Cycling: Ban could affect two sports here

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Two popular New Zealand sports would be in jeopardy if local authorities and police followed the New South Wales government's decision to ban cycle races on all but closed roads.

Road cycling and triathlon would be hit hard by such a ban.

All events, from club races on local roads, national championships and international tours have been banned in New South Wales following legal advice that bicycles should be classified as vehicles and subject to the same rules as any other vehicle on a public road.

They would be subject to speed restrictions, not allowed to ride more than three abreast and would have to obey traffic signs.

Police fear they could be liable under the Safety and Traffic management Act in the case of accidents.

Cycling New Zealand's sport development officer, Geoff Campbell, said there were strict procedures in place for races here.

"Anyone staging a race must have a traffic-management plan which is drawn up in conjunction with the local authority or police," he said. "The feeling is they have gone over the top in New South Wales.

"In races here we have ... police at the front and back of the peleton which stops traffic overtaking in any but a safe situation.

"You will always have people who are impatient, but generally the sport is well controlled."

The sport has come a long way from the early days when races started and finished with little concern for the cyclists or public safety. "There are still some maverick promoters," Campbell said. "But generally the police and authorities are happy."

Fearing the harm this latest move will have to their sports, Cycling NSW and Triathlon NSW have already made representations to the Minister of Police in the hope of getting the ruling reversed.

Some of Australia's top cyclists fear a ban would wipe out their sport, which has produced many Olympic and international champions, including Stuart O'Grady, Bradley McGee, Robbie McEwen, Michael Rogers and Matthew White, who will ride in next week's Tour de France.