Its speed limit was 100km/h and it did not have an adequate shoulder for road cyclists on skinny tyres to pull safely away from cars passing too close at speed. She called on motorists to take cyclists' needs into account and ensure they left a gap of at least 1.5m between their vehicle and cyclists when passing.
Only one road in the area, Waipapa Rd, had painted cycle lanes, which were installed on both sides when the road was widened. They were brilliant, Mrs Silich said, but they only extended for around 3km or 4km and many more roads in the area, including Kapiro Rd, needed to be widened and have cycle lanes added.
She had run a Share the Road campaign for the club, which rewarded identifiable commercial drivers who acted safely and courteously towards cyclists. She said the campaign had led to improvements in driver behaviour, including milk tanker drivers.
"Fonterra was brilliant.''
But the campaign had spent all the money available and new funding sources had not been found, Mrs Silich said.
