I don't know how many times I have had to practically stop my car while travelling round a bend, waiting for the 2 and 3 abreast cyclists to casually cycle round the bend, and then realise that they are holding up the open road traffic. There should be a law passed that cylists have to ride in single file when ahead of cars not only on the open road, but in the cities and towns also. They are arrogant pleasure riders who are all over the road, and can't blame the cars for just wanting their own car lanes back. Cyclists need to stick to the cycle lanes and stop arrogantly hogging the car's space on the road. They are putting motorists lives at risk by encouraging motorists to have to overtake them into the opposing lane.

To all the people who think cyclist should ride single file please check all related car/cyclist accidents and deaths. The last 2 German cyclist were riding by themselves and Dr Robinson was riding single file. Motorist are in to much of a hurry or on the mob. Think about life even some one elses life. A motorist/cycleist/motorcyclist/human being.

Sara B two key things first the law is not "as wider berth as possible when passing them" the law is not to pass unless you can unless you can give give them 1.5m clearance i.e., approximately half a lane. The reason that people ride in the middle of the road is to prevent drivers from pushing them off the road. I had a car pass on a blind corner then when the car saw another car coming they pushed me onto the shoulder. Bike and a gravel shoulder at 40km is not a good match. This is why most ride down dyers pass in the middle of the road.

While not condoning the actions of last weeks driver's road rage, it is neither surprising nor unexpected. As a resident of Diamond Harbour at nearly every social gathering,at some point in the conversation the problems with cyclists on Dyers Pass Rd surfaces. I, together with most other residents have to share the road with cyclists. Usually it is a satisfactory symbiosis, but occasionally there are cyclists -and for cyclists I expect, drivers - who act arrogantly or irresponsibly. The situation seems to be getting worse rather than better and despite discussions with council staff and councillors expressing concern at the deteriorating situation, nothing seems to change. In the incident that made the headline news, as usual the truth appears to have been forgotten by the media who never let the truth get in the way of a good story. The car following on the road saw the whole thing, and I understand has given their unbiased view to the police. The driver of the car did not appear to cut Unthank off. However he obviously perceived it differently and rode his bike erratically weaving behind the supposed enemy car till the roundabout. Once he knocked on the window and the window was wound down, he set about verbally abusing the female driver. I understand the Wild has rung to apologise and has sent an email suggesting they met to discuss how the incident can be handled in order to make something positive come from the situation. As far as I know the email has not been answered, which makes me wonder if Unthank wants to resolve, or wants to inflame the present unsatisfactory relationship between cyclists and drivers on the road.

Can someone please tell me why some cyclists wont use the cycle lane 2 meters to their left?

And why some cyclists feel the need to cycle side by side on busy roads such as Ferry Road so they can chat away - endangering themselves and causing hazard for drivers?

I have been a push biker myself and am struggling to understand how people get to the point of confidence on the road where they think if I get hit, its your fault because you're in the motor car. Take some responsibility for your own safety and well being. Dyers Pass Rd is dangerous at the best of times, if you want a nice safe bike ride, get a wind tunnel!

I don't have a problem with all cyclists, good for them if they want to cycle away, but do so safely... and legally. And great point about the ACC Levys... guess we are taking care of that in our rego fees huh.

A suggestion could be that when going up and down either of Dyers or Hackthorne Road that there is road rule/law passed that does not allow speeds of greater than say 30-40km when going downhill and no riding two abreast.

@Simon #56 et al: And where the hell do you think they should be, exactly? On the footpath?

@The Trickster #47: Just to be picky - re your comment about tax. Not all of it goes into the Consolidated Fund. Call it a tax or a levy, but the ACC levy component on petrol goes to ACC.

Hmmm ... I wonder how many chainsaw accidents are funded from the petrol levy.

@Edwardo #50: As with Simon - what do you expect them to do then? Simply ban bikes altogether from the Port Hills?

The conclusion from this discussion is that there are some bad drivers, some bad cyclists, and a lot of opinionated people who seemingly can't form a logical argument to save themselves.

well i seem to have stirred a hornets nest so here goes: 1: i own a mountain bike and i do cycle 2: yes i have seen 4 abreast on the port hills 3: yes that particular road is damn awful and not wide enough 4: nz drivers especially christchurch are damned awful 5: the only think worse than arrogant cyclists are horse riders!!

Dyers pass road is terrible, I was driving down (almost at the round about at the bottom, where the queued traffic sign is) and I was doing the speed limit and I came up to a cyclist who was cycling down in the MIDDLE of the road!!! I was appalled there was no way that I could pass, if I had tried I would have been in a crash as I would have had to have gone into the lane going the opposite way to me, the guy didnt even look behind himself to see that he was holding up traffic, its pure ignorance! Now in saying that I do think cyclists and motorists should share the road ("share" being the operative word) the cyclists need to realize that they too need to be considerate of motorists, ie. only cycling 2 a breast while passing and sticking to the cycle lanes, and if you cant keep damn well as close to them as you can, they also need realize they have the same road rules as motorists. And motorists also need to be considerate towards cyclists, ie. giving them as wider berth as possible when passing them, not driving in the designated cycle lanes unless you are turning a corner and need to pass over the cycle lane

Whenever this debate comes up alot of "car drivers" bring up the point that "cyclists" do not pay registration, ACC etc.

This is true, however: Firstly, most cyclists also own a car. And secondly, cyclists don't damage the road like motor vehicles do. Hence, negating the need to have to contribue to the cost of maintaining the roads.

I own a bike & a car. I've never had any close calls on my bike. This is because I ride in SINGLE FILE and KEEP AS FAR LEFT AS POSSIBLE. The moron cyclists who ride 2-3 abreast (SOMETIMES MORE!!), or the ones who think they can cycle in the middle of the road are going to get hit sooner or later. And they deserve it.

The best way to avoid problems is for the following 2 things to happen: 1) Cyclists keep as far left as possible, and ride in single file 2) Motorists gain half a clue & put yourself in the cyclists shoes. Give them a bit of space. If there is a parked car coming up, then that should register in your brain that perhaps a cyclist may have to pull out to get around it. So give them a bit more room.