A lot of cyclists will be safer on the road at dusk, after 279 sets of bike lights were given out during this year’s Be Safe Be Seen month.

The Napier and Hastings iWay cycle teams, Police and Road Safe HB, with help from volunteers from Sport Hawkes Bay, USO Riders, Napier Community Patrol and Iron Maori, manned spots around the two cities over four weeks to talk to cyclists and walkers about safety, and give out lights to those without them.

The teams also had reflective bag covers, reflective spoke and wrist bands and vests to give out.

As part of the same initiative, iWay representatives visited large business sites around the region, including Pan Pac, Napier Port, ABB, Mr Apple and Heinz Wattie’s, to talk to their staff about cycle safety.

At the hour-long street-side safety promotions, the iWay teams spoke to cyclists and walkers about keeping safe on the roads, especially given the early dusk in winter. In total 339 people stopped to talk to the iWay teams, with 239 lights and 285 sets of reflective gear handed out. Police gave out 40 sets of lights during the four weeks.

Hastings District councillor and keen cyclist Simon Nixon said lights were “absolutely necessary from about 4.30pm and before 7.30am at this time of year.”

“The iWay programme is helping educate cyclists, runners and walkers on the need to be visible all the time but especially at this time of the year. I'm out on my bike most days and it's pleasing to see the increasing number of cyclists with reflective gear and lights.”

Napier City Councillor and chairman of the iWay Project Delivery Group (Napier) Graeme Taylor was also pleased with the success of the promotion.\
“We should all take heed of other road and pathway users, but with Hawke’s Bay’s growing cycling culture, I’m pleased to see that cyclists of all ages, and employers, are also recognising the benefits of reflective gear.”

iWay is a regional initiative run by Hastings District and Napier City councils, and Sport Hawke’s Bay. For more information see: www.iway.org.nz

ENDS

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