ShoreBoy wrote: I think we (cyclists) are a largely ignored group.

Shilo wrote: I'm both a cycle commuter and work for a freight company.

Most truckies love their job. They take great pains to be as courteous a driver as possible since the last thing they want to happen is to be involved in an accident or hurt somebody. But trucks are not cars and can not be controlled the same way (breaking, turning, de-acceleration, blind spots etc) so other road users have to be aware of this as well.

BUT like any road user category there are bad drivers in the industry. If you have a close call, get cut off, blown off the bike because it was too close etc then the best thing you can do is to call the company the driver works for or is contracted to. Try to talk to the area manager or a person as high up in the chain of command as you can get, telling the receptionist won't get you very far. Don't confront the driver as this will probably just lead to a yelling match, and I doubt the police will do anything unless there was some damage to your bike or person as it will be just your word against the drivers.

If you complain to the company they will listen. You may not hear back from them but the driver will be hauled over the coals and if too many complaints are laid against the same driver then his job / contract is on the line. In fact it will be more then his job since despite the number of trucks on the road the freight business is a "small community" and nobody will want to employ somebody with a reputation of a dangerous driver.

If the phone number is not on the back then the name of the company will be on the drivers door. If you can only see the advertisement on the curtains then phone that business and ask who their freight company is.

Hi, I am writing this letter in response to the two deaths of cyclists today. I feel that although cyclists have been complaining for years, perhaps through these two horrible accidents a 'knee-jerk' reaction (that we as a country seem so good at) just might get some attention.

As an avid mountain-biker, and semi-frequent cycle commuter, I feel I have enough experience both in bike handling, and dealing with traffic to confirm my opinions. Many times I have been pushed off the road by cars, trucks, and busses. Far too many drivers in this country don't even consider cyclists, I have had cases where a driver will look me in the eye, and proceed through an intersection where I have right of way - forcing me to make evasive manouvers. I have had experiences where I have had to jump up kerbs (where the mountain biking skills come in) because a bus decided he couldn't wait for me to get past his stop before pulling in. Many drivers don't seem to realise a rider with no protection stands no chance against their vehicle, and what worries me most is the lack of law enforcement preventing the 'bigger is better' approach of driving.

Everyone seems to be trying to promote cycling as a viable means of transport at the moment. For the average punter with less than average bike handling skills, I believe this is close enough to suicide. If I didn't have the skills that mountain biking has taught me and had jumped straight into cycle commuting, I would be extremely suprised to still be alive today.

I hope you can pick up on this issue, and I am sure I won't be the only one writing to you with regards to todays tragic events. Someone needs to give cyclists a voice, because drivers sure can't hear us as the barrel past in their death machines.

I would love to hear your response to this issue.

skidston wrote: I must say, I've cycled in a few places around the world, and biking is my only form of transport, and I really don't think kiwi drivers are any worse than elsewhere. Of course there's potential for them to be better than elsewhere, and that would be a good thing.

There really should be a cycle lane up SH2, and a decent one, that has right of way over the off ramps. There's a reason that people don't use the existing one - it's crap, bumpy and full of glass - no need. And it peters out to nothing, with no warning, leaving you to cross the frigging motorway WTF??

SlackBoy wrote: