22 August 2019 
By email: [FYI request #10837 email]  
 
 
 
Dear Mr Sweeney,  
 
Please find the following answer to your Official Information Act request of 29 July 2019.  
 
In response to the recent "walk your wheels" campaign at the University of Otago, how many 
pedestrians were injured before the introduction of the new rules by people riding 
bikes/scooters/skateboards on campus? Please also provide minutes from the Council meeting on 
14/5/19 where the Traffic and Parking Regulations were changed so students and staff can understand 
why such changes were necessary.    
 
In the past 5 years there have been two reports of injuries to pedestrians within the confines of the 
University of Otago Dunedin campus. Both of these injuries involved skateboarders. 
The University of Otago encourages a culture of safety, however it is unlikely that all reports of injury or 
near-misses are reported through the formal Health and Safety channels.   
Although it is outside the scope of your request, the following may help provide context for the changes 
to the Traffic and Parking Regulations.  There have been numerous reports received from pedestrians 
involved in near-miss incidents involving skateboards, bikes and scooters on campus.  In addition, 
reports have also been received relating to incidents of cyclists and skateboards colliding as well as 
skateboard accidents.  
The University of Otago Dunedin Campus is a pedestrian-friendly zone and with the introduction of 
electric scooters in Dunedin a review of the existing regulations governing the use of mobile transport 
on campus was required.  
Further details regarding the reasons for the Walk Your Wheels campaign can be found in this article 
and this update. 
The minutes from the University of Otago Council meeting pertaining to this campaign are attached. 

---

 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
Claire Gallop 
Manager, Policy and Compliance, Office of the Registrar 

---