Cyclists coming under fire

Rotorua cyclists have been targeted with glass bottles and soft drink cups by errant motorists.

Local cyclists have suffered four serious and eight minor injuries after collisions with cars in the past year according to Ministry of Transport figures.

Nationally, eight cyclists have died following collisions with cars in the last 12 months with hundreds more injured.

Cycling Rotorua president Peter Clark said Rotorua was generally a fantastic city to cycle in. However, the infrastructure and a small minority of drivers were a problem.

In the past year, club members had a bottle thrown at them from a car travelling in excess of 100km/h on the outskirts of Rotorua.

"Just three weeks ago I was cycling out to Bryce Road to our race and some guys in a car came past and threw a takeaway paper cup full of ice at me.

"Cyclists get abused all the time for no reason at all, there's a small minority of motorists that are just really ignorant."

Cyclists paid their fair share of taxes which paid for the roads and they weren't saddling the community with obesity and heart problems, Mr Clark said.

The club promoted sticking to the road rules and never riding more than two abreast. "If it's a main arterial route, it's single file.

"If we know that there's a car behind us, we move into single file regardless and try and communicate with the drivers to wave them on so they can pass safely."

On Saturday an Auckland man watched in horror as his wife was knocked off her bike and dragged under a passing truck as they rode with friends.

Mother-of-two Jane Farrelly, 50, died shortly after the collision during a weekend away in Taupo.

Her death is the latest in a spate of serious incidents involving cyclists and motorists.

A dairy farmer has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after an alleged road rage attack near Taupo.

Police say he got out of a ute and chased cyclist and Ironman New Zealand race entrant Alistair Slade before pushing him off his bike.

Another Ironman entrant - Aucklander Glen Cornwell - needed back surgery after his bike was hit from behind when he was riding in the Waitakere Ranges in January.

About 10 cyclists die each year in crashes with motor vehicles on public roads.

However, a Ministry of Transport spokeswoman said cycle deaths not involving motor vehicles were not included in the official road toll.

A 13-year-old Auckland girl died in January after she fell off her bike and hit her head on concrete in Papakura. She wasn't wearing a helmet.

Nationally, cyclists suffered 171 serious and 623 minor injuries after collisions with cars in the 12 months to October 31.

Auckland was the most dangerous city for cyclists, with 23 serious and 189 minor injuries in the same period.

Last month Wellington Coroner Ian Smith made a raft of recommendations to the Minister of Transport following the cycling death of a senior police officer.
 

By the numbers:

• Four serious and eight minor injuries suffered by cyclists in Rotorua during collisions with cars in the 12 months ending October 31.
• One serious and one minor injuries suffered by cyclists in Whakatane.
• One minor injury suffered by a cyclist in Kawerau.
• 171 serious and 623 minor injuries suffered by cyclists nationwide.

(Source: Ministry of Transport)