Riders in the annual Ride of Unity and Remembrance.
Riders in the annual Ride of Unity and Remembrance.
Dead rider's sister joins tribute to those who have been killed or hurt on road.
Tina McCullough doesn't cycle much now - she hasn't had the confidence since her sister Jane Farrelly was killed last year.
But yesterday the Auckland woman mounted her bike in remembrance not only of her sister but of all cyclists who have died or been injured on the road.
Mrs McCullough was one of more than 30 riders who cycled from Britomart, along Tamaki Drive and to Takaparawha Pt for the annual Ride of Unity and Remembrance.
The group held a ceremony at cycle-victim Jane Bishop's white "ghost bike" - a symbol of remembrance for those lost and injured while cycling.
The ceremony comes as the Herald has highlighted issues between cyclists and motorists, after the deaths of two cyclists this year, and amid calls for improvements to prevent future deaths.
Speaking at yesterday's ceremony, Mrs McCullough called for more action, saying Auckland Council's approach to cycle safety had not been good enough so far. "I think it's really important that we acknowledge the cycling deaths on the road and where it can be avoided."
The thing needed most was more separated cycleways, she said.
Mrs McCullough's sister died last March after a collision with a truck and trailer unit while on a group ride with her husband and others near Taupo. The truck driver was not charged.
She said the death had shaken her greatly. Before the tragedy Mrs McCullough, who lives in Auckland, cycled up to 200km a week. Now she barely does 20km.
"I just don't feel the same confidence any more."
After her sister's death Mrs McCullough organised a petition to provide a new rule requiring motorists to give cyclists a passing width of 1.5m. Currently there is a recommendation for a gap of 1.5m, but it is not law.
But she said cyclists also had to take more responsibility for their actions.
"They really need to think 'do I have blood on my hands because I'm breaking the rules'?"
The family of business man and ironman competitor Garth Barfoot also spoke at the ceremony.
Mr Barfoot was injured when hit by a car on a roundabout on which he had the right of way at the Beach Haven end of Birkdale three weeks ago.
His daughter, Kiri Barfoot, said Mr Barfoot was on the road to recovery and just wanted people to ride safely.
The partner of John Tangiia, who was killed at Parnell Rise when he was hit by a truck while on his bike, also planned to speak but she did not attend because the emotion of his death was still too raw.
Barbara Cuthbert, chairwoman of Cycle Action Auckland, which organised yesterday's event, said: "It meant a lot to her that we were doing the ride tonight, but this early on [since John's death] she couldn't face doing it."
Mrs Cuthbert said what cyclists wanted most was a full network of safe cycle lanes, not just "chunks".
"It's all about having better, safe cycle routes across the city to allow people to go from A to B," she said. "What we have now is disconnected chunks."
In recent weeks the Herald has highlighted issues between cyclists and motorists and cyclists have challenged Mayor Len Brown to support efforts to make bikeways a priority.
A mayoral spokesman said a full active transport action plan would be developed during the 2015 long-term plan process.
Cycling accidents this year
January 7 John Tangiia, 37, killed when hit by truck at Parnell Rise.
