"Absolutely bonkers" Canterbury bus bike racks banned due to safety concerns

A national ban on using front-mounted bike racks on public transport buses will be enforced across Canterbury starting 8.45pm on Friday.

The ban is due to safety concerns flagged by the NZ Transport Agency. The restriction will remain in place until further notice.

The decision comes after NZTA identified that bike racks on certain bus models can partially obscure headlights, potentially posing a safety risk.

In response, NZTA issued a safety alert to public transport operators across the country, advising them to assess and address any headlight obstructions caused by bike racks.

Following this evaluation, bus operators nationwide have collectively decided to implement a full restriction on bike racks until the issue can be resolved.

The restriction applies to Metro bus services provided by operators contracted by Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury), expanding on the initial night-time restriction that began on 2 November.

Environment Canterbury Public Transport operations manager Derek Walsh said “We are very disappointed with the situation and understand the impact on our community, but we recognise the importance of compliance for safety.”

Environment Canterbury is exploring alternative options for Lyttelton passengers who need to transport bikes through the tunnel.

Staff from Environment Canterbury are working closely with NZTA and bus operators to establish criteria for testing bike racks and assess possible solutions. However, Walsh said, “The timeframe for setting criteria and testing remains uncertain.”

On a public Facebook post, Environment Canterbury Councillor Deon Swiggs said ” This is stupid BS. I’m deeply frustrated at today’s announcement regarding the complete ban on bus bike racks across New Zealand from 8:45pm tomorrow

“These bike racks have been a reliable feature of our public transport infrastructure for decades, successfully serving our community’s cyclists. We’ve even had prams on the front of our busses in the decades before. While I understand NZTA’s need to address safety concerns due to lights at night, the sudden implementation of a complete ban by the the Bus and Coach Association’s due to their view that the safety concern applies at all times of the day, and not just at night seems disproportionate to the situation.

I’m particularly concerned about the impact on our residents who rely on this combined transport option for work, study, and daily activities. This decision directly contradicts our regional goals for sustainable transport and accessibility. Absolutely bonkers.”