Heavy vehicles have several blind spots that prevent drivers from seeing people on bikes, but few people have any idea of what a driver can and can’t see from the seat of their truck or bus.
That’s why Travel Safe and Share the Road are encouraging Tauranga cyclists to drop in for 15-20 minutes and experience the road from a truck driver’s perspective at the upcoming Blindzone demonstration.
The free event on Sunday 23 July, 10am – 2pm, at Tauranga Hockey Club carpark, Kawaka Street, Mount Maunganui will allow attendees to see this view first-hand, explains Share the Road Campaign Manager Richard Barter.
"This is a unique opportunity to sit in the driver's seat of a big truck to learn just where you can and can't be seen on a bike.
“We mark out the blind zones with cones and tape and position vehicles and bicycles in the blind zone areas then ask participants to find them when they are in the driver’s seat. In the past we’ve even put fire engines in a blind zone and participants were quite shocked to realise a vehicle as big as a fire engine can be invisible to a driver!”
Riders are also encouraged to be in control of their bike and situation, ride to be seen, and to choose safe routes.
Like anyone on the road, cyclists need to be continually paying attention to their surroundings and be ready for the unexpected. Mistakes do happen but having awareness of other road users’ experiences helps people on bikes to make safer decisions. This doesn’t take any responsibility away from other road users, but empowers the cyclist to set themselves up to get home safely.
Travel Safe Team Leader Sonia Lynds wants bike riders of all abilities to check out the event, noting it’s often the more confident and faster cyclists that are more reluctant to use the separated cycle paths.
“We’d love to see some regular commuters, local cycling groups, road cycling clubs, and triathlon clubs join us at the Blindzone demonstration to learn more about sharing the road with heavy vehicles.
“Cycling is a fun, convenient, and healthy way to get around and is a great choice for the environment. We want to make sure bike riders have the right information so they can ride safely whether as a form of transport or recreationally.
“Cyclists have the legal right to use most roads; however, in some areas of our city, for your own safety we highly encourage using the dedicated cycle infrastructure wherever possible especially around the port and industrial area where we have a high volume of heavy vehicles turning in and out of side streets and businesses,” says Sonia.
Director of Transport Brendan Bisley says Council will continue building a safer network for walking and cycling, improving infrastructure to make travelling around safer and more reliable.
“Tauranga has grown fast and there is more traffic on the road than ever before. Initiatives like the Blindzone demonstrations as well as ongoing infrastructure improvements will help to protect our most vulnerable road users.
“The Totara Street cycleway was completed last year, we have a new cycle path near Mount College, the Cameron Road cycleway is currently under construction, as are new shared offroad paths on Marine Parade, and Papamoa Beach Road.”
While the Blindzone opportunity is for cyclists, this conversation is also a reminder for drivers to think about how they approach cyclists. Hang back and give them space and allow the cyclist to take the centre of the road when they need to for safety reasons, like moving through an intersection or passing parked cars. Only pass a cyclist if it is safe to do so, leave a good buffer between your vehicle and the cyclist, and don’t cross the centre line into oncoming traffic. Waiting for 10 seconds rather than getting impatient can make all the difference.
As well as working with cyclists, Share the Road continue to engage with local and national heavy vehicle carriers, offering courses to get them to experience what it’s like to be a cyclist on the road.
For more visit https://sharetheroad.org.nz/driver-workshops.
Travel Safe is an integrated approach to sustainable road safety outcomes that covers Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty. The team continues to deliver safe cycling programmes in schools, and Travel Safe’s experienced Adult Cycling Educator is available to assist and encourage individuals, groups, businesses, and organisations to get the most out of cycling. For more information contact buddy.meyer@tauranga.govt.nz.
Blindzone Demonstration
Price: Free - and all attendees can enter the draw to win a $250 grocery voucher
When: Sunday 23 July, 10am – 2pm
Where: Tauranga Hockey Club carpark, Kawaka Street, Mount Maunganui