Progress on kids riding on footpaths

A Lower Hutt mother is one step closer to achieving her goal of allowing children to cycle on the footpath, thanks to a New Zealand Transport Agency report.

Parliament is currently considering a petition from Jo Clendon to allow children and accompanying adults, to cycle on footpaths as a safer option than riding on the road.

Now a report by NZTA has supported a move towards young children using the footpath as a cycleway.

The agency’s research, carried out by Abley Transportation Consultants and Mackie Research, concluded: ‘‘On balance, a rule permitting footpath cycling for those aged 12 and under (and accompanying adults) has merit.’’

The report said it was safer for children to ride on the footpath as their cognitive processing didn’t mature until about age 12.

‘‘It would also allow safe footpath cycling to be proactively taught to younger cyclists, with clear expectations of pedestrian priority reinforced and, from a safety perspective, it would likely benefit both child cyclists and pedestrians.’’

Many young cyclists did not realise footpath cycling was illegal, and often cycled on the footpath. But due to the current law, cycle skills trainers could not openly reinforce safe footpath cycling.

While the report recommended children 12 and under, and any accompanying guardian, be able to ride on the footpath, the law should not be changed to include all adults.

‘‘By not allowing adults to legally ride on the footpath, a continued focus on fit-for-purpose, onroad cycling infrastructure is more likely ...’’ the researchers said.

‘‘It would also potentially encourage the design of safer footpath/driveway interfaces, which would benefit joggers, mobility scooters, mobility trikes and children on push scooters.’’

At the moment, even experienced adult cyclists often had to revert to cycling on the footpath for a portion of their trip due to the unsuitability of some New Zealand roads.

While cycling campaigners supported the move, Grey Power, Living Streets Aotearoa and Blind Citizens NZ opposed the proposed law change at a select committee hearing last year, citing pedestrian safety concerns.

PHOTO: FAIRFAX NZ Lower Hutt’s Jo Clendon – with her children Kiri, 6, and Max, 9 – has petitioned Parliament for a law change that would allow children under 12, and their supervising parents, to cycle on footpaths.