Cycle Helmets, Yes or No?

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#1977223 15-Mar-2018 15:25

frankv:

tdgeek:

... they should suggest to the Govt to make non road/streets optional, so that park dawdling is more enjoyable. That's sensible.

Ummm... isn't it illegal to ride a bicycle on a footpath? Yes So park-dawdling par bicyclette is not allowed, so it makes no sense to legalise helmet-free whilst riding in the park. A park isn't a footpath, unless they signpost No Cycles which I think is rare

Personally, I think it's better for children to cycle on footpaths rather than roads (with or without helmets). I agree

And the real answer to cycle safety is cycle lanes separate from motorised traffic, not largely-ineffectual helmets. (Incidentally, years ago when I lived there, in Switzerland mopeds were allowed to use cycle lanes. I think that on balance this is a good idea, but perhaps superceded by e-bikes?)

I also agree re cycleways are a great idea, for many reasons, and also for eBikes or mopeds

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#1977232 15-Mar-2018 15:51

tdgeek:

frankv:

tdgeek:

... they should suggest to the Govt to make non road/streets optional, so that park dawdling is more enjoyable. That's sensible.

Ummm... isn't it illegal to ride a bicycle on a footpath? Yes So park-dawdling par bicyclette is not allowed, so it makes no sense to legalise helmet-free whilst riding in the park. A park isn't a footpath, unless they signpost No Cycles which I think is rare

Personally, I think it's better for children to cycle on footpaths rather than roads (with or without helmets). I agree

And the real answer to cycle safety is cycle lanes separate from motorised traffic, not largely-ineffectual helmets. (Incidentally, years ago when I lived there, in Switzerland mopeds were allowed to use cycle lanes. I think that on balance this is a good idea, but perhaps superceded by e-bikes?)

I also agree re cycleways are a great idea, for many reasons, and also for eBikes or mopeds

Yep, love the cycle ways and shared pathways (just need to educate some of the pedestrians about sharing!)

Both my kids learnt to ride on the footpath, no way I was putting them on the road. They were taught to be respectful of pedestrians and to watch out for sneaky driveways.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

mudguard

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#1977237 15-Mar-2018 16:01

Actually not to derail things too much but I think e-bikes belong more on the road than any other type of bike. Flat out my bike is geared to maybe 35kmh. That can be done considerably more easily on an EBike, and I can only do it for a short amount of time. So I would suggest Ebikes stay out of cycle lanes.

tdgeek

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#1977240 15-Mar-2018 16:20

mudguard:
Actually not to derail things too much but I think e-bikes belong more on the road than any other type of bike. Flat out my bike is geared to maybe 35kmh. That can be done considerably more easily on an EBike, and I can only do it for a short amount of time. So I would suggest Ebikes stay out of cycle lanes.

Maybe a bylaw? $500 fine for exceeding 15k :-)

You are right there needs to be considerate behaviour and that applies to pedestrians cycles and ebikes.

tdgeek

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#1977242 15-Mar-2018 16:24

https://i.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/central-leader/102298217/anticycleway-protester-arrested-after-destroying-traffic-island-with-sledgehammer

This is the fringe element that destroys it for the bulk of cyclists who want to commute, get healthy or down quality time with their kids.

mattwnz

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#1977280 15-Mar-2018 17:03

scuwp:

Yep, love the cycle ways and shared pathways (just need to educate some of the pedestrians about sharing!)

Both my kids learnt to ride on the footpath, no way I was putting them on the road. They were taught to be respectful of pedestrians and to watch out for sneaky driveways.

The problem though is footpaths are potentially more dangerous than roads, with cars pulling out of driveways, as there is no transition zone with some narrow driveways, and very poor visability. I have had numerous problems with almost hitting cars that were racing out of driveways. I have also had a cyclist run into the side of my own car when backing out very slowly. They were speeding along the footpath. I think footpaths are fine for cycling, as long as you are only doing a very slow speed, similar to walking pace, but any faster, cyclists should use the road. I am not even sure it is legal to ride a cycle on a footpath, as I recall as a kid, I was told off by a police officer for cycling on the footpath, and told I must ride on the road.

