TAIL LIGHTS FOR BICYCLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21250, 2 August 1932, Page 13

TAIL LIGHTS FOR BICYCLES

Sir,—l soo that the Auckland City Council, by its action, has raised again the old, old controversy of rear liphts nr reflectors for pedal bicycles. This matter has been fought out seveiaJ times in England and has always resulted in a decision in favour of reflectors. As a cyclist of some experience I am convinced that that decision is absolutely sound. Such rear lights as a bicycle can bp expected to carry aro very liable to be extinguished by a sudden bump, as bicycles have no springs, apart from their small pneumatic tyros. 'A light that should be there and is not is much more dangerous than no obligation to carry a light at all. In any case, a bicycle is not a vchHe any more than is a pair of roller skates; it is merely an improved method of pedestrianism. Pedestrians, cycling pedestrians, equestrians, horse carts and motors nil have a perfectly legal and coual right to the use of a public road. If a mo'orist, with his powerful head-lights, cannot sec a cyclist protected by a reflector and a whito-'pninted mudguard, and proceeding at 10 miles an .hour in the same direction, how is he going to see a pedestrian, with neither a retlector nor a white streak on his back, travelling much more slowly 1 The motorist who claims that he cannot readily see this cyclist is simply admits ting that he is entirely unfit to be driving under night conditions. The fault m this matter lies with the motorist and not the cyclist. It is an absolute scandal (hat licences to drive arc granted to applicants without a thorough test of their eyesight under bad nigh'-driving conditions, with a wet windscreen and the glare of an approaching car's lights. Such a test is long overdue. Two persons with equally good sight in daylight may differ greatly in their ability to see in semi-darkness That, of course, is common knowledge Many motorists know that their eyesight is poor under night condi'ions and eitliei refrain from niVM driving or drive at a safe speed, but there is evidently quite a considerable minority unaware of its de fective sight in darkness. A proper test would acnnaint th n m with their . dis ability, much to the increased safety of the other users of the <-ond. If cyclists do not wake up and take action this dangerous and troublesome regulation will become law. Chas. Bahwell.