Glen Koorey & Robert Ibell

NZ Cycling Advocates Network (CAN)

AA Driver Education FoundationAA Driver Education FoundationConference 2001Conference 2001

SHARE THE ROADTeaching Motorists and Cyclists

to Co-exist Peacefully

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Introduction to CANIntroduction to CAN

• The national voice for• Commuter cyclists• Recreational cyclists• Cycling shoppers• Cycle tourists• Young cyclists and families

• Represent members' interests to national authoritiese.g. Transfund, LTSA, Transit, MoT, AA

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Introduction to CAN Introduction to CAN cont’dcont’d

• Work with local cycling groups on national campaigns and events• Nine established local cycling groups• National Bike Week every February

• Links with• Sports cyclists• Mountain bikers• Bicycle industry• Overseas cycling advocacy groups

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Introduction to CAN Introduction to CAN cont’dcont’d

• CAN's aims• To increase recognition of benefits of cycling• To improve safety for cyclists• To promote a good cycling environment• To develop cycle advocacy• To encourage cycle tourism• To promote the integration of cycle planning with

land use, education, health, environment

CAN is very interested in how cyclists and motorists are trained to interact with each other

for the benefit of both

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BackgroundBackground

• Cyclist issues have low profile or are absent in most NZ driver education material

• Few dedicated cycle facilities in NZ• Cyclists & motorists must share same roads• Problems with sharing can have bad results,

especially for more vulnerable cyclists.

• Lack of awareness of and respect for cyclists' rights on the part of motorists

• Greater than necessary level of disregard for road rules on the part of cyclists

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Cyclists vs MotoristsCyclists vs Motorists

• What cyclists would like motorists to know:• Bicycles are small, difficult to see, esp. at night• Cyclists can feel threatened by inconsiderate driving.

Cyclists have a right to road space• Cyclists may ride away from the kerb to avoid

obstacles, to be seen, or to discourage passing• Cyclists turning right are more exposed• Cyclists can be forced into faster traffic by parked

vehicles, or near intersections• Cyclists are also dazzled by full beam headlights• Cyclists are capable of travelling fast (40 km/h)• Cyclists have a right to use the roads and to travel

safely and enjoyably

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Cyclists vs MotoristsCyclists vs Motorists cont’d cont’d

• What motorists would like cyclists to know:• Motorists expect cyclists to obey the road rules• Motorists usually travel faster than cyclists, therefore

have less time to react to hazards• Motorists may not always see cyclists• Some cyclist behaviour can unsettle motorists

e.g. hesitancy, sudden direction changes• Motorists can feel delayed by cyclists• Motorists and cyclists both have a right to use our

roads, and need to understand/respect each other’s needs

Note: Road Code currently being revised

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Cyclist TrainingCyclist Training

• Currently three recognised child training programmes:• Kiwi Cycling• Street Sense• Riding By

• All the existing resources have many excellent features

• None universally available, fully supported• Little is available for training adults who

may be taking up cycling later in life

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Cyclist Training Cyclist Training cont’dcont’d

Savill et al (1996), TRL Report 214• Most effective courses

• Included an on-road training element• Were conducted over several weeks (rather

than intensively over one or two weeks)• Used a problem solving approach

• Generally found to perform better than instruction-based types of courses

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Adult Cycle TrainingAdult Cycle Training

• Adult cycle training takes place overseas• Plenty of resources around

e.g. Effective Cycling, Cyclecraft

• Adult cycling classes have been run in NZ• CAWgtn at a local community education centre• Initially well attended, but enrolment numbers

fell off and course was discontinued

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Cycle Training GuidesCycle Training Guides

• Old Bike Code• Contained advice for both children & adults• Not clear which advice was appropriate for

which age level• Doesn’t reflect new signs, markings, rules

• New LTSA Safe Cycling Book• Aimed solely at children• Some concerns with initial draft• Adults limited to reading advice

in the Road Code?

