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> We were pretty much shocked because we naively thought that in such a beautiful and clean country everybody is running / biking all the time. Surprisingly, N

by lj3 10y ago

> We were pretty much shocked because we naively thought that in such a beautiful and clean country everybody is running / biking all the time. Surprisingly, NZ is not a good place for cycling. A guy and his wife[0] did a world cycling tour a while back and Wellington is the only place where he had serious issues with the locals[1]. [0]: http://www.pathlesspedaled.com/ http://www.pathlesspedaled.com/ [1]: https://www.seattlebikeblog.com/2012/01/12/russ-from-path-less-pedaled-punched-in-new-zealand-road-rage-attack/ https://www.seattlebikeblog.com/2012/01/12/russ-from-path-le...

joshontheweb 10y ago
I would actually be quite scared to bicycle in NZ. Especially in the rural areas. The roads are often narrow and winding without shoulders to speak of.
- xxgreg 10y ago
  There's a steadily increasing network of multi-day off-road cycle trails being built. http://www.nzcycletrail.com/map/ http://www.nzcycletrail.com/map/ (click on Map View).
  - joshontheweb 10y ago
    I didn't know that. I'll have to check it out when I'm there next.
craigds 10y ago
Auckland at least is making steady progress, depending on where your commute is. I cycle an hour each way to work, and there's only about 500m total where I have to join the car lanes. Rest of the way it's bus and cycle lanes.
megablast 10y ago
Sure, but it is not like you couldn't get punched by some angry motorist in any country in the world. Except maybe Japan.
- lj3 10y ago
  I've biked in several major American cities and nowhere have I ever heard of a cyclist getting tackled and punched by a motorist. I've gotten yelled at and had stuff thrown at me by angry motorists, but nothing like what Russ saw in NZ. At the time it happened, Russ blogged about it a bit and he also had never seen anything like it in all of his cycling miles in the states.
geofftnz 10y ago
I live in Wellington and bike to work every morning (8km). Sure Wellington is not well set up for cycling - the streets are narrow, bike lanes are few (although my route is OK). However if you're not an arsehole on the road and keep an eye out for hazards, it's not too bad. NZ drivers in general have a very low opinion/respect/tolerance for cyclists, although Wellington drivers seem to be a lot more polite than elsewhere.

by lj3 10y ago

joshontheweb 10y ago

I would actually be quite scared to bicycle in NZ. Especially in the rural areas. The roads are often narrow and winding without shoulders to speak of.

xxgreg 10y ago
There's a steadily increasing network of multi-day off-road cycle trails being built. http://www.nzcycletrail.com/map/ http://www.nzcycletrail.com/map/ (click on Map View).
- joshontheweb 10y ago
  I didn't know that. I'll have to check it out when I'm there next.

craigds 10y ago

Auckland at least is making steady progress, depending on where your commute is. I cycle an hour each way to work, and there's only about 500m total where I have to join the car lanes. Rest of the way it's bus and cycle lanes.

megablast 10y ago

Sure, but it is not like you couldn't get punched by some angry motorist in any country in the world. Except maybe Japan.

lj3 10y ago
I've biked in several major American cities and nowhere have I ever heard of a cyclist getting tackled and punched by a motorist. I've gotten yelled at and had stuff thrown at me by angry motorists, but nothing like what Russ saw in NZ. At the time it happened, Russ blogged about it a bit and he also had never seen anything like it in all of his cycling miles in the states.

geofftnz 10y ago

I live in Wellington and bike to work every morning (8km). Sure Wellington is not well set up for cycling - the streets are narrow, bike lanes are few (although my route is OK). However if you're not an arsehole on the road and keep an eye out for hazards, it's not too bad. NZ drivers in general have a very low opinion/respect/tolerance for cyclists, although Wellington drivers seem to be a lot more polite than elsewhere.