BICYCLES AS VEHICLES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21906, 6 October 1936, Page 8

BICYCLES AS VEHICLES

RIGHTS ON THE ROAD

representations to

MINISTER

“Is a bicycle a vehide?” was a question before the New Zealand Cycling Federation last evening, when it received a copy of the draft regulations for the control of traffic, issued by the Hon. R. Semple, Minister for Transport. The federation considered that cydists should be given the full rights as well as responsibilities of vehicles, and decided to make representations to the Minister accordingly. A question about the status of cydists was asked by Mr G. Henderson, who complained that cyclists were too often ignored by motorists, particularly on intersections. Many motorists failed to give way to cydists, he said. Often a cyclist would put out his hand to indicate the direction he intended to take and the motorist would bear down on him, forcing him to swerve from his path, and sometimes causing an accident. Mr P. D. Mansell contended that a bicycle was a vehicle. He had been told by a policeman that a perambulator was, too. After consulting the regulations Mr H. Tillman said that bicycles were not provided for as vehicles. The chairman, Mr J. M. Coffey, suggested that the Minister should be asked either to recognise them as such or to add the words, “and bicycles” where desirable. He held that cyclists should have the same right as any other users of the road. Mr Henderson said that cyclists were prosecuted for not observing signals, for not giving way to the right, and for negligent riding, yet they were not given the recognition due to them.

MOTION OF REGRET

CYCLISTS WANT REGISTRATION

“I think we ought to stick to our guns and tell the Minister we regret that the proposal to register cyclists has not been adopted; it is in the interests of cyclists generally,” said Mr J. M. Coffey, acting-chairman, at a meeting of the New Zealand Cycling Federation last evening.

Reviewing the draft regulations for the control of traffic, Mr Coffey said he was sorry to see that the registration proposal had been dropped. He thought the federation ought to ex--13 r ess its regret Other members agreed with Mr Coffey and his suggestion was adopted. Mr G. Henderson said he was satisfied there was not one Minister in the country game enough to enforce, the registration of cyclists. .... It was agreed that while registration was desirable it was for the Government to provide the system for it.