Be prepared for winter cycling

ON TWO WHEELS: The holiday programme for Year 6-plus students covered basic bike safety skills. PICTURE / CHERIE PRINCE

With a long, hot summer behind us and an unusually mild autumn we've had it pretty good, but the inclement weather that hit last week reminds us that winter, and all it brings with it, is coming.
This means longer nights, darker mornings, adverse weather conditions and a bright winter sun that sits low on the horizon, causing sun glare to be at its worst as we go about our daily commutes.
"All the more reason for cyclists, young and old, to get prepared and be up to speed with their road safety skills," says Cherie Prince, Sport Whanganui's regional bike development officer.
"Now is the time to be checking our bikes and making sure they're in good condition and functioning as they should be.
"At a basic level this means checking brakes are working properly and that there's sufficient tread on tyres. If we're unsure and would prefer to get a professional to do the job, then there are plenty of local bike shops and businesses offering bike checking and maintenance services.
"An absolute must, at all times, but especially in the winter months, is to ensure we make ourselves as visible as possible to other road users by wearing high visibility clothing and, when appropriate, front and rear bike lights.
"These things may seem obvious, but it's surprising how often we see cyclists out on the roads at dusk, at night, or when visibility is low due to weather, with dark clothing and insufficient lighting. They're a danger to others and to themselves.
"Another key aspect of being prepared and staying safe is to ensure that, when we set out on our bikes - whether we're partaking in recreational or sporting activities, or just heading out to commute - we take along the necessary gear. This should include things like a spare tube, puncture repair kit, mobile phone (in case of an emergency), spare clothing and water.
"And another is, of course, to ensure we always follow the road rules and practise alertness and common sense - through being courteous to other road users, always indicating our intentions and looking carefully before we change direction, turn or cross intersections. In general, we need to be cycling defensively and, at all times, expecting the unexpected.
"As adults we need to lead by example for our younger cyclists, not only in the way we behave when out on our own bikes, but also by providing young people with the necessary supervision, guidance and education.
"Police recommend that children under 10 years should be accompanied by an adult when out cycling. And things like scooters should actually only be ridden in public at walking pace. This may seem unrealistic, since part of the joy of riding a scooter is the speed, but it's important when we consider that unsupervised children are sometimes not making the decision to 'stop, look and listen' before they cross driveways or change direction.
"We need to recognise that children don't always see and hear things in the way adults do. They can easily be distracted, they are smaller and harder to see, they can't always judge safe distances, and they can forget about road rules and safety when something unexpected happens."
New Zealand Police provide a handy publication, Helping Hands: helping to keep children safe on the roads - a guide for parents and caregivers. This includes The Road Safe Activity Book, which features fun activities designed to help educate young people about how to stay safe on roads. This resource can be viewed at: www.police.govt.nz.
Police also deliver bike safety programmes in our schools and there are often other initiatives happening within our community that cover bike safety advice, such as the bike holiday programme that Cherie, Wanganui Mountain Bike Club and Wanganui Cycling Club teamed up to run for Year Six-plus children during the last school holidays.
Other available resources advising on road rules and cyclist safety and responsibility include: the New Zealand Transport Agency's (NZTA) The Official New Zealand Code for Cyclists (www.nzta.govt.nz); the Bike Wise website (www.bikewise.co.nz).
To discuss or find out more about biking in our region, contact Cherie on (06) 349 2882 or email: cherie@sportwhanganui.co.nz.