Whanganui letters: Take heed of cycle safety

It seems that people have assumed that because they can ride their bikes on shared pathways they can ride them on any pathway, argues Russell Eades. Photo / File

I was walking my dogs with my wife the other night on one of many standard-sized footpaths we have in the town, just ambling along, minding our own business.

The tranquillity was interrupted by a cyclist coming the other way. When we pointed out that they should not be on a footpath, they tried to ride into us, stating that it was their right to ride wherever they liked.

The Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004, section 11.11 Riding cycles on footpaths, etc says :

(1) A person must not ride a cycle on a footpath or on a lawn, garden, or other cultivation forming part of a road.

(2) Subclause (1) does not apply to a person who rides a cycle on a footpath in the course of delivering newspapers, mail, or printed material to letterboxes.

Pretty clear you would have thought?

Who is supposed to police this? What happens when a pedestrian is hit on the footpath by a cyclist that shouldn't be there?

We have these new shared pathways which are great, and an enjoyable way to get a bit of exercise, nice and wide with clear messages to "keep left" painted onto the path at fairly regular intervals.

It seems that people have assumed that because they can ride their bikes on shared pathways they can ride them on any pathway.

Some even ride them through the main street among shoppers and other people in the CBD.

It appears that there are more cycles in use, and that's a good thing. Five thousand or so more people in town will only make things worse. Will it take an elderly person being hospitalised before somebody takes these things a bit more seriously? [Abridged]

RUSSELL EADES
Whanganui

Forever long white cloud

Aotearoa is the name of my country. And Waitōtara is the heartland. As far as I am concerned this can never be changed.

This is a very old name. And just in case you don't know the facts of its origin take note. That long white cloud has always been here. When the conditions are right.

So that name is not based on one incident. Our Polynesian ancestors were instructed to sail toward the sunrise. You will eventually see a long white cloud.

If you go out fishing from Whanganui you will see it from beyond the horizon. If the conditions are right.

I once saw Te Aotearoa from a jumbo jet flying in from Rarotonga. And I say that no one has the right to change that name.

POTONGA NEILSON
Castlecliff

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