Comments on: Is New Zealand Too Dangerous for Cycling?

By: Glen K

Glen K — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 12:21:36 +0000

I think a bit of perspective is needed about the “risk” of cycling in NZ. If we look at the crash stats for all the world (not just the 33 countries in the ITF study) you see that NZ is one of the 30 lowest (out of ~200 countries) for fatals per capita, and less than half the worldwide average. I note too that the US has a fatal rate 50% higher than NZ.

Of course NZ also has one of the highest car ownership rates in the world (top 5), so it’s probably not surprising the per capita rate is not better. If we look at fatals per vehicle, NZ now ranks in the top 15 in the world.

As for cycling risk? From NZ travel data, on average one has to cycle for over 25,000 hrs before suffering a serious injury, and more than 2 million hours before a fatality.

It’s still not brilliant; both the infrastructure and driver behaviour could be better. But let’s not paint NZ as some road safety hellhole, when it’s clearly not.

By: Martha Wolfsen

Martha Wolfsen — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:42:37 +0000

I absolutely respect the rights of cyclists to use the roads. My husband and I like seeing cyclists on the road and go out of our way to drive courteously around them. But I have many times seen cyclists on the narrow, winding roads in Southwest France (where cycling fatalities are not uncommon) wearing, basically, asphalt-colored clothing. And they often appear to be unaware of just how difficult it is for drivers to see them.

One local, French cycling club bought club shirts with a bright, neon-yellow band across the chest and back of a gray shirt. Very flashy– except that when the riders were hunched over in racing position, the neon yellow wasn’t visible from the rear! Apparently, no one had bothered to check what the riders actually looked like to overtaking drivers.

In our experience cyclists wearing a plain white tee shirt are actually the most visible in daytime. Please think about using this cheap, available solution before railing against drivers who “ought” to see you– but may not.

By: David

David — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 20:05:56 +0000

Interesting piece about riding in NZ. I have just completed a three month bike tour around New Zealand and found that I had very few problems with the drivers. I have to agree with Geoff’s comments that prior research about your route is essential.

Having discussed riding in NZ with a number of fellow tourers from Europe, NZ and North America, it appears that riders from countries that either have wider hard shoulders (US and Canada) or more extensive cycle lane networks(Germany and Holland) had more issues with NZ roads.

Although there are issues with a small minority of NZ drivers, they are well worth overcoming in order to experience the amazing scenery and great experiences that NZ provides.

By: Alastair Bland

Alastair Bland — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:20:15 +0000

Hi Michael – Thanks for the comment. It’s true: In this photo my pannier juts about 15 inches into the lane, which would have inconvenienced a passing driver. However, there was very little traffic on this highway. On busier roadways, I tightly hug the shoulder.

But you seem to be suggesting that cyclists are expected to apologize to drivers for using the road. Didn’t paved roads and bicycles exist before automobiles? Maybe it’s drivers that need to take a step back and think hard about sharing the road instead of, as you describe above, passing cyclists “dangerously.”

And thanks for the reminder: Like any sensible cyclist, I know it’s my life that’s at risk when drivers aren’t paying close attention.
-Alastair

By: Geoff Gabites

Geoff Gabites — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:43:57 +0000

There is little more distressing than reading of the death of a cyclist on our NZ roads. However I have to say that reading ill-informed blog comments on the subject does rank right up there for me. For just on 20 years I have been running a Christchurch based cycle company and in that time I have learned a number of things.
The primary learning is that as a cyclist we have to be very proactive about our own safety. Unfortunately, there seems to be a recent mantra around cyclists rights and what we have a right to do. Its cold comfort being ‘right’ while you recover in a hospital bed – or worse. Mia’s death was sad – but railing against truckers while cycling down main highways wearing blacks and browns…..?
A great NZ cycle experience for me means getting off the main highways. We have an absolute ban on cycling between Geraldine and Farlie for example. The road is fast, narrow, no shoulder and blind corners. Instead, cycle down to Pleasant Point and up via Cave. Better roads, better experience. Basic research would identify that.
Equally around being pro-active with clothing. Alistair, if you know you should buy a bright coloured vest – then just do it! Please don’t tell me your dull blue jacket is a fair alternative. As for dragging up unrelated news items about Christchurch hummer drivers or dead sheep, – give us a break, this blog deserves better! Be assured I think I could find similar unrelated examples from almost any country. Bob – is there really a high incidence of drunken driving on rural roads? Really?
There is great cycling on NZ roads and some basic research and being proactive about your personal safety is the key. Being right and being dead just doesn’t do it for me!

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:05:15 +0000

Believe all you want that your visible and that it’s the drivers fault. It is still you who will end up injured or dead. In this picture you are in the lane, and while this road is straight and there is no oncoming traffic visible, if there was traffic coming you would require a car to almost come to a complete stop. If you were on a corner, the car can either follow you barely moving, or pass dangerously. Many times in New Zealand I was lucky not to nail a biker as I came around a corner at road speed and there is a biker crawling along. It is very easy to understand the road rage of someone who lives on a road that is constantly slowed down by bikers.

By: Alastair Bland

Alastair Bland — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:31:08 +0000

Regarding my visibility in the photo above, what the camera didn’t catch was the powerful blink of my rear flashing light, which I always turn on in bad weather. Even without it, though – and viewed at 60 miles per hour – I believe I am quite visible to anyone with road-worthy vision who is keeping their eyes on the road, as they should be doing while driving. And while I am not opposed to high-visibility clothing, I just don’t think such garments are necessary. I venture to say that drivers who don’t see cyclists either don’t have their eyes on the road or are blinded by some part of their own vehicle, and I don’t think it’s fair to pin the blame on cyclists who get struck by distracted drivers, saying it was their lack of brightly colored clothing that caused the accident; almost always, bad driving causes collisions. Moreover, I point out that virtually no popular motor vehicle is colored neon yellow or orange. Rather, cars are often extremely camouflaged, colored such tones as gray, green, brown – anything but high-visibility, in fact.

What color is your car? Why isn’t it neon or orange?

By: Goodgulf

Goodgulf — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:59:50 +0000

If you can’t see a cyclist, when you are driving at 60 MPH, you should NOT be allowed to drive, or you should drive a heck of a lot slower. Seeing and avoiding cyclists is *trivially* simple. Really, if you can’t do it, walk instead.

By: Guest

Guest — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:07:19 +0000

I disagree that the cyclist in the picture is plainly visible. Not at 60mph he’s not. Any bicyclist who heads out on the road without neon and flashing lights is taking his life in his hands. Not just in NZ either. This should be basic knowledge in 2012.

By: Bob Van Zoon

Bob Van Zoon — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:37:26 +0000

I live in NZ and I’m a keen cyclist. Unfortunately the New Zealand State Highway system is not really designed with cyclists in mind, it’s primary purpose seems to be for heavy logging and stock trucks. The standard of driver education in New Zealand also seems to vary greatly. Drunk driving is still quite common, particularly in rural areas. Drivers are not required to have insurance on their vehicles and the quality of the vehicle fleet is poor – there are lots of older, poorly maintained vehicles on the road. Unfortunately these factors lead to a high accident rate on the road, with cyclists often involved.

In the cities, very few urban areas have integrated cycle networks. Some cities are better than others, Wellington and Nelson are quite good for cyclists with plenty of on road and off road cycle paths. Kiwi drivers attitudes towards cyclists are certainly improving, but there is still too much anomosty between drivers and cyclists.