5 killed within 5 days...:(

[crazycanuck]

This is getting stupid...I just don't get it. 5 cyclists lost within the last 5 days on NZ roads.


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10688380

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10688361

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10687938

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10688459

May my NZ cycling friends keep safe.

[PamNY]

How terrible. Everyone be safe.

[OakLeaf]

Oh man.

[Bike Chick]

That's horrible!

[Bike Writer]

Oh my God, how awful!

[Pip]

Plus a ten year old girl knocked off her bike by a truck in Blenheim this morning, now in hospital. The worst part is the anti-cyclist backlash that's sprung up around the incidents. I'm trying to shut it out but it's difficult, especially one week out from the biggest cycling event on New Zealand's calendar. My friends spend today emailing me photos of cute kittens to get me through. Be safe everyone!

[crazycanuck]

Pip, are yo doing the Round Taupo?

Enjoy, be safe and take care! May you have boooteful weather

[MillieNZ]

NZ drivers are aggressive behind the wheel, drivers seem to have the belief that it's their right to be first regardless...... I am a Kiwi too.

I can only imagine the backlash against cyclists though What the answer is I have no idea.....

Pip - may you have tail winds all the way round the lake Strange not to be there this year... however I was most impressed to see the challenge advertised in the local bike shops here in Honolulu

[Pip]

Yep, doing Taupo! Thanks everyone for your good luck wishes! This is my comeback year as I was training for Taupo last year (which would have been my second time around) when I had a little bit of brain surgery. The after-effects kept me off my bike for around 8 months and for a while I doubted I'd ever ride again. I'm completely undertrained this year but am loving the new carbon bike I just treated myself to and am just going to approach this as my reward for all the stress of the last twelve months.

As for the New Zealand cycling situation, there continue to be incidents, including a hit and run on a cyclist in Nelson yesterday. At least four carparks have been removed from Tamaki Drive, where a woman swerved to avoid a car door and fell under a truck. My pack did a fast 55k flat ride today on a popular route and were certainly feeling quite sober beforehand. Incidents included a woman driving past yelling at us and a ute which screamed past me then pulled into a driveway forcing us to brake heavily. An Auckland cyclist was interviewed on Campbell Live a couple of nights ago. He commented that he'd had around 100 near misses in the last year. My husband asked if things were that bad in Wellington and I couldn't honestly say that they weren't. I think he's considering taking my lovely new bike off me!

Hopefully all the attention in the media on cycle safety might eventually make some difference. At the least the coroner is planning on holding an inquest into all cyclist deaths not already investigated in the last year (or so?). Some good may yet come out of this. However the real problem is the attitude of Kiwi drivers, and that will take a long time to resolve.

[crazycanuck]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10694440

Some good news

[Tri Girl]

oh my- that's horrid!!