Watch out for bikes campaign
We have been running a 'Watch out for Bikes'campaign to address safety issues for Dunedin cyclists. The campaign was organised in association with Transit New Zealand and local cycling groups, Harbour Cycle Network and SPOKES Dunedin.
The campaign builds on the 'Watch out for Bikes' initiative developed for the South Dunedin Safer Streets project in 2006, which focussed on hazards from car doors, and motorists not checking before changing lanes or turning at intersections.
These issues contributed to 81 of the 156 cycling crashes on urban roads in Dunedin in the last five years, and can be easily avoided with help from the Dunedin community.
The messages
There are two messages being promoted on the back of buses as part of the 2008 campaign.
Watch Out for Bikes
Including before you open your car door, change lanes or turn at corners.
A bus on the Normanby to St Clair route through the city centre will be displaying this message.
In addition our staff, Transit and the local cycling groups will be delivering 'Watch out for Bike' flyers to cars parked along cycling routes. The flyers have a peel off stickers to place on car mirrors and door handles, to act as a reminder for people driving around Dunedin streets.
Share the Road
Always slow down and wait until it's safe to overtake cyclists, allowing a minimum clearance of 1.5 metres.
Buses heading to Port Chalmers and Portobello will display the 'Share the Road' message.
The harbour roads, State Highway 88 and Portobello Road, create particular difficulties for all road users because they have little or no shoulder, and are used by a variety of traffic including cyclists.
In the long term, we are working with Transit and other partners such as Land Transport New Zealand, Port Otago and Otago Regional Council to provide safe walking and cycling routes through to Port Chalmers. We have started work on a 3km section of Portobello Road between Company Bay and Macandrew Road that is being widened to provide space for people walking and cycling.
Until these improvements can be made, small actions from motorists can make these roads much safer for cyclists. The message is simple:
- Share it
- Slow down
- Wait until it's safe to overtake.
"Fast moving vehicles don't just create a direct hazard from colliding with cyclists. It's also the slipstream from vehicles that can cause cyclists to wobble, or even be sucked towards larger vehicles. On narrow roads with very little room for error, even a slight wobble from a cyclist can result in serious consequences" adds Nicola Bould who is a member of the Port Chalmers Community Board and Harbour Cycle Network.
What to do if you see poor driving behaviour?
While everyone involved in the campaign is sure the Dunedin community will take on the 'Watch out for Bikes'message and help make Dunedin a safe place to cycle, there are also processes for reporting dangerous road behaviour to the police and to us. You can use our Hazard Reporting form or call us.
"We hope everyone will get behind this campaign to make roads safer for cyclists, as getting more people cycling can result in decreased congestion and parking demand around the central city, decreased energy use and greenhouse emissions, and a healthier, more active community"says Dick Martin, from SPOKES Dunedin cycling group.
For more information on the Watch out for Bikes campaign contact us or Transit New Zealand.
Transit New Zealand Bruce Richards (Dunedin Regional Manager) Phone - 477 8527Last reviewed: 25 Jul 2008 12:08pm
Phone us on 477 4000
