Riders rally for change

TUI ALLEN leads the call for changed attitudes to cyclists and the Ride4Change field away from Te Awamutu Rose Garden. 313061AD

By Colin Thorsen

Atlantic Crossing super star Rob Hamill and Green Party’s Nandor Tanczos were notable participants in Sunday’s Ride4Change.

Over 100 riders, sporting black arm bands, made the trek from Te Awamutu Rose Garden to Resthills Park in Hamilton in an attempt to clear negative misconceptions motorists have about cyclists.

Ride4Change facilitator Tui Allen said it was an excellent turnout considering 2000 riders were unable to attend because they had already entered the Round the Lake ride in Rotorua. There were all sorts of riders - from some hotshot young racers from Te Awamutu Sports Cycling Club to recreational and commuter riders.

Mr Hamill, who with the late Phil Stubbs rewrote the record books for rowing across the Atlantic in Kiwi Challenge, said he thought the Ride4change was a great idea.

“It’s a sign of respect for those dearly departed.”

He completed the ride with his two-year-old son Declan on board his bike.

Riders turned out on racing bikes, mountainbikes, tandems and commuter bikes. It made for a great spectacle on the main highway with the large, highly visible traffic control vehicles, whose services had been donated by Transfield Services, and the mass of brilliantly dressed cyclists riding between them.

Ms Allen said cyclist behaviour was excellent, all obeying the safety instructions given to them by Cara Lauder of Transfield Services. Leading cyclists waited patiently for the slower ones to catch up just before the final downhill into Hamilton.

Many complained they did not have enough hands to raise for the show of hands of who had encountered negative attitudes from motorists on our roads.

“However, we had no problems with motorists on the ride itself, since we were well protected by our support vehicles,” said Ms Allen.

It was duly noted that neither the Prime Minister Helen Clark or MP Winston Peters turned up for the ride, but Nandor Tanczos completed the entire distance on his trusty 10 speed.

Speaking to the crowd at Resthills Park, Mr Tanczos assured those in attendance of the Green Party’s commitment to cycling as an alternative to cars.

Those who might have been puzzled by his lack of a helmet might like to know that the MP has a special exemption on helmet use since it is physically impossible for him to wear one with his masses of hair.

"It was really great being out with a bunch of dedicated cyclists. It is nice to be able to move through the countryside at a pace that allows you to take it all in. Cycling really is the way to travel. The irony is that the main reason for the Ride4Change was a relatively relaxed experience was that we had the traffic-control trucks keeping the cars at bay, so we could pull alongside each other and chat without fear of being buzzed. A willingness by all motorists to fairly share the road with cyclists, as the Ride4Change called for, would mean more people would feel safe enough to choose cycling for their commuting and everyday transport. And in environmental and health budget terms, the whole of society benefits every time someone opts to ride their bike, rather than drive their car.”

Many of the people who turned up had encountered horrific traffic danger or been involved in terrible crashes. One woman had been involved in a tanker jack-knifing and narrowly missed death. Another rider had required a year to recover from horrific injuries received when he collided with a car which had failed to give way to him on a roundabout. The same rider said his wife had given up cycling because motorists’ attitudes had frightened her off completely.

Many of the other riders had similar horror stories to tell of their encounters with dangerous drivers and drivers who held common misconceptions about cyclists.

Tui Allen was told at the outset (three weeks ago) that it is impossible to organise an event like Ride4Change at such short notice but it has happened - hopefully not only for the well being of cyclists but for motorists too.

“I cannot speak too highly of the co-operation and assistance I received from officials at many levels. They just rolled up their sleeves in spite of the huge challenge I confronted them with so unexpectedly and suddenly.”

Ms Allen believes it is because they know that cycling is important to people in the Waikato.

“The Waikato region has the potential to become a true paradise for cyclists in the future.”

Ride4Change organiser Tui Allen presented Green Party MP Nandor Tanczos with a token of appreciation for his participation in Sunday’s ride. The gift was one of the rare remaining copies of a now out-of-print children’s book Ms Allen wrote in the eighties all about what can be achieved with determination fuelled by the naturally renewable energy source of the wind. It is called ‘Captain Clancy the Flying Clothesline’.

Ms Allen said the MP has children the right age to enjoy it - “He will approve of the subject matter.”

The author has seen it for sale on the internet for US$120 so it is a valuable little rare book now. The website link to the book is: www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/allentui.html