Proposed new cycle passing distance

A proposed law change could see drivers fined for not giving cyclists adequate room when overtaking them.

A new law is being proposed in order to prevent accidents involving cyclists.

The new law would mean motorists have to give cyclists up to 1.5 meters of space when passing them on the road.

Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ulmer is part of a panel of cycling experts proposing the change following a nationwide coronial inquiry into 13 cyclist deaths in 2012.

The panel has been investigating ways to make cycling safer and has released a report containing 13 recommendations.

One is to mandate recommended minimum passing distances for vehicles overtaking people on bikes - one metre where speed limits are 60km/h or less, and 1.5m for faster areas.

That system is being trialled in Queensland, where offending drivers are penalised three demerit points and fined AU$341 (NZ$382).

If the matter goes to court, a maximum fine of AU$4554 (NZ$5105) can apply.

Earlier this year, the Green Party also called for the 1.5m passing rule to be set into law to give cyclists more protection.

Transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter says motorists passing people on bicycles and other vulnerable road users owe them a high duty of care.

Julie believes the simple solution is to change the law to make the 1.5m passing rule mandatory.

'YouTube now has numerous dangerous close passes caught on film.

'Cycling is a healthy activity and a smart, green way of getting around. Making cycling safer benefits all New Zealanders.”

Road Transport Forum chief executive Ken Shirley says New Zealand roads are not wide enough for the compulsory clearance.

Ken says trucks would be stuck behind slow-moving cyclists and the gearing required would damage engines, reports Fairfax.

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28 comments

There is no room

Posted on 05-10-2014 10:22 | By Uncle G

Yes I agree that the roads (in a lot of places) are simply not wide enough to accommodate the 1.5m clearance. This rule would mean no one would slow down and that cars could be crossing the center line to give the cyclists extra room creating a greater hazard (from traffic in the opposite direction). Also there will be a lot of people that could not gauge a 1.5m distance traveling at a 100km/h. If it is such a big danger maybe cyclist should not be on the main (highways and arterials) roads. I personally would never ride on a busy road, it's just common sense!


We need either

Posted on 05-10-2014 10:23 | By Bronzewing

wider roads or skinnier bikes for this idea to work. If cyclists are allowed to ride two abreast then to keep the separation, it would force drivers far to close to the centreline,raising the potential for head on accidents. Yes we need to be considerate to bike riders BUT they need to act responsibly too. Just stand on the side of the road and listen to the non stop chatter from the groups out for a training ride. Bikes in most cases don't have rear view mirrors, so can't see cars approaching. In a lot of cases the riders overall behaviour does nothing to help their cause.


Idea is Good But!

Posted on 05-10-2014 10:43 | By tabatha

In some places the distance is fine but on some roads a very long haul if cyclist does not pull over. Yes they need care and at the same time they need to be courteous to road users bigger then themselves. Stopping distance on many vehicles is great and if you come around a corner and yes a cyclist riding wide, could be road conditions, what happens. Certain roads would need to be recognised as 1.5 while others care needed. Cyclists would also need to keep left. NZTA who are pushing this would also need to implement regular road sweeping in the cyclist area, not just moving debris but a suction device to remove all. A need for a lot of discussion and thought before making it law. Yes cyclists need protection, in some cases from themselves but in most cases with good road conditions. Also single file for cyclist


so then!!!!

Posted on 05-10-2014 13:47 | By Sambo Returns

does it work the other way round??


