Back to Blog

Ironman Triathlete Commits to Fundraise for Improved Road Safety APP

The New Zealand Vulnerable Road User Charitable Trust is developing a dedicated app that will allow pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians to report non-crash incidents of violence, harassment, and dangerous close calls. By tracking this data, we can advocate for better infrastructure, targeted motorist education, and stricter enforcement of laws protecting vulnerable people.I am asking for your support to bring this app to life.This is my story and why I am motivated to be a part of p...

Improved Road Safety Requires Responsive Gatekeepers

Raising a concern around any road safety issue should be viewed positively.Raising an issue about a Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) site after you’ve just peddled through for dear life, should be taken seriously by people in positions of authority.The NZVRU Trust asked Traffic Safe New Zealand for advice around how to raise a safety concern if you witness or experience unsafe practices at a Temporary Traffic Management (TTM) site.Here is an outline of options available to you.Rais...

Road Safety Week - Vulnerable Road Users gain support from NZ Police

...

Man oh Man – Let's Put the Brakes On All This Trauma

You don’t need to be a statistician or a data analyst to see what gender and age groups are paying the heaviest price whilst walking, cycling or riding on New Zealand roads.The New Zealand Vulnerable Road User Charitable Trust’s motivation in sharing two decades of Health New Zealand (HNZ) mortality data is so we, all road users and advocates in Road Safety, are aware of all the available data.  There are two sets of data that exist – Crash Analysis Data (CAS) that only captures incid...

More Vulnerable Road Users are being killed on New Zealand roads than we realise.

It’s a sad fact and the truth sits in mortality data held by Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora (HNZ). Every six-months it releases data.  Whilst released data for pedestrians and cyclist fatalities is only available to the year 2020, and 2021 for equestrian fatalities, understanding the past can help to inform the present. To beginRecorded data meets international statistical classifications.  HNZ data is validated through multiple sources including police investigations...

Push for improved road safety measures after the death of Nathan the horse.

“A lot of people aren’t surprised this incident has happened.  It was always a case of when, not if…”...

NZ Trucking Assn supports vulnerable road users

The New Zealand Trucking Association, under the leadership of chief executive David Boyce is renown in the transport sector for its work in this country's road safety landscape.   Its Road Safety Truck is one investment it's made in raising awareness around 11 truck safety messages in an interactive programme aimed at children.  Our young drivers and vulnerable road users to learn about aspects like blind spots, air turbulence and dangerous passing.In 2024 NZ Trucking deliver...

New Zealand Road Safety, Emergency Response and Healthcare Awards - Meaningful Connections Made

I couldn’t help myself.  Imagine walking into a room full of suits and learning there are people present who could really assist in shaping change for vulnerable road users.  I sat and enjoyed the speeches and presentations of the New Zealand Road Safety, Emergency Response and Healthcare Awards, but it was the opportunity to network, that saw me dive past the food table and introduce the Trust and myself to road safety representatives and decision makers.I was on a mission.  Th...

“It’s a no brainer to have passing distances enshrined in laws”

Reaction to a mandatory minimum passing distance from within the cycling community is now turning to the detail – how drivers will be educated, but more importantly how a mandatory passing gap will be enforced.For years vulnerable road users have campaigned for a passing distance that has teeth – why? Because the stories are the same amongst cyclists and horse riders.  Close passing is endangering the lives of people on foot, two wheels and horse-back, and it's reflected in injury and&n...

The blind and visually impaired community shouldn’t bear the burden of on-road problems

Bicycles on the footpath.  It’s a conversation that’s taken place in community before and the landscape has somewhat changed since the 2017 round of consultation.  Now with the popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters there is even more concern within the visionally impaired community as to the direction the Minister of Transport and roading authorities will take in June 2026.Currently pedestrians, mobility devices and wheeled recreational devices like skateboards, push scooters and e-...

NZVRU Trust feedback on proposed Rule Changes

Consultation on Lane Use Improvements on behalf of the New Zealand Vulnerable Road User Charitable Trust.The NZVRU Trust is a permanent road safety platform for Aotearoa New Zealand’s most vulnerable road users – walkers, cyclists and horse riders - advocating, educating and promoting the Pass Wide and Slow road safety message and need to Be Seen on the road.The Trust appreciates the opportunity to give feedback on three of the five proposals and would like to acknowledge the inclusion of ho...

“We support equestrian access” Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa – The Outdoor Access Commission

This is a welcome statement from new chief executive Dan Wildy who is leading the Crown entity responsible for maintaining, promoting and enhancing “public access to the outdoors for all recreationalists”.Last month, as I sat listening to one of the Commission’s researchers share his findings on How council’s plan for access to nature, I was shocked to learn as part of discussion that there had been a review of the Commission carried out in 2018 - a requirement under the 2008 Walking Acc...

‘Common sense’ and lived experience must inform transport rule changes

“Keep death off the road, ride on the footpath”This was a statement made by an elderly man over a decade ago as I rode my bike on the road with my two young children.  It’s a statement I’ve never forgotten because I hadn’t thought of it exactly like that, but in my mind, he had a valid point.  Now I have learned that it is illegal for children (six-years and under) to ride their bike on the footpath in this country. I’m clearly not the only one that isn’t educated, as a s...

