Bespoke cycling class instructive

When Elizabeth Pascoe moved from her Pohangina Valley sheep and beef farm to Palmerston North, she feared cycling in town.

The 65-year-old retiree was worried about traffic, intersections and motorists failing to acknowledge cyclists on the road.

"In the Pohangina Valley, I only ever cycled on country roads," she said.

Her husband and family encouraged her to bike, so Mrs Pascoe decided to take a course.

She was one of five people to participate in a Cycle Aware Manawatu defensive cycling class on Saturday.

The monthly classes in Palmerston North ran from February and are likely to start again in spring.

Cyclists gathered at Central Normal School, where they honed their cycling skills on netball courts in the morning, before practising under guidance on the streets.

Mrs Pascoe sometimes rode a bike at the Esplanade or cycled to tennis courts, but "never really cycled into town" because she lacked confidence.

At the class on Saturday, she said she learned to avoid cycling too near the kerb and the importance of looking behind.

Massey University philosophy lecturer Polly Yeung said she was assertive behind the wheel of a car, but she wasn't so confident on her tricycle because she felt exposed.

Dr Yeung expected that after the class she would better appreciate the feelings of cyclists when she was driving.

Palmerston North accounts administrator Andrea Drysdale, who sometimes cycles to work, said she learned "that I have a right as a cyclist to be on the road, too". She attended the class to build her confidence.

Cycle Aware Manawatu chairwoman Julie Dalziel said the organisation wanted to see more people cycling more often.

A barrier was that people felt cycling was unsafe or they lacked confidence.

Instructors received training through the national Cycling Advocates Network and a condensed version of a British course had been brought to Manawatu. A grant from Palmerston North City Environmental Trust helped keep the fee to $20.

Mrs Dalziel said cyclists often rode too close to parked cars because they were worried about getting hit from behind.

The greater risk was that someone could open a car door, she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News