Press Release: Urgent changes needed after another cyclist fatality

I have just figured out something - if we cliick the reply link with a comment, our reply appears as a comment below the one we are replying to.
If we post a new comment, even if it is replying to a comment, it appears above the comment we are replying to. hmm...

Cheers - Jon

This is the Press release as amended by the reporter:

The tragic death of a cyclist on the Pleasant Point Highway has a local cycling advocates group calling for urgent improvements in roading design and motorist education.
Squeaky Wheel South Canterbury spokesperson Jon Harris said the death of this "outstanding young member of the community" showed that rapid progress must be made towards making roads safer for cyclists.
"Alice Baker was out training on her cycle when she was struck from behind by an even younger driver.
"The crash is a terrible blow for both families. It should be a wake-up call to all roading authorities and road users in South Canterbury."
Mr Harris said Squeaky Wheel advocated more sustainable transport and encouraged people to commute on bikes.
"Unless changes are made to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists on our roads, we are going to lose more valued and outstanding members of our society in needless accidents."
Squeaky Wheel member and regular cycle commuter on the Pleasant Point Highway, Liz Cutler said the accident was a real tragedy.
"A wonderful family with wonderful kids making the most of life.
"I'm sure many of us are thinking it could have been our kids ... or could have been us killed."
In another cycling accident recently a 28-year-old Geraldine woman was seriously injured when she hit a parked car on the Hilton Highway at Washdyke.
South Canterbury Road Safety coordinator Daniel Naude said the ``Share the Road'' campaign, which started in February this year, was aimed at giving cyclists more room.
However, he said on the rural roads and open highways there was higher speed involvement and motorists needed to give a cyclist about 1.5 metres to pass safely.
Mr Harris said from Pleasant Point to Timaru, and Temuka to Timaru, there was a lot of reserve room on either side of the road.
"Some of that space could be used to widen the road for a cycle lane, or there could be some sort of off-road facility."
New Zealand Transport Agency regional transportation manager Mike Blyleven said they did not have anything programmed for improvements in the rural areas of the highway but they would look at any change of circumstance.
"We look at any fatality and consider what circumstances were behind it. But that doesn't automatically mean we can go out there and implement improvements as it has to go through the whole process and funding considerations."

Cheers - Jon

Response to yesterday's article in Herald: Letter to Editor

This is the text of the letter that appeared today. I thought "here we go!"

Cycle safety
In reference to the article about the death of the cyclist on the Pleasant Point Highway (October 24), 1 am surprised there haven't been more deaths on New Zealand roads from cyclists getting hit.
Cyclists clearly think they own the road and they don't know the road rules, especially tourists. They are shocking. They simply don't know how to keep to the left side of that white line, so instead of spending millions of dollars widening the roads, perhaps we should use a bit of common sense and keep to the left.
Michelle Dellow Invercargill

Thank you Michael!

Cheers - Jon