Onekawa cyclist expresses concern for biking etiquette after accident

Geoff Russell suffered broken ribs and a badly sprained wrist. Photo / Warren Buckland

An accident on Napier's busy coastal pathway has left a local cycle expert concerned about biking etiquette.

Onekawa resident Geoff Russell was left with a damaged electronic bike, several broken ribs, a badly sprained wrist and grazes after a cyclist cut in front of him near the Ellison St junction of the pathway on Sunday morning.

Hawke's Bay Regional Council cycle network co-ordinator Vicki Butterworth said as summer approached the region's trails would become busy with cyclists, walkers and families.

Accidents did happen but an incident like this would have been avoidable if the other cyclist had used proper cycle etiquette and respected other trail users, she said.

"I was actually biking there yesterday and there were a lot of people on the trail."

With the school holidays having begun and a busy tourist season nearing, the trails had a high volume of foot and cycle traffic and people needed to look out for each other, Ms Butterworth said.

"It's all about respect . . . making sure you stay in control and avoid other users."

Hawke's Bay's trails had become increasingly popular, with a 100 per cent increase in users on all trails in the region since 2014, she said.

More than 200 people were on that section of the trail on Sunday when the accident happened.

"We need to share with care and try and avoid these accidents," she said.

Mr Russell said the accident had left him without his only form of transport because he sold his car recently.

He is an avid cyclist, clocking up more than 250km most weeks, and using his newly purchased electric bike whenever he needs to leave the house.

He had never had an accident while biking until Sunday morning when a cyclist came out from a carpark near the Ellison St junction in front of him so fast they nearly collided.

"It was either hit him or take a fall. I took the fall because if I had hit him the damage and injuries would have been a lot worse."

The other cyclist initially seemed concerned but when he realised that the bike was damaged he gave a fake name and number and sped off, Mr Russell said.

"It shook me up a bit."

His bike's gears have been so damaged that they lock if he tries to ride it and his injuries have meant he will not be able to ride for a while even when his bike is fixed.

Mr Russell has reported the incident to police and hopes to get his bike repaired this week at a cost of at least a few hundred dollars.