Bus drivers workshop, Wellington, June 2010
Being Cycle Aware is a half-day facilitated road safety workshop, which aims to give participants an understanding of the issues that people cycling face every day. It also aims to give cyclists an understanding of issues facing bus drivers, Police, truck drivers, couriers, taxis etc.
Being Cycle Aware is effective because it is a two-way conversation, with all participants learning from each other, rather than talking past each other.
It has both classroom and practical aspects. The workshop includes:
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An experience of cycling in real road conditions (bicycles supplied where necessary), guided by experienced cyclists
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Where appropriate, an opportunity for cyclists to experience driving/vehicle conditions for your <drivers / employees / customers / members>
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A facilitated follow-up discussion and feedback to review that experience.
The content of this resource kit has been developed from CAN’s experience in delivering cycling and road safety workshops to Police, council staff and bus drivers.
The purposes of the workshop are:
1. To bring together <the target audience> and cyclists to make <the target audience> more aware of road safety issues when cycling.
2. It also helps cyclists understand road safety from the point of view of <the target audience>.
The resource kit for the workshop includes a number of components that have been designed to make it as simple as possible for a group to arrange and facilitate their own workshop. While the original workshop was intended for police officers, the content has been successfully delivered to other groups such as bus drivers, and can be similarly adapted to other audiences.
Key tips for drivers:
* Look out for cyclists, especially those coming from the left hand side
* Give cyclists plenty of space, allow for 1.5 metres between you and the cyclist where possible
* Get the best mirror system you can, to watch for cyclists on the left-hand side
Key tips for cyclists:
* Never cycle on the left hand side of a truck or bus at an intersection, unless you're in a cycle lane
* Take up a visible position at lights: three metres out in front and not by the left hand kerb or close to the truck or bus
* Wear bright, visible clothing, especially at night or in poor weather
Recent and planned workshops
2013-14: Most of these "Road User Workshops" are now organised as part of the NZTA Safer Cycling Programme contracted to CAN and BikeNZ.
2012
Lower Hutt, Dunedin, Wellington (9 Oct)
2011
Wellington, Lower Hutt, Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga tbc
28 July, Wellington, bus drivers workshop at Go Wellington, run by David Laing, set up by Greater Wellington Regional Council
30 May, Waiheke, run by Julian Hulls, CAN
13 May, Lower Hutt, bus drivers workshop at Valley Flyer, run by David Laing, set up by Greater Wellington Regional Council
11 May, Auckland, NZ Bus, run by Julian Hulls, CAN
27 April, New Plymouth, bus driver workshop, run by Patrick Morgan, set up by Nathaniel Benefield NPDC, funded by Roadsafe Taranaki. Evaluation report here.
April, Whangarei, bus drivers workshop, contact Stu Bell, Bike Northland, <Stu.Bell@xtra.co.nz>
Phone: 09 437 9633
09 437 9633, 021 625 115021 625 115. Self-funded.
February, Whangarei, truck drivers workshop, contact Stu Bell, Bike Northland
26 January, Wellington, bus drivers workshop at Go Wellington, run by David Laing, set up by Greater Wellington Regional Council
2010
21 Oct, Christchurch, run by Glen Koorey. Additional resources are attached on this page.
September, Auckland, Bus 'n' Bike Encounters, NZ Bus and Cycle Action Auckland
Wellington, bus drivers workshop at Go Wellington, run by David Laing,
1 June, Lower Hutt, bus drivers workshop at Valley Flyer, run by David Laing, set up by Greater Wellington Regional Council
2004-2008
Wellington, Police workshops, run by David Laing and Cycle Aware Wellington
Contact Patrick Morgan.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Workshop Slides - Text.ppt | 343.5 KB |
 Workshop Summary.doc | 64 KB |
| Workshop instructions.doc | 75.5 KB |
| Workshop ride notes example.doc | 31.5 KB |
| Workshop evaluation form.doc | 67.5 KB |
| Workshop facilitator notes.doc | 72 KB |
| Workshop checklist.doc | 95 KB |
| Workshop invitation.doc | 64.5 KB |
| Workshop Slides - Preferred.ppt | 5.5 MB |
 Safety tips for cyclists & truck & bus drivers.pdf | 2.45 MB |
| 20110531-hutt-news-bus-bike-workshop.pdf | 578.69 KB |
Comments
Hutt News story on bus bike workshop, May 2011
see attachment
Bus drivers, cyclists swap points of view
Aug 10th, 2011, By Tessa Johnstone
CRAIG Bush now knows what it's like to have a 12-tonne bus bearing down on him on the road.
He's usually the one driving the bus, but in a road-awareness workshop in Kilbirnie he got to swap the safety of his driver's seat for a cycle saddle.
"I am used to having my rear vision mirrors," he says. "Not being able to see cars until they were right behind me was intimidating."
But while drivers have an obligation to look out for cyclists, cyclists have an obligation to keep the flow of traffic going, too: "If they can't keep pace they need to get off the road."
Craig was one of 14 cyclists and bus drivers who switched places at the Greater Wellington Regional Council training session to understand each other's experiences on the road - and exchange tales of near misses and pet peeves.
Many of the cyclists who got behind the wheel were surprised at the lack of visibility bus drivers have.
"I have a new respect for bus drivers - it was scary," says Natasha Hayes. "It was good to know that you actually can't see much."
Bus driver Jack Bovey: "If you see the driver, then the driver can see you."
The group discussed issues such as cyclists wearing headphones while riding, the dangers of cyclists cutting through Lambton bus interchange, and bus drivers being dazzled by cyclists' head lamps.
They also discussed the need for patience and courtesy on the road, and the issue of sharing bus lanes. Some are shared and some are not, but it is often not clear..
The workshop is the fourth since June last year, and Greater Wellington is keen to hold them every three months.
"There's a shortfall in cyclist training in New Zealand, and Greater Wellington and CAN [Cycling Advocates' Network] are keen to see that improve," says Simon Kennett, Greater Wellington's active transport and road safety co-ordinator.
He says they are hoping new regional cycling maps being released in September will clarify the bus lane issue.
"There's a lot of confusion about where cyclists are allowed to use bus lanes, and how to get through intersections safely."
There have been 24 accidents between buses and bikes in the Wellington region in the last five years, although they have dropped off in the last two years, with only two in 2009 and one last year.
http://www.newswire.co.nz/2011/08/bus-drivers-cyclists-swap-points-of-view/
Handy Tips: Playing Nice with Trucks and Buses
Heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks demand some extra respect from people riding around our streets (and we would hope that their drivers also do likewise to us).
Tips: http://cyclingchristchurch.co.nz/2013/08/10/handy-tips-playing-nice-with...