Comments for Cycling in Auckland

Comment on As Good As It Gets? by Max

Max — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:27:46 +0000

I see now in another section that the code requires (or at least exhorts) cyclists to pass moving vehicles to the right. At the same time it requires cyclists to stay as far to the left as possible, unless they have to claim the lane.

If one took that to the extreme, in mixed stop-start traffic, the cyclist would continually have to weave left-right left-right, to get forward. Or simply go as slow as all the motorists, and lose one of the key advantages of cycling. To not be the congestion, and not to suffer (as much from) the congestion.

I think this may just be one of those grey areas that make life (and law) difficult.

Comment on As Good As It Gets? by Max

Max — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:13:21 +0000

“While it is fair to say motorists must check for cyclists coming from behind, it is also fair to say that it is illegal to undertake on the road.”

@Bryce – could you point me to the part of the road code that forbids undertaking or in general, passing on the left?

I understand Jane Bishop’s behaviour was legal, based on a number of factors, though I admit I have not found a specific POSITIVE official statement saying it is permitted. However:

a) Drivers can overtake on the left even on a motorway, which is illegal in much of the world
b) The NZ road code for cyclists specifically allows you to bypass queued traffic at signals (without specifying a side), see

Using intersections with traffic signals (near the bottom)
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/cyclist-code/about-cycling/cycling-through-intersections.html

c) I read an ask Phoebe column where she indicates it is legal to filter to the front.

d) 99% of all advanced stop boxes have no feeder cycle lanes, and would thus be pretty much useless in most situations, if you weren’t allowed to filter to the front. This is particularly true as at almost all signals with such ASBs, you have multiple lanes, so to get to a kerbside ASB, you have to undertake on SOMEBODY’s left side, even if you were willing to move forward “in the middle” between a kerbside lane and a right turn lane.

However, it would be great if someone could clarify this better.

Comment on As Good As It Gets? by Bryce

Bryce — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:12:57 +0000

@ Glen K

Great news. Hopefully this will speed up the process for decent cycling infrastructure for NZ rather than the ability to pay lip service to those with pedals.

Comment on As Good As It Gets? by Bryce

Bryce — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:11:19 +0000

@ London Cyclist
While it is fair to say motorists must check for cyclists coming from behind, it is also fair to say that it is illegal to undertake on the road. This is applicable to all road users and is what Ms Bishop was doing (passing the truck on the inside) and in conjunction with the other factors already noted, led to the accident. If she had sat behind the truck there would have been plenty of room for her to pass the parked car but she would have been moving slowly. It all comes back to insufficient cycling infrastructure.
Also, the cycling road code has a note about cyclists keeping at least 1m when passing parked cars.
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/cyclist-code/about-cycling/cyclist-responsibilities.html

Comment on As Good As It Gets? by London Cyclist

London Cyclist — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:56:15 +0000

The reported screeching of brakes and falling into the path of a truck suggests a lesson to us all in cycle crash skills.
If its not your fault, a game change is requried to stay alive. Change from cycling to rugby: hit the ****er hard. Get your priorities right to stay alive:
* aim for your softest landing possible (another body),
* use their vehicle for your stability and deceleration,
* right-off your bicycle to absorb as much energy as possible and
* only then land on your feet or hands – never use your helmet – you are likely to break your neck.

In the case of car doors opening in your path, we all know braking and swerving is not a good idea: Aim your front wheel between the sill of the car and emerging motorist. Lean against the car for greater ballance. You need to put yourself on the inside of the car door and preferably between the car and driver, exposing the driver to any passing traffic.

If it really is that close, as it was in my experience in London, the car door flung wide open and was clipped by the following bus, ripping the door off its hinges and we both fell to the ground: me on top (of course). Unfortunately the car chasis was so bent it was a write off. but i got a spanking brand new hand built bike for all my bruises on his insurance.

p.s. Looking into a rear view mirror is not the way to check for bicycles, (thats what wing mirrors are for) dispite what the judicary are reported to support.

Comment on As Good As It Gets? by Julie

Julie — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:44:37 +0000

Glen – thats great – thanks for the info. Perhaps the Coroner will be able to put a bomb under the Transport people.
Mark

Comment on As Good As It Gets? by Mark

Mark — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:35:11 +0000

@Julie. That’s a good strategy to keep yourself safe but it does indicate that cycling is not a very attractive option. but it’s a good option in the meanwhile if it keeps you riding. I do the same these days. But, really, we need to be a bit more aspirational. Transport Authorities would not expect a car driver to do a similar manouvre when driving. Funny that.

Comment on As Good As It Gets? by Glen K

Glen K — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:49:10 +0000

There seems to be a feeling that this case is closed and we’ve missed the bus, now that the court has made its judgment. However you are forgetting that, now that Police proceedings have finished (I’m assuming there won’t be an appeal), the Coroner can now continue his national inquest of cycling deaths with a hearing in Auckland. The Akld hearing will focus on the deaths locally of Ms Bishop and Antony Chapman (who died in Apr 2011), but the Coroner is open to submissions on cycling safety in general (e.g. I am preparing evidence based on all NZ cycle fatalities in the past six years). Unlike a court case, which is focused on whether to convict someone, the inquest is focused on how to prevent similar tragedies in the future, which gives the Coroner a wide brief. No details yet of when this hearing will be held (there are also still hearings in Wgtn and the Sth Island to come).

Comment on As Good As It Gets? by Bevan Woodward

Bevan Woodward — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:58:57 +0000

I must disagree with the statement: “Glenn Becker didn’t do everything a driver can and does do in more enlightened societies, to avoid this tragic outcome.”

I believe Glenn Becker did everything right. He had checked for cyclists, had gotten out of his vehicle and was STANDING close alongside his vehicle. The door was slightly ajar as he was preparing to close it, when the cyclist arrived.

The reason for this tragedy was the appalling road layout that the Council was unwilling/uninterested in correcting when notified.

Comment on As Good As It Gets? by Julie

Julie — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:52:53 +0000

Thanks for your post Barbara. Cleared up a lot of stuff not reported.
Of course its a tragedy that the luckless woman was killed.
You guys are not going to like what I say next I suspect, but here goes anyway.
When riding around that bend I ALWAYS go on the footpath. That footpath narrows to less than a metre so if there are any pedestrians withon coo-ee of it I GET OFF my bike and walk.
That corner has always scared the hell outa me. So I take pro-active steps to preserve body and soul.