But make the roads better with dedicated cycle lanes, and forbid cars from parking in them.

mudguard

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#1977285 15-Mar-2018 17:32

Pretty sure the only bikes allowed on footpaths are posties and kids bikes, maybe defined by wheels smaller than 20" (which is a BMX wheel)

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#1978436 16-Mar-2018 08:35

mudguard:

Pretty sure the only bikes allowed on footpaths are posties and kids bikes, maybe defined by wheels smaller than 20" (which is a BMX wheel)

just looked it up, it's posties and 14" and under. which rules everyone out other than toddlers.

tdgeek

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#1978442 16-Mar-2018 08:56

I think bikes on footpaths is worth a conversation. Id find it not convenient when needing to avoid pedestrians but if the road was busy, plenty of parked cars, its an option. Pedestrians must have 100% right of way though. I dont see it being a congested footpath issue. And must ride slow as in at fast jogging speed

MikeAqua

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#1978472 16-Mar-2018 10:31

tdgeek:

I think bikes on footpaths is worth a conversation. Id find it not convenient when needing to avoid pedestrians but if the road was busy, plenty of parked cars, its an option. Pedestrians must have 100% right of way though. I don't see it being a congested footpath issue. And must ride slow as in at fast jogging speed

I don't mind sharing the footpath with cyclists who exercise a degree of caution. The cyclist has more skin in the game than me. S/he has further to fall in a collision.

I think a reasonable approach is that it's OK to use something small with wheels on the footpath provided you do it at walking speed. Nothing that needs a licence plate. Don't move past pedestrians at pace leaving no margin for error.

Mike

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#1978473 16-Mar-2018 10:33

MikeAqua:

tdgeek:

I think bikes on footpaths is worth a conversation. Id find it not convenient when needing to avoid pedestrians but if the road was busy, plenty of parked cars, its an option. Pedestrians must have 100% right of way though. I don't see it being a congested footpath issue. And must ride slow as in at fast jogging speed

I don't mind sharing the footpath with cyclists who exercise a degree of caution. The cyclist has more skin in the game than me. S/he has further to fall in a collision.

I think a reasonable approach is that it's OK to use something small with wheels on the footpath provided you do it at walking speed. Nothing that needs a licence plate. Don't move past pedestrians at pace leaving no margin for error.

Yep.A cyclist at low speed is just a modified pedestrian!

frankv

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#1978503 16-Mar-2018 10:57

Batman:

just looked it up, it's posties and 14" and under. which rules everyone out other than toddlers.

14" wheels is surely doable, with appropriate gearing. After all, go-karts go pretty fast on smaller wheels. ;)

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#1978510 16-Mar-2018 11:03

So last night we took our kids for a ride. We rode on the footpath. Came across a police officer who my son wanted to talk to. I said I felt safer on the footpath than the road and he agreed and said he's never given a ticket for it and about the only time he could even conceive of it, would be if there was a collision and a police presence was requested.

His comment was along the lines of, do what you need to do to keep your kids safe.

We will continue on the footpath where it's possible, in as safe manner as we possibly can. We have shown our kids and actively encourage them to be considerate and watchful.

tdgeek

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#1978519 16-Mar-2018 11:14

A sensible outcome. Pedestrian traffic on a footpath is pretty low outside of the CBD, its a wasted resource. In any given stretch the cycle will be on there a smaller amount of time as well.

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#1978523 16-Mar-2018 11:17

I do wonder about whether new streets should just have footpaths down on side. I haven't given it a lot of thought but would save a lot of waste.

Potentially it would cause issues down my street for all the Indian people who cross the road to the other side when they see me walking down the street with my German Shepherd. :)

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