big yellow elephants.


Great idea

Posted on 20-07-2018 15:05 | By Wonkytonk

I think we need to help with our congestion and allow electric people movers! they can go 20km+ just give them a go they are great, save on parking fuel etc.. for about $500 too..so please let them in and embrace, also well done for TCC in thinking about this too.


Think about this

Posted on 20-07-2018 20:18 | By R1Squid

The TCC have recently spent ratepayer (your) money in procuring electrically powered motorised (push) scooters for their staff members to get around between their office premises within the CBD and THEN realised that there was a BYLAW in place that legally prevented their staff from using these devices. We have enough chairs, tables and zombies pressed to their smart phones already to worry about any other traffic on the CBD FOOTPATHS.


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