CYCLE TRAFFIC.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20496, 15 March 1932, Page 9

CYCLE TRAFFIC.

BETTER CONTROL WANTED. <. . • REGISTRATION ADVOCATED. , The question of the tetter control of cycle traffic was discussed at last night's meeting of the Council of the Canterbury Automobile Association, when a deputation consisting of Messrs M. J. Russell, H. G;.Hill, and C. 8. Thomas (representing the' Canterbury Underwriters' Association), and Mr H. C. Rogers, manager in Chfiatchurclx of the State Fire and' Accident Insurance Office, was received. Mr Russell said that the experience of various insurance interests of the past two years and a half during , which the Motor Vehicles Third Party' Insurance Act had been in force was that 85 per cent, of the claims that' had been reported and paid had been through cyclists' accidents. The control of cyclists was a that concerned Christchurch, and if they did not bring in legislation to , deal'with the . matter no one, else would do so.

The City Council and Registration.

The question was whether the City Council would entertain a proposal l for the registration of h» , understood that that was the hardest thing to get thom to do. As to the .by-law regarding painting mudguards white; i| was greatly appreciated' by motorists, but while a white mudguard was good, a grey one was not so. good, and it was not long before it Tbecame black. There did not seem to be any provision to . ensure that they should bO'repainted. Cyclists' and By-law Breachoa.. - _ , There were comparatively few prose- , cutions of cyclists- for breaches of bylaws though, as thd result of such, breaches, some persons had been 1 killed and others maimed. Control wb.9 oec®s-, , sary, as much for the benefit ,of cyclists ; ..„ as of anybody else. It was_ obvious ,that if there was no control of cyclists acciucnts would increase, and as a consequence premiums would have to be in:creased. One suggestion was that propaganda in respect of careful riding of bicycles should be started- in th® 1 schools.' He understood that the Association ha'd taken up this., phase of the matter and that quite a number of school children received such instruction. He was afraid that the instruct tion was not observed, as schoolboys could be seen riding three or four abreast and they Very rarely moved when they heard a car coming. At to brakes, he said that those on ordinary bicycles' were more or less indifferent, and they might as'wfell have no brakes,, at all. ; ; ' • ' >''■ * ' _;■ Difficulties Connected ■wtih Begiefcratlan. Mr Sogers said with regard to registration that he thought that it would be impossible yi Christchurch. He knew a placcj where there were half a dozen, or more bicycles, and boys could go and take one without anyone knowing, return it later. There should be «ome definition of the. degree of "whiteness that mudguards should be - painted. Cyclists who caused accidents" usually disappeared 'before they could be caught. Some action was necessary to, get a comprehensive by-law brought in.

Propaganda in Schools Mr C. S. Thomas said that a number of cyclists were prosecuted, but probably riot one-half of those that ought to be prosecuted were proceeded against. As to the registration, « cyclists, he thought that if Jhe My. Council were iMoraed of the accidents and deaths caused through the lack of control it would recognise that the demand for registration was not merely a scheme to collect 2s 6d from cyclists. Some of these accidents were due to sheer carelessness. There was only one possible way to control cyclwta and that was to register them., Aslaf as possible • cyclists should be brought under the Motor Vehicles Act. There was one by-law that was always neglected—the one that provided that cyclists riding along' a street must keep as close to the kerb as possible; he thought he was safe m saying that 99 per cent, of cyclists disobeyed that by-law. He emphasised the value ot safety first propaganda in the schools, and. referred to the # series of posters displayed in schools in England. joint Committee Set Up. After several members of the Council had expressed views similar in effect to those expressed bv "members of the deputation it was decided to ask the deputation to appoint members, representing the Underwriters' Association to a joint committee, also to ask the Pioneer Sports Club to appoint representatives on the same committee ,_ana that the Association's By-laws .Committee should v represent the Association on the joint committee which was asked to discuss the whole subject ana approach the Oity Council on the question of the control of cyclists.