CYCLES WITHOUT LIGHTS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21162, 12 May 1934, Page 3

CYCLES WITHOUT LIGHTS

♦ The statement in this week's safety ! first message of the Canterbury Auto- ! mobile Association, that "hundreds of cyclists gamble with their lives nightly in and about Christchurch" because they have no lights on their machines, was characterised yesterday by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) as an exaggeration. Mr Sullivan said:— "Because of my position I suppose I am more on the streets at night than most citizens. I do not think that the statement about hundreds of cyclists riding without lights is correct;. 1 have seen a, few cyclists every now and then, but certainly not hundreds. I always ride in the front seat of either the Mayoral car or my own when I am out, and, being a driver myself, I am on the alert for those riding without lights. If the position were as bad as it is represented to be, it would be incumbent upon the City Council to take some action, but there has been no such call. The common sense of cyclists having lights on their machines is obvious. A cyclist without a light takes a grave risk at night, especially at intersections. If a man comes to an intersection with his bicycle lightless, and meets a motor-car. he is very lucky if he escapes-accident." Owing to the heavy bookings between Christchurch and Dunedin for the reopening of schools after the May vacation, • the Railway Department is providing extra express trains on Saturday, May 19, leaving Christchurch for Dunedin at 9.10 a.m. and I Dunedin for Christchurch at 8.40 a.m.