CYCLISTS AND HUTT ROAD

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 64, 17 March 1933, Page 6

CYCLISTS AND HUTT ROAD

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l must, thank Mr. H. W. ShorttJ for his courteous reply to my letter which appeared in your issue of March ,13. I wish it to be clearly understood,, however, that the" C.T.C. "is making no claim to have the Hutt Eoad cytle track put in order. When the macadam haunches of the Hutt Eoad were in a bad state, we did take an active part in endeavouring to have the cycle track repaired, and interviewed the Mayor of that time (Mr. G. A TroupY and also waited, as a deputation, on the City and Suburban Highways Board. Nothing was ever done about it, however, and after years of agitation, we let the matter drop. During these years, the macadam portion of the Hutt Eoad has greatly improved, and presents a better riding surface than the bicycle track. So long, therefore, as the macadam is maintained in good order, we do not desire to 'bo associated witli any demand for the re-surfac-ing of the track All our members use the macadam, and, of course, there is no bylaw to prevent them. Whether they will use the track if it is ever repaired, remains to be seen. Special tracks for cyclists are wrong in principle, and1 the Hutt Eoad track, apart j altogether from its surface, is dangerous, in that cyclists proceeding' northwards have to cross two lines of traffic before getting on to it, and are compelled to repeat the performance when leaving it.

Nevertheless, anyone with the least particle of civic pride will agree that the cycle- track should be put right, even if, in the future, it will become only a promenade for pedestrians. Its present condition is a scandal, and a disgrace to the city. Mr. Shortt and others associated with him are to be commended for their efforts to have the track repaired. In conclusion, I can only repeat that I cannot see why a cyclist on the Hutt Road should constitute a "menace" to motorists. There may be something in what Mr. Shortt says about motorists not expecting cyclists on that particular road, but my experience of car driving is that you must learn to-expect anything^an'd be prepared for it.I—l1 —I am, etc.,

1 ALFRED E. MILNE, Hon. Secretary, Cyclists' Touring , Club, N.Z.D.A. .