The battle between motorists and cyclists never ends. Motorists think cyclists are pests and shouldn’t be allowed to ride on the roads because they block the way and are accidents waiting to happen. The cyclists on the other hand believe motorists need to be careful when passing because roads are for everyone to use, including cyclists, motorists, and those who ride motorbikes.

Who is right? Businessman and anti-cyclist, David Ware, in his monthly newsletter TeamTalks declared “an open season” on cyclists calling them “road kill”. Despite Ware purchasing a bike to get fitter in 2013, he claims all cyclists don’t pay ACC or road user charges so they are only guests on the roads. According to the Cyclist Advocates Network, urban roads are partly paid for by ratepayers through Local Authority rates allocated to roading, and partly by car owners through petrol taxes. However, most adult cyclists are also car owners and so pay for their own road use, either as a rate payer or as a motorist.

Ware also claims that in the country, two to three cyclists ride side-by-side in illegal races. Ware is right in that only a maximum of two cyclists can ride next to each other, as long as they keep as far left as possible. This rule is of course flagged in an organised race.

Common misconceptions on this rule often cause arguments – and road rage – between motorists and cyclists. With the sport of road cycling continuing to boom throughout New Zealand, perhaps all road users should be educated on cycling road rules to avoid the Wares of the world targeting their rage at cyclists.

The rules are easy and common sense. All the road rules that apply to motor vehicles, such as giving way at give ways, stopping at red lights, and stopping for pedestrians, apply to all other forms of transport.

The Ministry of Transport is considering making high-visibility vests compulsory for cyclists to avoid accidents, which is taking things too far. Cyclists already need to have reflectors and lights on their bikes – with close to two million New Zealanders cycling, only seven died in 2012 compared to 37 pedestrians.

Cycling is only a dangerous sport if people make it dangerous; therefore, all parties need to be responsible when on the road because we would like to see those fatality numbers reduced to zero and the battle between cyclists and motorists come to an end.