I cycled around Wellington to and from work for several years (still cycle to work now and then), and never had any trouble of all - I think the secret (and it's not really that much of a secret) is to ride like everyone on the road is trying to kill you. I used to bike very defensivley, made sure I had eye contact with drivers at intersections, and if someone was going to cut me off, I'd usually let them. I found the drivers were usually pretty courteous. I drive the same way - crashes are expensive! I biked by myself, so didn't have to contend with 2 abreast, and if I was passing another cyclist, I'd check behind me and make sure that there weren't cars coming. The onus is really on the cyclist for their own safety, because we're always going to be the losers in a car vs bike. Motorists should definitely be more carful and polite, but at the end of it they're not the one's who will get messed up if someone makes a mistake.

"Drivers feel justified in behaving in an appalling manner to cyclists, because they know they’re not alone in their rage."

I agree Anne. This is a drivers issue that needs to be looked at in that light. Perhaps it is time to change driving laws, not cycling ones.

Yep the arrogance of those types of cyclists is what has caused the bad blood between drivers and all cyclists. I frequently find myself frustrated by those sorts, and funnily enough it’s the casual cyclists who are the most considerate to drivers usually.

One thing I would like them to do is make a decision as to whether they want to be treated as pedestrians or road users. Running red lights, taking me out at a pedestrian crossing when other cars had stopped and then blaming me for getting in the way... but then expecting me to make allowances for them as if they are a vehicle at intersections etc... grrrr hahaha

".....I don’t think Wellington’s bays road is suitable for two-abreast bunch riding. Seriously, if the road is narrow, why would you not ride in single file?...."

No offence but .... if the road is narrow, why would you risk cycling on it full stop?

Solution - find somewhere else, safer, to cycle.

As a runner, I wouldn't run along the side of a busy highway with no footpath.

It's commonsense to reduce your own risk rather than rely on others not to do something that endangers you.

A useful phrase to remember "half the people you meet are below average intelligence".

Doesn't matter how many wheels (if any) they're on at the time.

They will have poor judgement.

@ running man #4

Have you BEEN to Wellington???? Your choice is "narrow" or "speed limit 100 km/h"

@ Kate #6

Which would beg the question - if that's the case is cycling the wisest choice for a leisure activity in Wellington?

If the only water close to you was shark infested waters, would you still go swimming? Would you expect the sharks to give you a wide berth?

Simple difference- motorists are human and should know not to kill other humans. Sharks are not human and there is no reason to think that they shouldn't kill humans.

Narrow roads are only hazardous if motorists are unwilling to respect cyclists' rights to use them. I have spent plenty of time running, driving (well, being driven) and walking on Wellington's narrow roads and if people respect each other, everyone's happy. However, if bunches ride in big groups and unnecessarily impede traffic, things get tricky. Likewise, if a sole cyclist is riding on the left of the road, and a motorist can't wait ten seconds to pass safely, yes- it's hazardous. But is that hazard "inherent"???? NO!

running man - not all cyclists are recreational. many are commuters.

Anne, by blogging like this are you simply not just feeding the monster as it were? It seems you try to be "objective" yet never fail to get a final dig at drivers in each of your blogs.

pp - consider yourself part of the problem - if you can't see a problem with some cyclists behaviour then I would personally be very carefully considering my own.

@Karl - if by "casual cyclists" you mean the non-lycra clad, not living out strange fantasies about going to the olympics type, trying to just get to work variety then I agree 100%! It's the Lance Armstrong try-hard brigade that are the real hazard. As I've said 100 times before, the road isn't a racetrack, no matter what vehicle you are in control of.