Comments on: Mythbusting: What a Safe Passing Rule Means

By: R.Hay

R.Hay — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 08:42:12 +0000

In reply to John Gilchrist. No different to the average motorist. However, a whole lot less dangerous

By: Jono

Jono — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 01:03:25 +0000

“0.5m clearance if they were only driving at 30km/h”
Not sure if I’d be pleased being passed this close if I’m going a cruisy 15km/h

By: John Gilchrist

John Gilchrist — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 21:33:09 +0000

I’m a pedestrian, a cyclist, motorcyclist, car driver and user of public transport in Wellington. Sadly a fair number of cyclists have little to no respect for other users in this narrow laned busy city, both on the road, on footpaths and particularly at intersections. If challenged for some of their worst behavior’s, they quickly become self righteous and sometimes abusive. We as kiwi’s struggle with constructive criticism. This doesn’t appear to be an age thing, ( it’s not necessarily related to experience or activity type – training vs commuting), largely the worst responses comes from males.

Please understand I am totally for ‘live and let live’, ‘enjoy the ride’, ‘share the lane’, but until a fair number of our cyclists undergo a serious change in attitude we will all struggle to enjoy our rides. Rules are great, if we all obey them, but understanding, courtesy and consideration are the real gold.

Happy and safe riding to you all!

By: Donald

Donald — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 03:17:04 +0000

Take it further.
Make it compulsory to overtake on the other side of the white line ( if it exists) and then there is no doubt about the 1.5m distance. Especially for trucks whose wind shock even at 1.5m can still blow you off the road.
OR only allow trucks to pass bikes while traveling at 70 kmph.
1m in town is fine. So allow closer passing in town if the overtaking vehicle is going really slowly.
And write in Police discretion like they did with the anti-smacking law. That will placate a lot of opposition.

By: E Fitzwater

E Fitzwater — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 20:24:10 +0000

The rule should be clear about intersections, where the traffic is moving slower than 20km/h, where cyclists/scooters & motorcyclist should be allowed to move to the front of the que, as they take off at a quicker rate without holding up traffic.

By: Colin Pearson

Colin Pearson — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 23:21:49 +0000

Well written report. Thanks for the info

By: Rich

Rich — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 18:44:54 +0000

A simple short ad could help drivers understand that they shouldn’t automatically assume they can pass a bike. Just hearing of the the tractor analogy really helped me as a driver to change my first response to a bike on a narrow road to be to slow down and wait rather than assume I can pass like on a wider city road. A few simple ads like this could educate drivers significantly. (Another would be that bikes go faster than you think and to not turn left in front of them.)