Free hi-vis gear

Be Safe Be Seen pit stops, where free hi-vis gear will be handed out to cyclists, walkers and runners, will be popping up across Hastings and Napier for a week from June 13.

While many cyclists are well aware of the need to “lighten up”, with properly fitted lights and high-visibility vests or other reflective gear, a good number are not and run the risk of being in or causing a car crash.

“Some cyclists, walkers and runners don’t realise that if they don’t have lights or reflective gear they’re practically invisible in the early evenings and mornings, especially during winter,” says keen cyclist and Hastings deputy mayor Cynthia Bowers.

Since 2013 Hastings District Council has run the winter cycling safety campaign as part of its iWay programme. Last year Napier City Council teamed up with Hastings to get the message out across both areas. This year the two councils are including walkers and runners in their campaign, to highlight that they also need to be seen to be safe.

This year the campaign will run from June 13 to June 17. Over five evenings and on one early morning from June 13 to 17 teams will be out in Napier and Hastings cities at different locations. Cyclists without lights will be offered front and back lights for their bikes and walkers and runners not wearing any reflective gear will be offered high visibility vests and/or snap bands for their wrists or ankles.

The campaign is supported by Sport Hawke’s Bay, Understanding Strengthening Overcoming (USO),Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, New Zealand Police, with all the organisations planning on having staff at the pit stops to help hand out the Be Safe Be Seen high visibility gear.

“We are focussed on making sure our people are safe, and being hard to see on the roads in the half-light can be very risky. You might feel as if you can be seen by drivers but chances are you can’t; and it is too late once the worst has happened,” said Mrs Bowers.

“What we want is for people to take this gear that we are going to give them and wear it every time they are out and there is a risk they can’t be seen.”

Pit stops:

Monday 13 June 5pm – 6pm

Napier - Taradade Road by Dance Express

Hastings York Road (before the roundabout)

Tuesday 14 June 5pm – 6pm

Napier – cnr of Riverbend & Latham St

Hastings – cnr Havelock Road & St Georges Rd

Wednesday 15 June

6am – 7am

Napier – cnr Riverbend Rd & Kennedy Rd

Hastings – Whakatu Pathway

5pm – 6pm

Napier - Kennedy Rd by Anderson Park

Hastings – Heretaunga St at Rush Monro’s

Thursday 16 June 5pm – 6pm

Napier – Tarade Rd by Streetwise Coffee Cart

Hastings – Omahu Road

Friday 17 June 5pm – 6pm

Napier – Kennedy Rd by Nelson Park School

Hastings – Clive/Whatatu Pathway

ENDS

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