Perception
Written 01 July 2008
�Contrary to popular belief the motor car does not own the road, and the road was not just built for the motor car.
It was with this in mind (or my mind at least) that ten friends and I traipsed to the Hawkes Bay last weekend to galivant around on the On Yer Bike�wine tour. �It was a simple plan - hire bikes (including tandems, there had been talk of a rickshaw but I canned that idea when it was suggested I tow it around all day) and drink wine.
We could not have asked for a better day. According to the locals we awoke to "a typical day in the bay", blue sky as far as the eye could see, no wind and a balmy 14 degrees. �With map and picnic lunch in tow we set off to our first stop at Ngatarawa.
Following our tasting of over 10 wines here we were off to negotiate some tricky off-road riding through the Village Press olive groves and to Hatton Estate. �With another 10 wines
coursing through our blood streams we set out onto some main roads. �It was at this point that biking became a lot more fun and potentially perilous, especially for me who was on the front of a tandem, which is honestly like steering a bus compared to the Fondriest (which is like a Ferrari in comparison).
The group of friends I went down with I consider to be a typical representation of the average motor vehicle user. �They mostly drive fast and get annoyed when anything slows them down, including cyclists (despite a close friend of theirs being one!). �Common things I hear include "cyclists ride all over the road, often three abreast and you can't get past", or "they don't obey the road rules and they take up space, can't they ride on the footpath" etc. �So as we all began to negotiate these open road, 100km/h stretches I was fascinated by their altered perception of the motor vehicle. �It was almost comforting to see that they too found it a little scary. Suddenly they noticed that "hey that car didn't even slow down, it almost blew me off the road" or "why do they drive so close, it's almost like they are trying to scare you". An altered perception indeed, even with 25 plus wine tastings on board.
Due to our no fault ACC legislation drivers in New Zealand are particularly careless when it comes to cyclists. �If they hit one there is no risk of being sued for inordinate amounts like in the States. �In other countries including Japan if you hit a cyclist it is always the motorists responsibility, this is what is known as a strict liability approach which some people have campaigned for in New Zealand.
What often strikes me as curious is that notwithstanding "naughty cyclists" who do ride three abreast and all over the road most cyclists are just trying to get from A to B, be it as a commuter or training for a big race. �I have often wondered what the man in the giant gas guzzling SUV who honks his horn and pulls the fingers would do if he knew he had done that to Sarah Ulmer on a training ride for the Olympics, I'm sure his perception of her as a cyclist would change if he knew that she was an Olympian, or of a father riding his bike home to his 3 kids to save money.
Perception is a curious thing, and I challenge any motorist to ride a bike around for a day and see how their perception changes.
As for my friends and I we made it to four vineyards on our bikes and purchased copious amounts of wine. I would recommend On yer Bike to anyone as an excellent day out, for cyclists or non cyclists, especially those who think the motor vehicle owns the road!
