RED LIGHTS FOR BICYCLES

Southland Times, Issue 23769, 17 March 1939, Page 8

RED LIGHTS FOR BICYCLES

IDEA SUPPORTED BY MOTOR UNION $ REQUEST TO DEPARTMENT FOR REGISTRATION (United Press Association) WELLINGTON,. March 16. The desirability of having all pedal cycles fitted with red lights was reaffirmed by the North Island Motor Union at the half-yearly meeting in Wellington today. . Supporting a request from the Automobile Association (Wairarapa) that the union take up the question again, Mr R. W. Roydhouse (Wairarapa) said the present red reflectors were not 100 per cent, effective. His association suggested that it be made compulsory for all pedal cyclists to carry a red rear light and would like the union to press for that. “Personally, I should like to see all cyclists licensed, but the other is more important,” said Mr Roydhouse. Mr T. M. N. Rogers (Manawatu), seconding the motion by Mr Roydhouse that the union take further action, said cycles could be equipped with red rear lights at a very small cost, under 4/6. Mr W. A. O’Callaghan (past president): In my opinion the first essential is to have the cycles registered, because we have had experience in the past when trying to get convictions where 28 out of 30 men have given a wrong name and have not been traced. An amendment that the union press for the registration of cycles was moved by Mr O’Callaghan. Mr N. F. Little (Taranaki) said the whole question was bound up with the lighting regulations. Reflectors were often insufficient when lights were dipped, yet the Transport Department was talking of altering the regulations to provide for permanent dipping. It would, therefore, be wise to wait till they saw exactly what form the new lighting regulations would take. Seconding the amendment, Mr E. Palliser (Wellington) said registration had been promised by the Minister of Transport (the Hon. R. Semple). At the suggestion of the chairman, Mr H. F. Edmundson (Hawke’s Bay), two separate motions were put to the meeting and both were carried. The first was that the Transport Department be approached to have cycles registered and the second that an effort be made to have bicycles equipped with rear lights.