As Taupo heads into the busy summer events season, the Bike Taupo Advocacy Group hope that it�s repeat of catchy newspaper ads, rural road signs and stickers on the local buses, all emphasising a recommended 1.5m safe passing distance between motorists and cyclists will lead to an incident free season. 

The campaign is being repeated after such a successful launch last season.  Overall, good support was received from the community, particularly cyclists who noticed an improvement with the behaviour between motorists and cyclists.

A lot of the rural roads provide great training ground for cyclists and minimise the need to use state highways for long periods.  However, they are narrow and Bike Taupo stresses that both cyclists and motorists need to be aware of each other.  Cyclists should endeavour to avoid busy narrow roads; wear high visibility clothing at all times; and be aware of traffic both oncoming and approaching from behind.  It�s suggested that cyclists should merge into single file during both such traffic encounters to making the passing maneuver safer.  Motorists not only have to worry about cycles on country roads but also tractors and farmers on quads.  They are all road users and therefore should only be passed if it is clear and safe to.  Other observations include an increase in rural subdivisions; and of large truck and trailer units using our narrow country roads, particularly Poihipi and Broadlands Roads.  These all amount to bigger congestion on these small roads which in Bike Taupo�s eyes means there is a good reason to drive and cycle with even more awareness of each other.

Bike Taupo says ‘The increase of people on bikes in the Taupo district is fantastic.  There are now people training all year round but from now on you�ll see an even bigger increase’. 

‘We reiterate that all road users need to look out for each other to ensure an incident and accident free summer on our local rural roads’.