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Transport

Areas covered under this portfolio are

Transport Report

Many Grey Power members are concerned whilst driving their vehicles on public roads, as to the behaviour of some cyclists. Fortunately there are only a few cyclists who are giving the impression that they have the same rights as the motorist, thereby forgetting to have the same duties as well.

One of these duties, by law, is to make sure that fast traffic is not held up unnecessarily, which means that two abreast is illegal if it slows down traffic. This can be compared with slow moving campervans or tractors which are obliged to make room as soon as practically possible.

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his subject has been brought to our attention after reading in our local newspaper an article called "CULTURE CLASH". A photo was shown with cyclists two abreast holding up traffic on a section of public road with a yellow line legally forbidding the following motor traffic to pass.

No attempt was made by the cyclists to share the road. As a result of this, there were nine letters to the editor with reference of observed misbehaviour of a few unconcerned cyclists.

Grey Power followed this up with a letter to the Minister of Transport, The Hon. Steven Joyce, whereby we informed him of our concern by providing him with copies of the available correspondence.

We did ask the Minister; for stricter rules to be made for cyclists on public roads, to instruct schools to teach the proper usage of bicycles, to provide to local authorities correct updated rules and regulations

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One rule that many cyclists do not seem to be aware of is that cyclists are not to ride faster than 10km/hour when passing pedestrians on a combined pedestrian/cycle track.

We look forward to the Ministers reply and will keep our members updated on this issue.

I wish our members a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy 2010.

Addo Mulders Snr
Spokesperson for Transport
December 2009