CYCLING RULES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 36, 26 February 1937, Page 4

CYCLING RULES

Many Requirements Under Regulations 0PERATI0N IN APRIL Cyclists ghonld acquaint themselvei with the Government traffic regulations applying particulaTly 'to cyclists. While many of these took effect on December 21 last, otherS do not apply until after March 31. After March 31 it is not permitted to ride a bicycle unless it is equipped either with a red light during the hours of darkness of suffieient brillffince to be visible under normal conditions f°* a distance of 300ft. or is equipped with a red reflector of a make and type approved by the Minister of Transport, It is stated that many red reflectojrs now m use are. not of a type approvdd by the Minister. After March 31, bi- .. cyclea must have a white surface at the back of at least 12 square inehes, and this must be lcept clean. At least one efficient barke operating - on the xear wheel and a .bell that jy clcarly audible under normal conditions at * distance of not less than 100ft, are hcnv mandatory. Riding Abreast and Fassing Every rider is now requlrad to^ keep his bicycle as close as is practieable co the left of the roadway. When overtaking any vehicle other than a tram he must, unless otherwise directed by a traffic officer, pass on the right side and must not move into the line of passage of the Other Vehicle until reasonably clear of it, Riding more than two abreast is prohlbited, and an important point is that only one cyclist at a time may pass another cyclist. Furthermore, a cyclist may not travel on the right of any vehicle „traveliing in the same direction except when overtaking it. Only one cyclist at a time may do this. Traffic officers agree that the regulation requiring a cyclist to keep as close as practieable to the left of the roadway will effect a big improvement in the direction of road safety, for the type of cyclists who rides well out and is often inclined to (steer an errfttic course, is not only a continual source of anxiety to motorists, but often incliries them to drive far on the wring side oi the road when passing. , . Need fpr Popular Version There are mariy regulations dealing with the requirements by cyclists, including the giving of isignals, but it is considered unfortunate that ,the Government has not elected to give another version more suited to popular understanding and perhaps with diagrams to assist such oppreciation. A typical example of a regulation, 'which he who rides may read but not always be mucl wiser in the [end, js ae follows';— "Every rider when approaehiug or crossing any intersection the traffic at which is not for the time being controlled by a police officer, traffic inspector, trafflccontrol lights, or the presence of a compulsory-stop sign, and to or over which any other vehicle (inelusive of trams) is approaching or croissing so that if both continued. on their courses there would be a possibility of a collision shall, if such vehicle (being other than a tram) is approaching from his right or.if such vehicle (being a tram) is approaching from any direction, give way to such other vehicle, and allow the same te pass before him, and, if necelssary for that purpose, stop his. vehicle."