Warning to the Unwise

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 109, 11 May 1939, Page 2

Warning to the Unwise

Aa the winter draws on the days got shorter; when the weather is overcast night falls very much more quickly. Persons riding bicycles often fail to remember this and are caught by darkness on their way home. On a recent aignt on the main road leading to Mangatainoka four cyclists were caught by a maiu highways traffic officer for not having lights. Especially on a main road aro offenders dangerous not only to themselves but to motorists. Many bicycles are not up to regulation standard and their riders are liable to court punishment. The following are the regulations concerning cyclists:— No person shall ride a bicycle during the hours of darkues unless: (a) It has attached at the front thereof a lamp throwing in a forward direction a light substantially white in colour of sufficient brilliance to be visible under normal atmospheric conditions lor & distance of at least 300 ft; (b) it is equipped with a lamp placed at the back of the bicyclo so as to display and does during hours of drkness display to the roar a red light of sufficient brilliance to be visible under normal atmospheric conditions for a distance of 300 ft., or (c) it is equipped with a red reflector of a make and type approved by the Minister, by notice published in the Gazette, and placed perpendiuctflarly at the back of the bicycle so as to reflect to the rear a light shingmg towards it from rearward of the bicycle. After March 31, 1937, no person shall ride any bicycle unless it displays to the rear a white surface of at least 12 square inches, maintained in a clean condition at a place whore such surface is not likely to be obscured from the rear by the rider or his clothes.

No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with at least one efficient brako attached thereto and operating on the rear wheel. No person shall operate a bicyclo unless it iS equipped with a bell as a warning device attached thereto and capable of being readily operated so as to emit sound clearly audible under normal conditions at a distance of not less than 100 ft.