We share our roads

Arecent Australian Study came up with the remarkable conclusion that cyclists are safer when they ride two and three abreast on urban roads.

Motorists are more likely to spot a three-abreast group of Lycra-clad warriors than single-file.

That makes sense— as long as there is also room for motorists on the left-hand side of the street.

My experience lately has been early-morning bikers riding in packs are forgetting this side of the equation.

It is dark and road conditions are often treacherous, but packs of riders group together up to four abreast, ignoring the traffic building behind them.

It has happened in Remuera and Orakei two or three times in recent weeks. How difficult can it be for them to ride single-file, leaving plenty of room to pass safely without endangering anyone?

The issue with a cyclist was

different in Huntly West early on Wednesday afternoon. A hooded cyclist came out of nowhere, straight on to the road, looked out from his hood and noticed our white Holden Spark bearing down on him. Somehow he managed to spin the old bike around and retreat to the side of the road, but not before giving the driver and passenger a fright.

It could have quickly become an ugly scene because he was not wearing a helmet under his hoodie.

Both experiences, not to mention the widespread motorway disruption during the wet and wild weather this week, suggests there is no shortage of danger on our roads, and even more need for greater concentration and consideration.