An Open Letter to Aucklands Pedestrians

To Whom It May Concern,

You will have no doubt noticed that petrol prices have risen again. A lot. I commend you on your choice to walk to your destinations. You are the smart ones. A number of you are even walking to and from public transport, this is also rather wise. Exercise and saving money, while being kind to the environment. Everyone wins. Yes, a clever bunch indeed.

Perhaps it is because of this wisdom that I see in you all that I am so disappointed. You see, our fair city of Auckland, when they aren't busy having logo's designed left right and center, deem it fit to place cycle lanes around the city. More smart moves. Now we cyclists may traverse our isthmus
in relatively safety away from the suicidal conditions on the roads. A good number of the inner city cycle lanes are shared pedestrian lanes, marked with little cycle images on the ground, and in some cases even signposts to suggest that both cyclists and pedestrians be aware and exercise caution.

This would seem to be a brilliant idea. Extra wide pavements separated by painted or tiled lines, marked for your ease and convenience. Alas no. You pedestrians seem to forget that there will be bicycles sharing this space with you. You step out, oblivious to us until we swing past you and give you a fright. Honestly we don't mean to do this, but when you have no idea that we're here and you move into our path without warning we do what we must to avoid hitting you. We're not speeding down these shared pavements. Just sedately and cautiously making our way to our destinations.

To be honest, I'm terrified I will crash into you one day.

You'll be strolling along, txting your friend, oblivious to the world around you. Without looking you suddenly turn right. I'll have seen you from 50 meters back. I've watched the direction you're taking and choose my path to avoid you. I keep my eye on you but as you turn its too late. I clamp down on the brakes but you're just too close. No Warning. BAM.

I weigh 88kg, and my bike weighs a further 7. I'm traveling at a leisurely 20kmph. Heres a little bit of physics.

F = m Dv/Dt

Thats: Force = mass x velocity / time of deceleration.

95x20/5 (seconds, the time it takes between when we connect and when we stop) x0.475 = 800

Yep. 800kg of me and my bike crashing into you.

You don't want that and I don't want that. Please, pretty please, if you're walking in a cycle lane (which I have no problem with) BE AWARE.