When Bicycles Can Become Curse Of This Modern Age

Chronicle (Levin), 12 November 1949, Page 4

When Bicycles Can Become Curse Of This Modern Age

A quick glanee down Oxford Street^ Levin, is suffieient to eonvince anyone that bicycies are beeoming as much a part of Lhe town's traffic as they have become in famed Christchurch. It. could be said in the same breath, however, that by their eonstant invasion of the footpaths they are becpming just as great a menace to life and lim'b* Stacked against verandah posts, -spmetimes eight deep, they not only irritate the daily footpatnspadders but are a source of anxiety to mothers wdh small childl'en.

•In defence of the cyclist it must be admitted that up to comparatively recently they could be "^xcused seeking 'the sanctuary of bhe footpath to ensure the safe keeping of their machines. Bicycles are built to withstand reasonable treatment — most certainly not the heavy front wheel of a. truck or morbor ear, and in this regard motor car, and in this regard consideration. Retrieving from a bicyele rack a map'hine which. gives a good imi'fcation of a concertina is no joke, particularly when these days one has to go into a huddle with one's bank manager before contemplating the purchass of another, either new or second lhand. Recently, however, the Levin Borough Council has stepped in and clearly marked the stands as a no parking area , for motor vehicles. and protection is now afforded. Also, many new racks have been installed in strategic places in the main street and in brotected areas certainly large enough to leave no doubt in any motorist's minds 'as to their ourposes. Later these wooden racks will be replaced with new steel one's which are even now in the course of construc'tion. From now on the council will be ehanging its plea for the 100 per cent use of these racks to a must. but before getting really tough

about it arid enforcing the obsoruction law in regard to bicycles on footpaths, it would prefer to seek the co-operation of cyclists. A point over which offenders would do well to ponder, however, is the legal aspect if a civil claim arises out Of some one in.iuring themselves severely on a bieycle protruding across a pedestrian Kvs way. Unlike motorists, cyclists are " J not protected by any insurance on their machines or against damages arising from an accident in which they are involved. The mere placing of a bicyele in a rack, is , surely much wiser than the pros- . pect of being sued for substantial damages. Incidentally it was revealed in a Court the other day that it is an offence under the Police Act to even wheel a bicyele along the footpath, although prosecutions to date have been rare. So far as is known, no claims . have been lodged as the result of a pedestrian being injured on a * Levin - footpath by a bicyele, » but there is always a first* time. Apart from this and the aspect that substantial cqurt fines might be imposed at a iater date under the borough by-laws, there is always the fact that cyclists will have many more friends and the pedestrians fewer torn nylons and bruised shin bones if a co-opera- : tive spirit is shown all round.