Police shine safe light on 'ghost riders'

Many cyclists are unaware they can become extremely hard to see late in the day and police aim to fix that.

Free headlights will be distributed to cyclists next week in a bid to eradicate "ghost riders" from Hawke's Bay roads.

The initiative involves stopping and educating commuter cyclists travelling home from work during dusk or darkness hours, who have insufficient lights on their bikes.

The Hastings District Council has acquired 200 quality cycle lights which it will hand out where necessary.

The event kicks off on Monday at 5pm on Havelock Rd, on the western side of Off The Track.

Police Sergeant Krissy Eckhold, of the Hastings Police, said the inaugural initiative last year proved that inadequate lighting on bikes was an issue that needed to be addressed.

"We want this to be about education and prevention," she said.

It would be refreshing that instead of handing out fines, police would be handing out free lights, she said.

The lights would be distributed on a first seen, first served basis.

"A lot of cyclists don't realise just how non-visible they are," she said.

The police would target arterial routes in the Bay.

"We are wanting to target commuters coming to and from work," she said.

"We just want people to be safer on the road."

The operation will run for five days next week, supported by Police, Sport Hawke's Bay, Napier and Hastings Councils, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and USO, which is a Pacific Island men's cycling club.