Share the road safely is the AA’s message for national Go By Bike Day tomorrow.

The event encourages people to bike to work or school on Wednesday, meaning there will likely be more people riding on the roads than normal. With showers forecast for much of the country the roads may be slippery and visibility poorer as well, increasing the need for people to be extra vigilant.

“Go By Bike Day is a great chance for people in cars and people on bikes to remind themselves of the simple things they both can do to share the road safely,” says AA spokesperson Simon Douglas.

“We’ve got to keep working to get rid of the ‘them and us’ mentality. The AA wants to see more done to improve the safety of cycling on our roads and getting everyone to treat others with consideration and respect is a key part of this.”

The AA urges people to follow the tips below to help keep themselves and others safe on the roads:

Tips for people in cars

• Make a conscious effort to look out for people on bikes
• Double check for cyclists before turning or coming out of a park
• Keep at least a 1.5m gap from someone on a bike
• Be willing to slow down and drive behind a cyclist until there is space to pass them safely
• Check for cyclists before opening your car door.

Tips for people on bikes

• Help to be seen by having lights on your bike and wearing brightly coloured or reflective clothing
• Stick to the road rules
• Use hand signals to indicate when you are turning or stopping
• Ride in single file as much as possible, especially on narrow roads
• If you have a tail of cars behind you, pull over and let them pass. A little consideration stops frustrations boiling over.

For more information contact:

Simon Douglas
Policy Manager
New Zealand Automobile Association
T. 04 931 9985
M. 021 607 647