A bay cycle safety expert is urging cyclists to do "everything they can" to be seen after an investigation into cycling deaths found more than half were caused by cyclists, with middle-aged men most at risk.
A coroner's investigation into 94 New Zealand deaths found an average of 15 cyclists a year have been killed on our roads since mid-2007. In the Western Bay of Plenty, one cyclist was killed, two seriously injured and nine suffered minor injuries between 2010 and 2012.
Coroner Gordon Matenga said he was surprised to find 58.5 per cent of deaths were the result of cyclists' errors, which was "contrary to every submission to me which suggested that motorists were deemed to be responsible in most cycle crashes".
Tauranga cycle safety expert Iris Thomas said cyclists needed to be vigilant and ride "defensively" as drivers failing to spot cyclists was the biggest problem.
"We've got to do everything we can to be seen on the road."