Road Safety

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 2, 3 January 1941, Page 2

Road Safety

WHERE CYCLISTS ERR “The fact that a North Island cyclist was fined £3 for cycling with both hands off his handle-bars is evidence of action by the authorities to deal drastically with those cyclists who deliberately expose themselves to injury, or worse, on the roads,” says the latest road safety message of the Automobile Association (Manawatu) lue. 1 ‘ The lesson behind the prosecution mentioned is one which cyclists may profitably take to heart. A cyclist who does not have, at all times, a satisfactory grip on the handle-bars does not have his bicycle under proper control, and ho must be subjected to tho same atteutiou from the traffic authorities as anyone else who sees lit to use a vehicle not under proper coutrol.

“In a spirit of biavado or imagined cleverness far too many of our numerous cyclists practice music-hall tricks in busy thoroughfares without, apparently, giving any serious thought to tho consequences which might, and sometimes do, attend such tricks. It is not uncommon to note cyclists, hands in pockets, travelling smartly along the roadways in front of motor-vehicles. The risks run by such cyclists are very great as the sudden turn of tho front wheel may mean a wobble or a swerve in the track of a motor-car, truck or a tram. Oddly enough, these cyclists of the dangerous typo choose tho middle of the road, or the direct path of overtaking traffic and thus increase the chanco of collision.

“No matter how expert a rider may think he is, he is not expert enough to get away with trick riding in traffic for long; and he is not expert enough to correct a sudden wobble or swerve brought about by an unnoticed road irregularity, or a tram-line groove, particularly if there is a fast overtaking vehicle close by. “It is tho cyclist who comes off worst always and if riders will not realise that, the inspectors and police will apply protective measures in the proper way. There is enough carelessness abroad on tho roads in the ordinary course of traffic without motorists, and others, having to contend with deliberate acts of ncgligenco in the use of bicycles. Instances of the application of official correctives such as that instanced earlier would servo as a muchneeded stimulus to those riders who need such reminders of their duty to themselves and others.’/