Media Release - 4 April 2007

Road safety campaign to keep cyclists safe

Taupo District Council and Bike Taupo are launching another road safety campaign this week targeting road users and cyclists in the urban area, following the success of the 1.5 metre road safety campaign.

Strategic Projects Engineer, Kirsten Thrush said ‘Drivers need to be aware that it is actually illegal to park in a designated cycle lane or road shoulder and there is a danger for cyclists if drivers ignore this. A simple cycle symbol marked in a road shoulder shows that it is cyclists only.’

The messages being reinforced to drivers this time are to be aware of cyclists merging with traffic, don’t park in designated cycle lanes and be careful when opening car doors when parallel parked.

Council and Bike Taupo intend to gently remind motorists about helping to keep cyclists safe through advertising pamphlets and the newspaper.

A Bike Taupo spokesperson said, ‘Cars and cycles need to co-exist on our roads - its common courtesy.’

‘The amount of people cycling in Taupo is increasing every year and cyclists have a legal right to be on the road. The faster all road users accept this the faster the amount of near misses and accidents will decrease,’ they said.

Be on the look out for safety messages in relation to driving and cycling around our town and when driving look twice for bikes.