Cycling for Motorists

The following points have been compiled by Cycle Aware Wellington to help motorists make a special effort to watch out for cyclists.

• Bicycles are small: when looking out for other traffic, don’t always expect it to be car-sized.

• Expect cyclists to move out into the middle of the carriageway to avoid parked cars, road works etc. It’s not always safe to pass a cyclist undertaking this sort of manoeuvre, so try to be patient as they move past the obstacle.

• Indicate turns, especially left hand ones. Check for cyclists behind or beside you before you turn and wait for them to pass. Many cyclists travel fast enough to run into you if you turn left in front of them.

• Cyclists sometimes need to suddenly move sideways. Some cyclists are naturally unpredictable, but a puff of wind, a pothole, a catseye or a drain cover can also cause a sudden swerve, so leave plenty of room when passing.

• Be especially careful to keep an eye out for cyclists at night. Unfortunately not all cyclists use lights but even those that do are often hard to see with a quick glance.

• Don’t expect cyclists to always travel on the far left of the road - it may not be safe for them to do so unless there’s a hard shoulder to ride on. Cyclists riding right beside the kerb have no room to manoeuvre in an emergency, and parked cars need to be given a wide berth.

• When on the open road, try to avoid cutting in close to the edge of the road on blind left hand corners: there may be a cyclist just around the bend. This can be a problem on some city streets too.

• When you get out of a car that is parked, look behind before opening the door to check if there’s a cyclist coming. Cyclists are allowed to come up on the left of stationary traffic, so also check if you are getting out of a car when stopped at an intersection.

• Take particular care around children who may be unsteady on their bikes or still learning the road rules.

• Ask your local school to introduce a cyclist education programme. Excellent kits are available from the Land Transport Safety Authority. Regional Kiwi Cycling co-ordinators or Police Education Officers are available to run programmes.

• Above all, drive defensively.

This article was written by Cycle Aware Wellington
PO Box 11-964, Wellington
Tel/Fax: 04-972 2552

e-mail: caw_wgtn@hotmail.com