A Bay cycle safety instructor is "scared" about a possible law change to allow children and elderly people to bike on footpaths.
In a new report, the Transport and Industrial Relations select committee has recommended that the Government look at changing the law to allow children under 12, the over-65s, and people with mental and physical disabilities, to bike on footpaths. The committee also recommended those users be required to have bells on their bikes.
The idea scared Iris Thomas, founder of Kids Can Ride, who said children were at high risk of being hit by cars reversing out of driveways.
"It scares me that they're on the footpath and totally unaware of a car that could be coming out of a driveway. If you check out the stats on cycle accidents with children, there's a huge number involving cars hitting children on footpaths.
"If there are high fences or trees there is no way a driver can see a child on a bike on a footpath - and a child cannot see the car.