The ill-lit cyclist

Press, 28 July 1976, Page 16

The ill-lit cyclist

Many Chnstchurch motorists can tell harrowing tales of how narrowly they have missed striking a cyclist whose machine was unlit or ill-lit. The fault, it now seems, may not always lie entirely with the cyclist. A number of correspondents have drawn attention to the unsatisfactory quality of the bicycle lamps which can be bought in Christchurch The best efforts of cyclists tn ensure that their bicycles are always well lit may be unavailing because a reliable lamp is not available. The correspondents' complaints have drawn from importers an admission that the lights are not of trtte best quality. The unsatisfactory explanation is that this is so because importers have been restricted by licensing from bringing in more expensive lamps. The importers have claimed that they could not meet the demand for bicycle lamps if they imported smaller numbers of better quality lamps. But the demand arises, if the correspondents are right, partly because the poor quality lamps keep breaking down.

The reply given to those troubled by the quality of bicycle lamps raises suspicions that importers bring in a larger number of poor quality lamps because they can make a higher profit selling them than they could on selling fewer, more expensive lamps. In any event, the false economy of cheap products should be considered by importers and retailers as well as by consumers. Supplying the public with a reliable bicycle lamp is not easy because a rugged piece of equipment is needed, especially given the state of many of Christchurch’s roads. One correspondent suggested that bicycle lamps, like other safety equipment required on the roads, such as motorcycle helmets and seat belts for cars should be prescribed by a New Zealand standard. Cyclists are surely as entitled as motorists and motor-cyclists to this protection. Such a requirement and the cyclists’ power as consumers may beat the problems of import licensing and of the temptation to put profit before safetv.