Squeaky Wheel response to cyclist death

This is a link to an article in the Timaru Herald today:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaruherald/4733925a6010.html

Many of us in the district will have had contact with the Bakers. This is of course very tragic and sad as always in such a case. I'm contacting you to seek your feedback with a view to Squeaky Wheel making some kind of media statement. This case relates to a bit of a 'pet topic' of mine, the Pleasant Point highway, (being the highway I use all the time),  that has oodles of room along most of its length for an off-road cycle-walkway, or at least for a widened shoulder or on-road cycle lane. The Temuka-Timaru highway is similar for some of its length, although it is Highway One and busier, as you know, but it is almost the same distance from Timaru.

I'd be interested to know what you think.

Cheers - Jon Harris

Comments

Submitted by Magdalena Lorenzo on 22 October, 2008 - 19:10

Jon,

I think a media statement is the appropriate thing to do. It's another sad case and we cannot let it pass.

Submitted by maxwel on 22 October, 2008 - 22:17

Hi Jon,
I'm sorry to hear about this fatality. I don't know whether it's different in the regions, but in Christchurch, getting out there quickly with a statement would be essential. Otherwise, the case would have lost its newsworthyness, and the media won't pick it up. But as I say, it might be different in the regions.
The official statement should also go onto the public part of your website, in my opinion.