Cyclists in Traffic

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 186, 4 May 1933, Page 11

Cyclists in Traffic

Sir, —The bicycle is coming into much more general use in this city. If the riders of bicycles would use thoughtfulness and commonsense, and stick to traffic rules, there would be no harm in their appearance, but they hardly ever do so. How often do they ride with one hand, and a big parcel under the other arm? I passed a boy in the middle of Lambton Quay with a mattress on his back and a parcel under one arm. lam sure he could see nothing coming, and had little control of his machine. They flash up on the left side of traffic, they ride two and three abreast, and even riding singly, adhere to the centre of the streets. Another dangerous habit is to hook the bicycle by the pedal on to the footpath when not in use, and a puff of wind drops the machine in front of moving traffic. As to lights and warning devices I see many without either. Two or even three boys on one bicycle in traffic is very dangerous to themselves and to the traffic. While writing on this matter I would like to call attention to the increasing number of cyclists that are using the Hutt road again, in danger to themselves and others and against the by-laws. It would b« pleasant for general traffic if cyclists had to amend their worst faults under fear of penalty, and if the police took action more often to keep them in line with other forms of traffic. —I am, CIC " ANTIAHLLEN. Wellington. Alay 1.