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Mrs Jenny Shipley
Minister of Transport
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Minimum Gap for Passing Cyclists
We would like you to review the Road Code as it relates to motorists passing cyclists safely. We have all had many close calls where motor vehicles have passed us within inches (during daylight hours). When this happens and the vehicle is moving fast, it's turbulence can push us into the gutter and/or suck us towards the middle of the road. There is never enough time to take the vehicles licence plate number. Some of our friends have actually been knocked by passenger-side mirrors while out cycling.
The Road Code states "Give cyclists plenty of space when cycling", but this is clearly open to interpretation. Drivers who feel that cyclists shouldn't even be on the road, often seem to feel that six inches is 'plenty of space'. Truck drivers who do not appreciate the force of the turbulence created by their vehicle at 100 km/hr may feel that one foot is 'plenty of space'. It is not.
Should the police ever wish to prosecute a driver for not giving 'plenty of space' when passing a cyclist, the driver's defence, that the code does not define 'plenty of space', will be hard to combat unless the cyclist was clearly hit by the vehicle.
In France the legal minimum passing gap is 1.5m; in Colorado it is 3 feet; in Canada it is one lane width! These are strong regulations. From our experience cycling in these places, these minimum passing gaps result in a much safer cycling environment.
We understand that the Ministry of Transport wants to encourage cycling as a means of transport to reduce CO2 emissions and congestion. One of the main reasons people do not cycle more often is that they do not feel it is safe. Will you improve safety for cyclists in New Zealand by having a legal minimum passing gap introduced into the Road Code?
Thank you for considering this letter.
Yours sincerely
Simon Kennett
Paul Kennett
Jonathan Kennett
Sarah Drake
Bronwyn Wall
Michelle Ducat