Cycling resources and research

Latest research

Making cycling a safer and more attractive transport choice is a key priority for the Transport Agency and we are committed to improving the safety of people who cycle and to encourage more people to travel by bike.

New research underway to investigate minimum overtaking gaps in NZNZ 

The NZ Transport Agency has recently engaged Opus Research to investigate the feasibility and possible implications of introducing mandatory minimum overtaking gaps for cyclists, together with a behaviour change programme encouraging motorists to give a safe overtaking gap when passing people on bikes.

The trialling of mandatory minimum overtaking distances for motor vehicles overtaking cyclists was a key recommendation of the New Zealand Cycle Safety Panel, established by the NZ Transport Agency to develop practical and innovative recommendations for how central and local government can work together to make cycling a safer transport option.

The Opus research will help to inform decisions on whether to proceed with a trial of mandatory minimum overtaking distances. Along with investigation of what’s happening overseas the research will use state-of-art sensor technology on bikes that measure speed and passing distance. The bikes will also have video cameras.

This investigation will increase our understanding of what safe passing distances are, and how they could be trialled. The research findings are due by 30 September 2016.

New research underway on Give-Way rules

The NZ Transport Agency has recently engaged MWH and Via Strada to investigate options for amendments to several give-way related road user rules.several  give-way related road user rules.

This research is a key action in the Transport Agency’s Cycling Safety Action Plan: Making Cycling Safer And More Attractive . The action plan outlines the work we are doing to deliver on the Cycling Safety Panel recommendations.

Around half of all urban cycling injuries occur at intersections. Providing safe and convenient cycling infrastructure through intersections can be challenging. The Transport Agency has commissioned research into several rules affecting cycling and pedestrian flow through intersections. This complements the Transport Agency’s development of network design guidance.

The research, which will be used to inform policy advice regarding potential rule changes, will investigate the likely impacts of:

• giving pedestrians right-of-way over turning traffic when crossing side roads
• giving cyclists right-of-way over turning traffic where separated cycling facilities cross side roads.
• allowing cyclists to use a left turning lane while riding straight ahead
• allowing cyclists to undertake slow moving traffic
• allowing cyclists to lane split when filtering to the front of a queue of traffic
• allowing cyclists to turn left (and/or ride across the top of a T intersection) despite being faced with a red light

The research report is due in September 2016.

NZTA research reports