PROTECTING THE CYCLIST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 23 October 1930, Page 4

PROTECTING THE CYCLIST.

A proposal is before the Masterton Borough Council to bring in a by-law making it compulsory for cyclists to have the rear mudguard of their machines painted white. The proposal has much to commend it from the cyclist’s point of view, because the roads are becoming increasingly dangerous on account of drunken or reckless motor drivers, and any precaution that can be taken to protect the users of the road from menaces of this kind is a step in the right direction. It may be difficult on occasions to “pick up” a cyclist at night time when the weather is .wet, but the careful driver is always on the look-out for such possibilities, and is ready to meet them —it is his duty to do so. In various parts of the Doim inion, by-laws in regard to the painting of the rear mudguards of bicycles white are in, operation, it : having been found absolutely necessary to do so in order to protect’ the cyclist. It is also the duty of' a Borough Council to protect the' motorist from h'is oi^n ( carelessness, and danger of an accident is lessened by a white mudguard, which can be easily be picked up, and which will give the careless, motor driver little excuse for negligence. Looking at the question from another angle, there is a possibility of bicycles becoming varied in hue, what with red reflectors and white mudguards, and there may set in a fashion in bicycles, possessing as many colours as Joseph’s coat.