The Star: November 19, 2020

The Star Thursday November 19 2020
22
NEWS
THE COMPANY which
introduced shared electric
scooters to Christchurch is now
bringing electric bikes to the city.
The city council has given
Lime Technology a permit to
operate up to 200 e-bikes in
the city until the end of August
2021.
Lime is going to start with an
initial fleet of 100 e-bikes, which
will be available for hire starting
next week.
Said city councillor Mike Davidson:
“E-scooters have changed
the way that many people move
around the city. We are keen to
see what impact a shared e-bike
service might have on travel patterns.
“We expect the e-bikes will be
popular with people wanting to
travel further distances or go up
the hills.
“Giving Lime a permit to operate
its shared e-bikes here on a
trial basis gives us a chance to
assess how such a service might
fit into our transport network in
the long-term.
“E-bikes are soaring in popularity
worldwide. They are an
environmentally-friendly form
of transport that could help us
reduce congestion on our roads
and lower carbon emissions, so
it is a travel option we want to
investigate thoroughly,’’ he said.
Lime New Zealand public
affairs manager Lauren Mentjox
said the company is excited to
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Lime given permit to
bring e-bikes to city
FEATURES OF LIME’S
E-BIKES
Electric pedal assist
A 30-60km range
QR codes to unlock the
e-bike quickly
Swappable lithium-ion
batteries
Retractable cable lock
Front and rear LED lights
be able to bring its shared e-bike
service to Christchurch.
“Christchurch people really
embraced e-scooters and we are
hoping they will be equally keen
to make use of e-bikes. With
both e-scooters and e-bikes
available for hire around the city,
it will be really easy for people
to move around and get to the
places that they want to go.’’
E-bike users will need to
comply with the usual road rules
for biking and will need to park
out of the main thoroughfares on
footpaths, as with e-scooters.
Lime’s e-bikes will be available
for hire on both the Lime and
Uber apps.
Card to help disabled
THE HĀPAI Foundation is
partnering with the city council
to help eliminate barriers for
people with disabilities.
It is supporting the launch
of the Hāpai Access Card – a
new card that people can use
to discreetly inform businesses
about their disabilities and
the extra support they may
need.
Businesses who register to
accept the card will get training
from the Hāpai Foundation on
how to improve the customer
experience for people with disabilities.
Said Hāpai Foundation chairman
Bob Shearing: “The Hāpai
Access Card is unlike anything
that currently exists in our
country to support people with
disabilities.
“What this card will provide
for Kiwis who struggle with
barriers is opportunity, inclusion
and access in a way that respects
them as valued members of our
community,’’ he said
The city council has long supported
people with disabilities
through its KiwiAble Card.
Holders of the KiwiAble Card
will now be transitioned over to
the Hāpai Access Card.
City councillor Aaron Keown,
who chairs the Accessibility
Regulatory Working Group, said
there was unanimous support
from working group’s members
for making the switch to the
Hāpai Access Card.
“The KiwiAble card has helped
break down barriers to participation
by providing people with
disabilities discounted access
to sport, recreation and leisure
facilities, but it can only be used
in the Christchurch district.
“The Hāpai Access Card can
be used nationwide and has
benefits for both card-users and
the businesses who sign up to
be part of the programme. It is a
positive step towards eliminating
the barriers that prevent
some people with disabilities
from feeling valued and welcomed,’’
Keown said.
Kerri Bonner, one of the first
Hāpai Access Card holders, said
it is a brilliant initiative that
brings together the disabled
community and the business
community.
“The card lets the disabled
community know that Hāpai
registered businesses are open to
having conversations about how
they can become more inclusive
and welcoming of disabled
people.
“As for the benefit to businesses,
the more open they are to
having these conversations and
doing things a little differently,
the more the disabled community
are going to spend their
money with them. It’s a win,
win,’’ Bonner said.
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