Minister Warns Cyclists

Chronicle (Levin), 27 May 1949, Page 2

Minister Warns Cyclists

' WELLINGTON, May 26. - "It is;no wOiider bieyele accidents liave 'iiicreased wlien oue eonsideys the ' appa-lling aumber of cycles without proper saf ety equipmeat, said tlie Minister of Transport, Mr. Hackett, tOday. ' • • The Minister was commenting on the results of the iirst week's efforts in the Dominion-wide cheek on bieyeles being' condueted by the Transport Hepar'tment. • These figures show that of 3863 cycles checked so far, 739 were without a red reflector, 375 without a rear white patch and 159 had no hrake or an inefficient hrake. There were 142 cyclists found riding

at night with no front light and 216 machines had noticeable structural defects. "Last year 27 cyclists were ldbed and 817 injured in traffic accidents," continued Mr. Hackett. "This is the highest since before the war yet, considering the figures from the cycle checks, it is not really surprising. In a prosperous cpuntry like New Zealand, our road traffic is ever increasing yet many cyclists continue to ride without the minimum equipment required for safety. A red reflector or tail light, a white mudguard patch, an efiicient brake and at night a front light, are the essentials required by the. law. .1 have instructed the Transport Department to continue rigorously to check and to take the necessary action against cyclists found riding machines that are ill-equipped. These cycle accidents niust be reduced and I hope all cyclists will cooperate by. puttin'g their cycles in order. " 0