Micromobility: Licensing and regulating e-scooter and e-bike rental operators

What is micromobility

We define micromobility as small, lightweight transport devices hired and driven by people. The types of these devices continues to evolve. We currently licence both rental e-scooters and e-bikes. E-scooters and e-bikes are defined by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) as wheeled recreational devices or power-assisted cycles of less than 300 watts in power.

They are:

• regulated by the Government

• not classified as a motor vehicle

• not required to be licensed or registered.

The speed limit for e-scooters and e-bikes is the same as the road speed limit in a given area.

See the NZTA website for more information about low-powered vehicles that do not require registration or a driver licence.

E-scooter regulations

NZTA has decided any e-scooter can be ridden on the footpath, shared paths, and on the road.

A helmet is not legally required but is recommended.

E-bike regulations

Like regular bikes, e-bikes should not be ridden on the footpath, but they can be ridden on shared paths, separated cycle paths and on the road.

A helmet is legally required.

Rental e-scooter and e-bike licensing and compliance

In Auckland, operators of rental e-scooters or e-bikes that are parked in public places are licensed through our Public Trading, Events and Filming Bylaw 2022 and Auckland Transport’s Activities in the Road Corridor Bylaw 2022 (PDF 1MB)

The conditions and expectations we have for this type of business are outlined in the Rental Micromobility Code of Practice.

We use the bylaws, the Code of Practice, the Trading and Events and Public Places Guidelines and the Micromobility Parking and Deployment Requirements to manage operator compliance.

Related documents   

Rental e-scooter and e-bike licensing

Auckland Council and Auckland Transport have run a series of trials around the licensing of rental e-scooters in Auckland under our bylaw.

After two trials, we have improved the code of practice and continue to license rental e-scooter schemes under the bylaw.

We currently have two companies licensed to operate both e-scooters and e-bikes from Auckland’s public places from 4 November 2022.

E-scooter and e-bike operators

• Beam
• Lime.

More information

You can read more about the licensing process and the updated conditions for operators on OurAuckland.

​Fees for micromobility operators

Apply for a licence to operate a rental e-scooter, e-bike or bike scheme

To apply for a licence to operate a rental scheme, email:

micromobility@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

To find out more about how we assess applications, read our assessment criteria.  

Report accidents and incorrectly parked micromobility devices

If you are involved in an accident or near miss with a rental micromobility device, or you see an incorrectly parked device, report this to the relevant operator:

Beam

 0800 507 676

teamsupportnz@ridebeam.com

www.ridebeam.com

Lime

 0800 467 001

 support@li.me

www.li.me

 
You can also send us an email so we can follow up on your concerns:

micromobility@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz