Bikes on roads

Julie Neighbourly Lead from Havelock North

If you or your kids ride bikes, please make sure you, and they, are aware that you need to ride as far as safely practicable on the left, not on the right. Any wheeled vehicle must travel on the left, on the roads.

Kids, especially, are at greater risk riding on the right. Drivers at intersections are not looking for cyclists coming at them on their left as they turn or go through. And when they do see them, it’s instinctive to assume they are going the other way. It’s also a risk when pulling out of parking spaces and driveways. Even when we are parked on the side of the road. We are looking for vehicles coming from behind, not in front.

Yes, we drivers need to be aware of all around us, but it isn’t instantaneous to switch from knowing vehicles come from one direction to expecting them to come from the other, when the other is the wrong way, and reacting appropriately.

And please, also, use the bike lanes and shareways. They’re there to keep you and yours safe. And us too.

We all need to be responsible. We all need to follow the road rules.