6th April 2011

Transport minister Steven Joyce says direction-indicator lights on bicycles would improve road safety and bicycle users can install direction indicator lights from this month.

Effective 1 April, a change to the land transport regulations will finally allow bicyclists to use indicator lights. Until local company Cleverlight Ltd drew it to the attention of the transport minister, the Land Transport Vehicle Lighting rules did not allow bicycles to have indicator lights.

Nick Houldsworth of Cleverlight Ltd said, “It was great that the minister listened to common sense and ensured officials changed regulations that date back to the 1950s. It now means cyclists have another way of keeping themselves safe on our roads.”

Until now, a white headlight and a red rear-facing light have been the only lights cyclists were allowed to show. Indicator and brake lights were specifically not permitted on bicycles, under the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting 2004.

The New Zealand Transport Authority has said the changes accommodated advances in technology and brought New Zealand in line with international practice.

Bicygnals Indicator Bike Lights are an affordable, ultra-bright front and rear LED bicycle lights set with integrated front and rear indicating lights which communicate wirelessly at the push of a button at the handlebars.

Bicygnals indicator bike lights allow the cyclist to signal turns to oncoming and rear traffic, as well as other cyclists, well in advance of a turn, without either riding dangerously with one arm in busy traffic, or fear of an arm signal being missed in the dark.

The Bicygnal indicators are available from www.bicygnals.co.nz

ENDS

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