New Zealand Updates Transport Rules: Kids on Footpaths & E-Scooters in Cycle Lanes

The New Zealand Government has approved transport rule changes allowing children aged 12 and under to ride bikes on footpaths accompanied by an adult, and permitting e-scooters in cycle lanes, following public consultation. Other updates include a simplified 1.5-metre minimum overtaking gap for vehicles passing cyclists and horse riders, and a new rule requiring drivers to give way to buses leaving stops in areas with speed limits of 60 km/h or less. These reforms aim to create safer streets, clearer rules, and reduce bureaucracy, with implementation expected by the end of the year.