Cyclists Need to

Posted on 05-10-2014 14:25 | By s83cruiser

take ownership of their own safety as well. They can't expect people in far bigger modes of transport that they are on to be responsible for their safety. How often have we seen cyclists three and four abreast on the road giving Motorbikes, cars and trucks little option than to break the law by crossing over into the oncoming traffic lane to drive past these groups. Cars trucks and Motorbikes have to travel in single file on the roads and so should they, there are no exemptions. some cyclists take a dumb pill just before they get on their bikes I think all self preservation and logical thinking is turned off when their butt hits the saddle . More cycle ways aren't the answer proper cycle training and licencing is the answer. I have to have a licence as a car drive/road user so why not them???


hi vis

Posted on 05-10-2014 16:04 | By wassa

how about cyclists wearing hi vis and a helment and watching where they are going will help a lot


dream on

Posted on 05-10-2014 17:53 | By Neiliies

Perhaps Julie Genter and anyone else who thinks there should be a 1.5m passing rule for cyclists, should spend a week or so behind the wheel of a truck/trailer unit (who, by the way pay massive amounts of money to use our roads - cyclists pay nothing)to experience how unrealistic it is to allow 1.5m on our horribly narrow roads. A lot of New Zealand's roads are barely wide enough for 2 cars without having to allow 1.5m for a cyclist, a rule like this would likely cause more accidents than prevent them as we would be expected to A - cross the centre line or B - slow from 100k to 10k suddenly, causing all sorts of carnage behind you as you wait to find a wide enough place to pass. Neither of these options appeals!


Before making this law

Posted on 05-10-2014 18:33 | By BennyBenson

ALL roads need to be assessed to ensure there is enough road width to allow a car to GIVE the required 1.5 metres without crossing the centreline or should all motorised road users stay home and leave the roads to the cyclists?


idiots on bikes

Posted on 05-10-2014 20:52 | By tepukej

when cyclists start to actually follow the rules of the road people may be more tolerant of them.They do not stop at traffic lights, pull up next to you on the left wether you are turning left or right and then get upset if you do not give way. They ride two or more abreast even on narrow roads or ride well outside the white line even though there can be up to a metre or more to the left of it.Only idiots risk injury or death to save themselves getting a puncture.They need to be more careful of their own safety first before forcing motorists to make allowances for their choice to ride as they do.


When.........

Posted on 05-10-2014 21:14 | By groutby

Cyclists pay for the privilege of being on our road, AND obeying the law, then they absolutely should be given equal (and not more) as paying motorists...how about that?


True Sambo

Posted on 06-10-2014 01:19 | By GreertonBoy

if motorists get booked for being within 1.5m of cyclists, then bicyclists and motorcyclists should be booked for being too close to cars. The key is not punishing drivers, the key is that all road users respect all other road users without having to be 'financially forced' to by big brother....


Why not have

Posted on 06-10-2014 10:44 | By How about this view!

Shared footpaths instead of having vulnerable cyclists on the road? Our footpaths are not used to the same extent that was once the case and placing the onus of care back onto cyclists would calm a lot of frustration on our roads. There are already examples of this along Cameron Road so why not just extend it?


.

Posted on 06-10-2014 10:55 | By NZgirl

I'm sure cyclists think they are a law unto themselves. So sick of these idiots just pulling out of a junction without stopping or looking to see if there is any traffic on the road (very often there is). They seem to think that it's all down to the motorist. They ride 2 or 3 abreast taking up so much of the road. They are also racing on the road. If a car did that we would be pulled over and fined. There is no room for cyclists on our roads.


?

Posted on 06-10-2014 11:31 | By Capt_Kaveman

Govt = dumb dumb, try making the road edge wider and smoother, remove dumb dumb left rumble strips


Sounds like..

Posted on 06-10-2014 12:21 | By Paul Melhuish

a lot of people writing here haven't been a on a bike for a looooong time. From so many angles that is pretty sad.


I find it strange

Posted on 06-10-2014 12:53 | By Tri Star

That as a society we have an obesity problem. We are getting fat! What's changed over the years? We eat more than the energy we burn. Shouldn't we encourage people to get on bikes (& do other outdoor activities) rather than prepare our hospitals for the hepatitis & obesity issues heading our way. Our kids don't ride bikes to school anymore, it's just too dangerous. I can't actually remember the last time a cyclist killed someone driving a vehicle. Isn't more tolerance needed in these situations? Yes, I am a cyclist. I ride solo and as far left as I can go. I also own 2 cars, so pay my fair share for the roads. How many near misses have I had? A lot!


