NZ Cycle Safety Panel -Draft Report for Consultation
The New Zealand Transport Agency have convened a high-level panel of experts, chaired by Richard Legget of Bike NZ and NZ Post, who have in September 2014 released their draft report on cycle safety. Here are a few thoughts which I am submitting to them for consideration.

Key points

• Significant increases in cycling and walking -as distinct from safe cycling among existing cyclists- is extremely urgent for Kiwis’ health.
• The Report is highly commendable in its thinking and recommendations.
• It doesn’t have the mandate to recommend all the necessary promotional measures -legal, educational, infrastructural, etc.- to get more Kiwis on bikes.
• Its most useful recommendation is that high-level leadership is needed -but that should be for the promotion of increased cycling generally, not just for safety of existing cyclists.
• A higher-level body than the NZTA should be responsible for this promotion, ideally an inter-departmental body, implementing a considered and detailed national policy with adequate funding and realistic timelines.
• The detailed recommendations of the Report relating to road safety are generally excellent.  Legislation for safe overtaking clearances and lower speed limits would be very welcome for New Zealand cyclists.

Please see the PDF for the full submission