A disgruntled cyclist wants Whangārei District Council to better identify hazards after crashing into an unmarked chain across his Pohe Island route.
Michael Jones was injured after riding into a 'camouflaged" security chain across a track. Photo: LDR / Susan Botting
The council has taken action to increase safety of the chain, and says it is on a rally road with no signage encouraging it to be used as a cycleway.
Michael Jones suffered a bruised eye, grazes to his face and hands, and a sprained wrist after crashing into the security chain across the track he was riding along and falling off his electric bike.
"The unmarked grey (security) chain's impossible to see against the grey gravel," Jones said soon after the accident.
"One minute I was riding along, the next I was flat on my back," the Whangārei Girls' High School maths teacher said.
"It's very unfortunate. Whangārei District Council as the organisation responsible for the area should ensure there's signage (or equivalent) if it seems to be a public area and it's closed off."
"The council is irresponsible. It's a public hazard because it's very hard to see," Jones said.
Photo: LDR / Susan Botting
He notifed the council of his lunchtime accident on 14 January. The council apologised the next day, saying it would attach a reflective tag to the chain.
"I am very sorry about your accident while you were out enjoying a bike ride," Sue Hodge, WDC manager parks and recreation said in the council's letter.
Initial follow-up WDC hazard identification work was done on Tuesday five days after the accident, and after enquiries by the Northern Advocate newspaper. The chain and surrounds were marked with bright pink spray paint ahead of a reflective sleeve being put onto the chain.
Jones said the amount of time taken to do this hazard identification work was "a little bit overdue". He had expected this work to be done within 24 hours of the accident.
The track after the council carried out remediation work. Photo: LDR / Susan Botting
Jones had hired an electric bike for his journey, and was nearing the end of his 20km trip from the city centre out to Onerahi and back when he rode into the chain.
"I must have hit the chain across the track and bounced off it."
Four people came to his rescue, a retired couple taking him to his doctor who in turn sent him for a wrist X-ray.
Jones' glasses were scratched and bent out of shape and a lens on the cellphone in his pocket broken. He said the council had refused to pay for the costs he had incurred from the accident which amounted to about $700.
The council said ACC and Jones' insurance were the organisations that covered such accident costs.
Hodge said WDC provided outdoor assets and facilities for people to enjoy and made every effort to manage potential hazards to prevent harm.
"We reasonably expect users to take all practical care to be aware of their surroundings and avoid being hurt or causing injury," Hodge said.
Jones said he was looking where he was going but didn't see the chain, due to it effectively being camouflaged through being the same colour as the ground underneath it.
Hodge said the track wasn't marked for cycling. The security chain was in place to stop the general public's cars using the rally road.
"There is no signage encouraging this to be used as a cycleway. The Hatea Loop is the wide concrete shared path that is suitable for pedestrians and cyclists and has signage supporting this use," Hodge said.
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