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Cyclist Training RecommendationsCyclist Training Recommendations

• CAN recommends:• Review of existing cycle training resources

• Identify current best practice, where the gaps are

• Consider the role of the Road Code and the Safe Cycling Book

• Develop a single new, flexible mu;ti-level cycle training resource

• Replace Street Sense, Kiwi Cycling and Riding By• Adult cyclists should be included

• New course should contain on-road training• Delivery by suitably accredited trainers

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Driver TrainingDriver Training

• The Road Code• Base guide to learn the rules, pass your

licence• Car, Heavy Vehicle and Motorcycle versions

• A lack of cyclists shown throughout• Reinforces perception that cyclists are

“invisible” to motorists• No indication to either cyclists or motorists

where on the road cyclists are meant to go

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The Road Code The Road Code cont’dcont’d

• Should highlight common cycling crash problems• “Failed to give way” (ints’ns)• Overtaking cyclists on

constrained roadways• Cutting off cyclists when turning

left

• Show cyclists giving way and with right of way

• Include in Heavy Vehicle version of Road Code too

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The Road Code The Road Code cont’dcont’d

• Only situation showing a cyclist is in the section dealing with hazard recognition• Perpetuates the image of cyclists as a

“nuisance” to motorists• More practical advice may

also explain how to anticipate & accommodate cyclists’ movements

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The Road Code The Road Code cont’dcont’d

• “Signs which tell you what you must do”:• in fact only an advisory sign

indicating a recommended route

• Brief sections in Road Code that deal with sharing the road with cyclists

• Some practical driver tips and common safety problems are listed

• Visual presentation of situations would help

• No cycling-related questions out of 220 possible driver licence questions

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Other Driver Training IssuesOther Driver Training Issues

• Ensure that Testing Officers understand cycling issues & are alert for transgressions

e.g. check for cyclists before making a left-hand turn (Netherlands)

• Driving Instructors• Educate new drivers in the rights and needs of

cyclists• Draw their pupils' attention to the existence of

cyclists, discuss cyclists' habits and problems• Prevent pupils from committing common driving

errors that impact on cyclists

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Other Driver Training Issues Other Driver Training Issues cont’dcont’d

• Cyclist issues should also be addressed in defensive driving courses

• Ongoing driver education• Drivers with many years’ experience not likely

to be regularly buying updated Road Codes• Advertising or promotions and enforcement

needed instead

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Existing NZ CampaignsExisting NZ Campaigns

• Generally had limited campaigns promoting safe co-existence on the road

• Key messages presented misplaced?e.g. 2000 KidSafe Child Safety Week• Safe Cycling as one of its themes• Most promotional material tended to focus on

child safety behaviour• Correctly worn helmets• Well maintained bikes• Road rules followed

• Little on encouraging drivers to watch out

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Existing NZ Campaigns Existing NZ Campaigns cont’dcont’d

• National road safety campaigns tended to focus on the “big three”

• Some local initiatives more targeted• Christchurch car door sticker campaign

• Wellington “Safe Cycling Tips” pamphlets• Christchurch City “Annabel” cartoons

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““Annabel on Top” campaignAnnabel on Top” campaign

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““Annabel on Top” campaignAnnabel on Top” campaign

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Overseas CampaignsOverseas Campaigns

• Queensland• $500,000 public education campaign• Underlying theme: “Play Fair, Share the Road”• TV advertisement as the campaign flagship

• South Australia• Cycling awareness/promotion exercise• Two TV advertisements produced, together with

other promotional material

Promotions help to portray cycling as an everyday activity that drivers should expect to

see on the road

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Other Possible InitiativesOther Possible Initiatives

• Specific examples in AA Directions magazine of situations where cars and cycles interact

• Regular cycling features in major newspapers• A pamphlet highlighting safe cycling points

given to all new drivers• Enhanced promotion of National Bike Week

and associated Bike to Work/School days• Safe Routes to Schools programmes• Local road safety advertising and enforcement

campaigns

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Other Possible Initiatives Other Possible Initiatives cont’dcont’d

• Other Engineering/Enforcement measures:• Better marking of cycle lanes,

especially at intersections• Targeted Police enforcement of

motorists and cyclists who behave irresponsibly towards each other

e.g. via Police bicycle-mounted patrols

• More use of coloured cycle lane surfacing• Changes to Traffic Rules to clarify

legal status of various cycle facilities, signs, markings

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NZ Cycling Conference 2001NZ Cycling Conference 2001

• Chateau on the Park, Christchurch• Fri 21st - Sat 22nd September 2001

• Keynote European and Australian speakers• Themed workshops• Technical presentations• Active debates, quick fire ideas forum

• Contact Alix Newman, Chch City Council• Email: alix.newman@ccc.govt.nz

You are all invited!