26 Nov 2023 - Trsc woodie contest - Graham Roberts commodore - Justin B Race officer -  incident report - Tauranga lakes jetty

This morning a non electric mountain bike cyclist approached us from the bridge doing the approximately 28 kilometers an hours on the gravel path.  The cyclist was coming through at his max speed.  He was a Middle aged Man well set.  The cyclist blew past and did not slow down any form.  We had out our safety signage informing of our sailing event today.   He just missed our elderly sailors by lest than a meter.  If any of our sailors had step backwards the cosaquence could have been catastrophic.  Our sailors yelled at him angrily for him to slow down as he disappeared into the distance. 

All day we had cyclist, kids, dogs and impaired people pass through with no incident.  Most stopped to watch.  We try to share with care.

Approximately 45 minutes later, the same cyclist returned from the bus stop to the Lake jetty. Still doing full speed again,  approximately 28 km .  This time we knew what to expect and I yelled out informing our members the idot on the bike is coming through at full speed again and to be careful.  The cyclist took offense and steered off this route and straight down the jetty at me. Swerving at the last second to just miss me and others by centimeters.

As the cyclist disappeared into the distance, our members yelled at him angrily again, this time he yelled back he was going to inform the Tauranga city council.  We really hope he does so we can have sit down with him over what injuries he could have caused our members, and/or other path users.  And just maybe convince him to share with care in the future and slow down please?  We can only try.

Our Club learnings from this incident is we cannot control the actions of others.  

They will do what they want to do, even if putting others at risk.

So we must try to look after each other the best we can, 

by notifing each other as cyclists like this are approaching 

so everyone can position themselves in the safest possible place out of there way...

Please Share with care everyone!

Thanks Graham