Be Bright and Be Seen

Dunedin, 24 July 2013 – A campaign to encourage cyclists to don high-visibility clothing and to use bike lights is underway in the city.

Some of Dunedin Police's road policing staff will be on their bikes at dawn and dusk over the next two weeks in North Dunedin's student quarter to highlight the need for cyclists to `be bright’.

Dunedin City Council Safe and Sustainable Travel Co-ordinator Charlotte Flaherty says the ‘Be Bright’ education campaign is a joint project between the DCC and the police. The campaign is being run now to reach students at the start of the University of Otago’s second semester.

DCC staff will help police officers survey students to find out how many know the road code as it relates to cycling.

Police staff will be monitoring cyclists particularly in the University and Otago Polytechnic campuses. They will stop cyclists who are not easily visible to remind them of the need to be seen on the roads, for their own safety.

Mrs Flaherty says the New Zealand Transport Agency has provided resources such as backpack covers, bike lights and reflective spoke covers, which will be given out to some cyclists to help them stay safe.

The specific aims of the campaign are to:

• Reduce the number of cyclists injured between the hours of 6am - 10am and 4pm - 8pm in high-risk areas, such as at busy intersections;
• Reduce the number of cyclists receiving infringement notices for not using lights;
• Increase awareness of the importance of using lights and high-visibility and brightly-coloured clothing;
• Increase the number of cyclists using lights and visible or reflective clothing during times of low light.

ENDS

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