Why is an unsafe passing distance for horse riders being promoted by transport authorities?

The answer to this question lies in the MoT Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) on all five proposals released for public consultation this week.  After reading all 30 pages, I came away with an understanding that I must now share with you.To begin, the Pass Wide and Slow road safety message, originating from the UK, was brought to New Zealand as a result of New Zealand Police endorsing the simple but effective driver behaviour message in 2024.   Since then, NZ Police have supported...

The Multi-Millon Yellow Truck Helping to Determine Road Spend

The colour is eye-catching.  The huge sign ‘SKID TESTING PASS WITH CARE' is attention grabbing.  And both parked like Airport Firetrucks in my small rural community.  I decided to introduce myself and find out what they are used for. I think you will also appreciate what I learned.These trucks are three-million dollars EACH and the only TWO in the World. They visit Aotearoa New Zealand’s shores every year via ship for a specific job.  They come from the UK and are us...

Kia Ora Members of Parliament

The Vulnerable Road User Submission was submitted to New Zealand Parliament’s Select Committee - Transport and Infrastructure in November 2024. As the author, Julia McLean was invited to speak to the Submission and provide further evidence.Thanks to the support of New Zealand Thoroughbred Welfare and Harness Racing New Zealand, Julia and her daughter Delia flew to Wellington to present in person.  This work is voluntary, so the McLean family appreciate support where possible. First s...

UK Equestrian's Push for Improved Safety Benefits All Riders

An important debate just happened in the UK’s Westminster Hall with what I’d say was an impressive turnout of MPs.  Those who contributed to the ‘round the room’ parliamentary debate represented communities across Britain, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  It was a pleasure to listen to the one-hour long sharing exercise. Why?  The sharing of lived road riding experiences by politicians was on point and the range of issues highlighted, conveyed the problem, the soluti...

Be Seen. Be Safe. Why does High-Visibility matter?

By lighting ourselves and our animals up on the road, we believe it gives motorists a greater opportunity to see us, and in turn, make an informed decision around approaching and passing vulnerable road users safely.  Wearing high vis with the Pass Wide and Slow road safety message helps to share this positive “crisp clean message” in the community.   Chair Julia McLean listened to support from politicians for the road safety message whilst delivering to Parliament’s Select ...

An Appeal from a Cycling Horse Riding Enthusiast to Wear Hi-Vis

I would like to appeal to all drivers to pass cyclists WIDE and SLOW, knowing we may swerve at any time to avoid a pothole or other obstacle in the road. But my appeal is also to cyclists to BE SEEN. Can you see the cyclist in this photo? Would you spot them in time while driving 100km/hr?I’ve bike packed extensively throughout the South Island and it’s an all-too-common sight.  Dark clothing. No high vis. ...

"Everything about that day was just luck"

“Everything about that day was just luck. If anyone had been behind the 4WD that hit me, I would have been killed.”...

Bringing horse riders’ voices to government

Fellow equestrian and advocate Brenda Reading likes to be informed and in turn, keep her local Member of Parliament informed. When she met to discuss the importance of Vulnerable Road User status for equestrians in Transport Legislation, the response from her representative wasn’t entirely positive and forthcoming.  However what happened next is to be applauded. Waitaki MP Miles Anderson wrote in his official capacity to the transport authority – Waka Kotahi - and asked for a respo...

Life on Hokianga roads

I live in Horeke, Hokianga – a place of raw beauty where the only streetlights are the stars and the sun. Out here, the roads curve through hills and valleys, cloaked in darkness at night and often thick with morning mist. It’s just us, the land, and the sky. I’m a Western rider. Traditionally, that meant no helmets, no hi-vis – just you, your horse, and the wide-open feel. But moving to Horeke changed that.The speed of some cars on our narrow, winding roads is unbelievable. You feel it ...

Lost access, lost safety

Once upon a time horses were the main means of transport for early New Zealand and served in wars alongside their military owners. Fast forward and we find horses displaced from historical bridle trails, banned from reserves and beaches, ousted from crown forests onsold to overseas investors and sadly excluded from pathways and trails that enable vulnerable user groups to have a safer off road journey.This is a quick snapshot of examples where horse riders have lost existing access....

A lifetime of road riding risks

My name is Lee and I’m 50 yrs old and have been riding since I was two.My road riding experiences have scarred me for life. “The biggest impact and something I will never forget is a call from my best friend’s mother that my 16-year old friend is dead.” She and her horse had been hit by a car “can you come, can you come”. I drove out and they were loading my friend into the back of the ambulance. Her horse was lying on the road in pain. I went and borrowed a gun from someone I knew ...

A close call on New Zealand roads

Have you ever had a car pass you so close that you could have moved your foot 2cm and made contact with it? So fast that it would have just about taken your foot off? While that isn't the only near miss I've had while out riding my horse, it was most certainly the scariest one....