I had the following letter published in the Sunday Star Times, responding to a letter arguing that cyclists had no place on urban roads:

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Lizzie McKenna (letters, 28 November) says that "urban roads are designed for cars and other motor vehicles". This is not the case, either in legislation or engineering design. Urban roads need to accomodate a variety of transport travelling at different speeds: buses, emergency vehicles, motor scooters, bicycles. Roads also need to accomodate pedestrians and vehicles crossing the traffic flow.

I've just spent 3 months in Vancouver, Canada, where I travelled by public transport, bicycle, foot, and car. I was struck by the respect shown by road users to each other. Pedestrians don't confuse motorists by crossing midblock . Motorists slow as soon as a pedestrian appears in the vicinity of a pedestrian crossing. Oncoming traffic makes way for motorists entering from a side road. Vehicles passing cyclists wait patiently for a suitable passing opportunity.

New Zealand is very different. Every holiday season we see letters in the papers from disgruntled European and American tourists, appalled at NZ's driving behaviour. What we need to do to address cycling deaths (and the much higher level of motor vehicle deaths) is a greater level of mutual respect and standards in our road use. The Cycle Advocates Networks' "Stop on Red" campaign for cyclists to observer road rules, and the proposal for 10 year driver testing, are practical steps to achieve this.

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Apparantly I get a new pen for my "winning words"!