Fight to ride on footpaths

A 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 Wellington woman Jo Clendon to allow children and accompanying adults to cycle on footpaths as a safer option than riding on the road.

Now a report from NZTA has supported a move towards young children using the footpath as a cycleway. The NZTAcommissioned 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 12.

‘‘It would also allow safe footpath cycling to be proactively taught to younger cyclists, with clear expectations of pedestrian priority reinforced.’’

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 their accompanying adult 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.

While cycling campaigners supported the move, Grey Power, Living Streets Aotearoa and Blind Citizens NZ stated their opposition to the proposed law change during a Select Committee hearing last year, citing pedestrian safety concerns.