Canberra, Wednesday 10 April 2002

Light Up at Night Campaign - Olympian to launch protection for cyclists

The NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust in conjunction with Peddle Power and the Ride to Work Program will officially launch the Light Up at Night Campaign at The Australian National University tomorrow.

Stephen Hodge, Canberra's own Olympian (Atlanta 1996) and veteran of six Tours de France, will officially launch the reflective bands along with Dr Colin Adrian of the NRMA - ACT Road Safety Trust. Elite cyclists from the ACT Academy of Sports with head coach Warren McDonald will also be in attendance.

In 2001 the NRMA - Road Safety Trust approved a grant of $8,259 to Pedal Power, the second of such grants, for the purchase and distribution of 3,000 reflective wrist/ankle bands to enhance visibility at night for cyclists.

The reflective bands, which can be seen by motorists from a distance, will be distributed to cyclists via Pedal Power's Ride to Work Program as well as to schools and universities.

The ANU, have a high proportion of cyclists and they will be the first recipients of the new reflective bands.

Visibility is a key safety issue for cyclists and was identified as such in a comprehensive cycling report commissioned by PALM in 2000 as a result of a Trust grant. The report recommended the use of wrist/ankle reflective bands by cyclists to enhance their safety.

That same report indicated that up to 10,000 people regularly ride to work. With daylight saving now finished the need for enhanced visibility by cyclists, particularly those who ride to work, is vital.

The most recent ACT Bicycle Safety Study (1994) indicated that ACT cyclists represented 7% of road traffic accident victims. This figure was slightly higher than the national average of 6%.

When: 12.30pm, Thursday 11 April 2002
Where: ANU Union Court, North Road, ANU Campus.

For more information please contact
Eddie Wheeler, NRMA - Road Safety Trust on (02) 6207 7151 or 0409 918 589
Nichola Cox, ANU Public Affairs on (02) 6125 5001 or 0416 249 108

No 46/2002

© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
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Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002