Comments on: Guest Post: We Share the Road?

By: denvirosci

denvirosci — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 02:50:37 +0000

The Cyclist Should be a meter out from the kerb. Looks to me like it is the cyclists fault for ending up in an unsafe place on the road. If there is not enough space then move into the centre of the car lane while waiting for space to open up. If there isn’t the room to go along the left hand side of the cars then don’t go along the left hand side of them. It is important to be assertive on the road to be safe. This means not allowing yourself to be pushed off the road. Force Car drivers to give your room. This means if they don’t give you room moving in behind the car ahead and in front of the car behind.
The other reason you shouldn’t be hugging the curb is that it reduces the chances of drivers seeing you.
The picture gives the complete wrong message and is encouraging drivers to expect Cyclists to instead of sharing the road, to share the very edge of the road (you can use it provided we are not parking on it). I have listened to peoples complaints about cyclists over the years, To be honest I have little sympathy, it seems to me that people are jealous of the advantages that a cyclist has and just don’t like adapting to change and/or sharing.
On the other hand 1.5 meters between cars and cyclists is slightly insane. There is a centre lane and there is simply no need. So it is good that it is put as ‘ideally’. It would be better put as where appropriate. I hate it when cars drive 2 meters around me – feels very scary with them swerving right over to the other side of the road. Somewhere there needs to be a happy safe medium.

By: Shirley Berryman

Shirley Berryman — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 12:39:07 +0000

I agree it certainly looks like they think its ok to be that close, its not, its not only scary but dangerous! I have had some close calls with cars being to close when I have been on the bike, puts me of being on the road.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 08:16:24 +0000

I agree, the 1.5m gap is an important message to reinforce. Maybe they could use this site to run ideas past before paying to have them made

By: lincdon

lincdon — Tue, 20 May 2014 08:44:24 +0000

I am glad someone else noticed this billboard, I was perplexed by it too.
There was a very good campaign in South Africa that said “Cyclists survive at one point five”.

By: Joy Talbot

Joy Talbot — Sun, 11 May 2014 21:42:02 +0000

I thought the poster gave a perfectly postive message to drivers – cyclists are happy if you squeeze them into small spaces. I can’t think of any other good message the poster conveys; certainly none for the cyclist. It would be great to have these billboard posters removed ASAP.

By: Dirk

Dirk — Fri, 09 May 2014 07:46:33 +0000

CCC does not get it. No doubt there are great people working there, many of whom cycle. Obviously they are not the ones who make the big decisions. Just look at the draft annual plan. Half a percent of the transport spend will be for cycling. CCC reports that 15% of us cycle regularly, but half a percent is all we get.

There is a disconnect. They mouth support, but money is not forthcoming. They want safer roads, but don’t consult with the community on how to do things. It is an ivory tower and from way up there the distance between a person on a bike and a car is simply unclear.

By: CP

CP — Thu, 08 May 2014 21:43:48 +0000

In this image I like the cycles taking up less space than cars but doesn’t seem fair that the bus is positioned differently
http://www.upworthy.com/the-photograph-that-has-been-making-cars-look-stupid-for-20-years?c=upw1

By: Darren Tatom

Darren Tatom — Thu, 08 May 2014 01:09:12 +0000

I saw this poster and was perplexed also…thank you for taking the time to put your concerns into words. the council’s response is reflective of a lot of thinking out there…If the road is narrow then the cyclist will just have to be in danger…after all the car needs to get past and well, too bad for the cyclist. My reaction to this is that the motorist needed to wait for a safe place to park, or the cyclist to work out a safe place and let the car pass safely.
out of interest are we following up with the council? The posters should be removed!

By: Stephen J

Stephen J — Wed, 07 May 2014 00:52:24 +0000

If that were reality, the cyclist would be grimacing in horror and the raised hand would be about to slap the car to get driver attention.

The video at http://www.ccc.govt.nz/cityleisure/gettingaround/roadsafety/cyclesafety.aspx talks about narrow roads and the need for drivers to watch for cyclists coming up on the left. The picture makes more sense in that context. Without that context, it seems like a terrible model.

By: CP

CP — Tue, 06 May 2014 20:34:07 +0000

The driver is faceless. Therefore not part of the sharing ? Also blameless if sharing doesn’t occur ?

I feel it’s important that all road users give each other space and time. There’s too much rushing from queue to queue at moment.