Hundreds entered lime scooter 'drag race' in Dunedin; only two showed up

University of Otago students Luke Beer (left) and Levi Milton zoom through North Dunedin on Lime scooters. Photo / Gerard O'Brien

A Lime Scooter "drag race'' through the streets of Dunedin yesterday was more intimate than expected.

Two University of Otago students, Luke Beer and Levi Milton, raced each other on e-scooters at noon from the intersection of Duke and Castle Sts, through the University of Otago, to Leith St Liquorland.

The field of entrants was significantly smaller than the Facebook event page indicated, after 656 people clicked attending.

University of Otago students Luke Beer (left) and Levi Milton zoom through North Dunedin on Lime scooters. Photo / Gerard O'Brien

Initially, the police and Dunedin City Council had raised concerns about the event and said they would monitor the race.

The course was altered after safety concerns.

"As you can tell, it's pretty safe," Beer said before the race yesterday.

He was not surprised people did not turn up.

It was an example of people getting excited about a "meme" on the internet, but that not translating to actually attending, he said.

Victory in the race was claimed by Beer.