The ‘Be Bright, Be Safe, Be Seen' campaign returns for the ninth year from this evening to encourage people cycling, walking and scootering to light up during the darker winter mornings and evenings.

Be Bright, Be Safe, Be Seen is an initiative led by Travel Safe. They work collaboratively with Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and New Zealand Police as part of the regional Safer Journeys road safety programme.

The Travel Safe team will be promoting the programme during July offering a series of pop-up checkpoints along some of the main commuter cycle routes between 4.30 – 5pm.

The annual winter visibility programme rewards good road behaviour by people actively travelling or commuting with spot prizes of reflective gear. Those without the correct gear will be updated about the minimum requirements and the chance to get equipment that supports safer riding and visibility. All those that take part at a check-point can enter a prize draw to win a sports voucher.

Sonia Lynds, Travel Safe Team Leader says people on bikes, walking or running, and scootering are some of our most vulnerable road users and should ensure they can be seen by other path or road users, especially during times of low light and poor visibility.

'Whether you're commuting to work, study or school, being active for fun or fitness, or popping down to the local shops, we want people to take extra care and keep safe by being fully visible on the roads,” Sonia said.

'Being seen is essential to keeping safe. Using front and rear bike lights and wearing bright, reflective and high-visibility clothing are simple ways for people being active to improve their visibility.”

When cycling at night or in poor visibility cycles must have one or more steady or flashing rear-facing red lights that can be seen from 200m, one or two white or yellow headlights that can be seen at night from a distance of 200m (only one of these may flash) and pedal retro-reflectors on the forward and rearward facing surfaces of each pedal. If the cycle does not have these the cyclist must be wearing reflective material.

Travel Safe team member Karen Smith pictured with commuters at checkpoint, 2019.

ENDS