Cyclists do not legally have to make hand signals (check the road code) and there is a good reason for that, when turning a corner it is better to have both hands on the bars. I always try to signal but I am not going to round a corner using one hand - I don't like the taste of gravel. Car users and cyclists are just one person making a journey on the road. For some reason many car drivers seem to think that they have more right to use the road, they don't. Riding a bike needs more concentration so it is harder to do idiot things at the same time as riding although the number of biking-texters seems to have remained constant despite the driver-phoners taking a big dive (thanks for that MOT - the world is a safer place) but they still think it is OK to do the old things. I just wish drivers would not drive in the bike lanes, there is plenty of room in your own lane.

if the cycleway was 2-lane on the estuary side, instead of one way on the hill side, the cars wouldn't cross it and so these frequent accidents/near misses could be avoided. if the cycleway carried on into the city down the middle of the grassed/treed bit of linwood ave, and then along the quiet side of the avon, it could be a safe and pleasant commute for cyclists, and a tourist attraction/family outing on the weekends.

To Andrew #4 and martyn #115 #3. All I can say is two wrongs don't make a right.

The trouble is not whether cyclists are vigilant or not. The trouble is motorists anyway fail to notice cyclists. The reason being years of motoring means, the image of a cycle and cyclist has got totally erased from their grey matter. This is not a guess. A UK research has found that motorists don't look out for objects like cycles. Their mind is tuned to looking out for objects that look like a car or bus or truck.

We do need a European style laws that assume it is always motorists who is at fault. This should be followed up with road hierarchy system - Top on the hierarchy being pedestrian, then cyclists and lastly motorists. Finally, reduce urban speed limits.

Stephen Joyce and Rodney Hide will have a fit.

I'm both a cyclist and a driver and as such have been on both sides of the 'allowing someone to turn' gap. I tend to find that even though I look before I turn when offered a gap in traffic as a driver it is actually not always possible to see an oncoming cyclist. For my perspective this is mostly due to my being in an 'ordinary' sedan with the high vehicles that are now so common in traffic (e.g. vans, peeopl-movers but especially the SUV-styled vehicles). There are definitely drivers out there who don't even notice other cars, let alone cyclists in these situations.

Nowdays as a cyclist I make certain that drivers have seen me before I transit a gap in traffic. I've been hit before and I know that someone can stare straight at you and still not 'see you'. To be fair, many modern cyclists aren't helping keep themselves safe - they are often 'head-down, b*m-up', moving at fairly high speeds (often a lot faster than the car traffic these days!)but following only the road rules that suit them. This is a recipe for disaster in Christchurch where driving skills and driver courtesy are so poor.

Jackie, #9, you are doing what is called, 'obeying the road rules'. Well done. A cyclist should not have to stop when they have the right of way, because a motorist has decided to be polite and let a car in. If it is safe to do so then by all means, fill your boots, but check whats behind, if a cyclist is coming up in a perfectly legal position, then don't allow that car to turn. Turning motorist, treat that turn as if there is a cyclist coming. Be cautious.

I just got my bike back yesterday after being repaired from my accident 3 weeks ago and biked today and to be honest, courtesy is great from drivers who want to allow people to turn but you do have to check (twice this morning for that exact scenario). Plus a lot of the time they are almost causing rear end type accidents because the cars behind them aren't expecting them to stop,because these drivers are in relatively normal flowing traffic and not the built up slow stuff. So it is all a flow on type situation.

I'm a cyclist and pedestrian, and don't own a car. However, I know that people are not going to give up their cars because there are too many reasons not to, from the bad weather to the lack of time and not wanting to arrive at work sweaty. It is a whole different mindset one has to take on to be a cyclist, and modern life with its fast pace and the importance of how one looks does rule. C'est la vie.

Having witnessed a similar accident I would say that a cyclist should be aware that the cars are stopped to let traffic through and afford drivers the same courtesy, mindful of the fact that the right turning driver will not see them travelling at speed behind the stationery line of vehicles. Cyclists are very vulnerable and we should all take care of them, but they should also take care of themselves. I find it quite terrifying turning left across a cycle lane as it is difficult to judge speed in side mirror. I just stop all the traffic until they are past me.

At Andrew #4 - stupid people do not discriminate when it comes to mode of transport. Yes many cyclists don't do themselves any favours. But go back to the start of this week to see the footage pulled off the rubbish trucks of some moronic drivers. Your mind shouldn't be too staggered. It is a stupidity issue, not a mode of transport issue.

The main problem is car drivers do not care and they get off with no or little punishment for hitting cyclists. if they were fined heavely and most of the fine went to the cyclist for medical bills etc (as ACC avoids paying most of that now) things would change. also police need to take reports seriously, instead if you report something they go "an ambulance was not needed so it is not too bad so we will not take a report (or lay charges if they do).

to those 228 cars with single occupants in them as described by julia. you contributed to these crash's and need to take a hard look at yourselves. take a bus or get on a bike people. why do you all need to clog the roads up like that and put cyclists lives in danger?