How about

Posted on 06-10-2014 13:46 | By Accountable

making some roads too dangerous for cyclists and ban them from riding on them as is done now with the motorways.Only allow them to ride on roads wide enough to accommodate them and the largest trucks for example.Cyclist should also be trained to be defensive riders as with defensive drivers.In practice they can stop in a far shorter distance than a fully laden truck.It is not surprising that we have lots of accidents when cyclists presumably drive their cars the way they ride their bikes which is, from what I see, away below a safe average.We have spent a fortune on cycle lanes. For example why do cyclist ride on the harbour bridge when they have the safety of an expensive cycle lane? It's about time cyclist were fined the same amounts as other motorists for breaking the laws.


agree

Posted on 06-10-2014 14:10 | By maccachic

Agree but also agree cyclists should only be allowed to ride 1 person wide. Blimmin scary biking out there with the (lack of) quality of the people we share the road with.


@Paul Melhuish!!!

Posted on 06-10-2014 16:44 | By Sambo Returns

nope dont like spandex, or lycra, I get my exercise in many other ways, outdoors as well, and I have been called a "skinny little honky" but never obese, so read the comment by Tri Star, moderation is good, riding 3 abreast up hills heading for the Coromandel coast on a Sunday morning when some in arrogance decide that is the time to get fit, and you wonder why drivers get intolerant of selfish cyclist behaviour, there is wrong on both sides, but get out of town if you think this rule will become law.


So then

Posted on 06-10-2014 18:00 | By 3 eyed crow

$382 fine and some token demerits for cyclists riding 2 abreast....fairs fair. What' about some form of identification so we can target repeat offenders.....yes I'm talking about you Bell Road cyclists


Paul Melhuish

Posted on 06-10-2014 18:50 | By Capt_Kaveman

i do get on me bike from time to time but i know what the roads are like and i want to live so the open road is a no no for me


stupid...

Posted on 06-10-2014 22:31 | By Sooz

This is the stupidest thing I've heard yet. When Im on a bicycle I stay as far left as I can and keep an eye on the traffic to make sure Im not in anyones way etc. The other day while riding my motorbike I had to go around a roundabout at less than 10km because a cyclist felt he had the right to be in the middle of the lane in front of me. We dont need more rules or laws surrounding this, just common sense and and attention to and respect for other road users.


.

Posted on 07-10-2014 06:56 | By NZgirl

Cycling is for those who can't afford a car ????


Absolutely not!

Posted on 07-10-2014 08:27 | By The_Beer_Baron

As a truck driver, this is absolutely ridiculous. Sometimes I get a group of four or so riders, all in a line, in which i am unable to pass due to the width of my truck. Until they too start paying road user charges, i will not be risking my load, or the safety of oncoming vehicles, or my bloody gearbox/engine


safety margin

Posted on 21-10-2014 01:29 | By MISS ADVENTURE

Actually the whole issue would all go away if some common sense was applied here. It is simple actually, ban cars from the road, worked in China and look how they are getting along now.


Cycle

Posted on 21-10-2014 13:39 | By Frostbite

for Sooz a cyclist is a car on a round about and are legally allowed to travel around the the round about in the middle of the lane. Please brush up on the road code


Just another mode of transport

Posted on 26-10-2014 14:46 | By Bruce G

Why is New Zealand different to Europe. After a recent trip to Denmark, the motorist give cyclist right of way. Slow cyclist! So when I am front of a car, I. Should give way. What happens when I am behind a slow car, Do I pass the slow car or just like the car following me who can't pass just wait. Be patient. Enjoy your riding.


keeping safe

Posted on 28-10-2014 21:22 | By band4u

The only sure way to keep cyclists safe is to keep them off the road!


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