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Melissa_Theuriau
Vorb Newsreader
Joined: Mar 22, 2006
Posts: 2,095
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 Posted: Wed 2nd Jul 1:19pm Post subject: One In Four Wellington Cyclists Dangerously Under-lit |
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The winter months are well and truly here, and many cyclists are commuting to and from work in the dark. Unfortunately not all cyclists are using adequate lighting and reflective gear- placing themselves and other road users in danger.
Over the past three weeks, Council road safety officers and Police have been stopping cyclists throughout the city to discuss visibility issues and enforce Road Code requirements. They stopped more than 400 cyclists and found one in four were riding dangerously under-lit bicycles.
The Council's Urban Development and Transport Portfolio Leader, Councillor Andy Foster, says the results of the exercise are worrying.
"In spite of the obvious risks, cyclists are still putting themselves in danger by riding without lights. Cyclists should value their own safety and that of others. One in four of those stopped by Police were riding poorly lit bicycles, making it very difficult for them to be seen by drivers."
"It's just plain common sense for every cyclist to 'light up and be seen' during the gloomy days and dark nights of our Wellington winter. Clearly not all cyclists have got the message and our road safety officers and Police will be continuing with their enforcement efforts over the coming weeks. To help people be safe and seen we are offering vouchers with a 20 percent discount on cycle lights and reflective gear."
If you are in Wellington, need a bike light, and would like a voucher offering a 20% discount on lights and reflective gear, please call the Council on 499 4444.
From the e.CAN 163 newsletter - http://www.can.org.nz
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sifter
Moving forward
Joined: Nov 13, 2003
Posts: 10,826
Location: Wellington
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| Posted: Wed 2nd Jul 1:37pm Post subject: RE: One In Four Wellington Cyclists Dangerously Under-lit |
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| Melissa_Theuriau wrote: | | Over the past three weeks, Council road safety officers and Police have been stopping cyclists throughout the city to discuss visibility issues and enforce Road Code requirements. They stopped more than 400 cyclists and found one in four were riding dangerously under-lit bicycles. |
What about the cyclists they did not stop? This "one in four" statistic seems a little silly given a reason for stopping them in the first place is reported to be "visibility issues".
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psychavoc
going Crazy
Joined: Jul 17, 2003
Posts: 23,766
Location: Welly-town
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| Posted: Wed 2nd Jul 1:42pm Post subject: |
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Spot the Statistics lecturer 
(But yes.. I thought that too  )
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honeymonster
Flogged
Joined: Apr 22, 2004
Posts: 2,063
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| Posted: Wed 2nd Jul 2:11pm Post subject: RE: Re: One In Four Wellington Cyclists Dangerously Under-li |
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| sifter wrote: | | Melissa_Theuriau wrote: | | Over the past three weeks, Council road safety officers and Police have been stopping cyclists throughout the city to discuss visibility issues and enforce Road Code requirements. They stopped more than 400 cyclists and found one in four were riding dangerously under-lit bicycles. |
What about the cyclists they did not stop? This "one in four" statistic seems a little silly given a reason for stopping them in the first place is reported to be "visibility issues". |
maybe they couldn't see the others?
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thorg
tired
Joined: May 20, 2004
Posts: 13,236
Location: moving on. . . . and up
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| Posted: Wed 2nd Jul 3:17pm Post subject: |
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 I'm lit up enough to compensate for 3 other riders 
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ssipface
Boneshaker
Joined: Jan 28, 2003
Posts: 17,432
Location: Planet Claire
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| Posted: Wed 2nd Jul 3:33pm Post subject: |
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I'll be well lit up next time i go out on the bike, probably a bottle or two of red
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Malcy
Shrinking by the day
Joined: Dec 01, 2002
Posts: 5,197
Location: Windy Wellington
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| Posted: Wed 2nd Jul 4:42pm Post subject: |
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Three rear flashers.
Front flasher and static front light.
AND STILL THE roznucRS IN CARS PULL OUT, RUN ME OVER ETC!!!!
What's the point?
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Joel
Wrecked
Joined: Mar 26, 2002
Posts: 5,844
Location: Welly
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| Posted: Wed 2nd Jul 4:58pm Post subject: |
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Look cyclists it's just your own fault if you get hit by a car/truck at any time. just accept it.
whats the reason during summer then?
is there any stats on more accidents in winter versus summer?
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pm
Dusty
Joined: Jul 26, 2007
Posts: 37
Location: Wellington
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| Posted: Thu 3rd Jul 9:08am Post subject: |
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| Joel wrote: | Look cyclists it's just your own fault if you get hit by a car/truck at any time. just accept it.
whats the reason during summer then?
is there any stats on more accidents in winter versus summer? |
i'm sure there are probably more cyclists hit over winter, at least proportionally given the lower numbers. Cycles are very hard to see when its dark and wet no matter what floodlights you have. That and for some reason people get very desperate to get whereever they are going when its cold and wet, no matter that they are tucked up inside their car compared to some poor sod caught out in the rain on their bike.
Both times i have been hit have been middle of a fine day, perfect visibilty with me in bright colours. Just stupid women (gender not necessarily relevant) pulling out into me for no reason other than lack of attention.
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Locust
Dusty
Joined: Jun 13, 2008
Posts: 34
Location: Wellington
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| Posted: Thu 3rd Jul 11:39am Post subject: |
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I reckon strap one of those red/blue police lights like wot they have in the front windscreen of the plain clothes cars to your handle bars, then they'd see us...
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Owen
Failing.
Joined: May 06, 2003
Posts: 3,074
Location: Welly town
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| Posted: Thu 3rd Jul 12:28pm Post subject: |
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STROBE LIGHT FTW
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