the LAW (NZ)

[Vivid Images]

******** NEW ZEALAND LAW ON UNICYCLES ********

Before starting Unicycling New Zealandbac in March 1993, I approached Transit NZ
to find out the real truth about unicycling in this country... Several letters
between myself and the Minister of Transport brought us both to the following
conclusion...

A bicycle, by NZ law, must have AT LEAST TWO wheels. ...well, that rules out a
standard unicycle instantly!

So was it a toy? In the book of NZ road religion, a toy may have a wheel
diametre no larger than 355mm (14inches) INCLUDING any tyre. ...rules out the
standard uni again!

therefore we came to the conclusion that in NZ, the unicycle, fell in to the
catagory of a "vehicle" by default. this means it is quite legal to ride the
unicycle on the roads, as you would any vehicle in this country, accomodating
the laws of hand signals at all times, and lights at night, etc. No helmet is
required (as compulsory with a bicycle in this country), no brakes or
steering etc.

I guess we are lucky as I believe unicycling is not cool with authorities in
some states in America... wot a bummer!

******** EOF

Regards

Ross Mackintosh romack@midland.co.nz Vivid Images Ltd Editor 'UniNews' Hamilton,
New Zealand Founding President 'Unicycling New Zealand'

***********************************
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Gauging the speed of another
boat: to gauge the speed of another boat that is
moving in the same direction as yours, choose a point
on the horizon that is behind the other boat and
check how the boat's bow moves relative to this
point. If the bow appears to move ahead of this
point, the other boat is moving faster than yours; if
it's bow appears to move backward, your boat is going
faster; if there is no relative movement and your
boats are on intersecting courses, you're in for a
colision! (Evan Gambling)
***********************************

[Vivid Images]

cdh@wg.icl.co.uk (Chris Hughes) wrote:

>Is it not a requirement in NZ law that a 'vehicle', to go on the road, have two
>independent braking systems? I believe there is such a requirement in the UK;
>and that it rules out unis on the road since they have only one braking system
>(ie, back pedal pressure). Chris

Good point...this was brought up in a meeting with the minister at one stage but
he felt it would come under much the same catagory as a Cart...as in horse
drawn! I didn't argue of course!

Regards

______ E-Mail: romack@midland.co.nz
/ GRID\ Unicycle Hotline: 025 761 141
| U _____) Phone 07 839 9005, Fax 07 839 9006 N | OO| Editor of 'UniNews' I
| \/xxxx\ Founder of 'Unicycling New Zealand'
\___\XXXX/ )__( ************************************************* (( )) * * (
\ / ) * Making a footpath...If, when removing soil * \ ( L___ * to make a
path of stepping stones, you are * \ \______(###) * vexed by buried rocks,
move your path a few *
| | * feet; somebody else had the same idea *
( / * fifty or a hundred years before you!! *
\ \| * (James McConkey, writer) *
\ \ * *
|) )) *************************************************
/ / /\
/ /==/_ \
(( L____) ))
\ /
\_____/

[Bryce Grevemeyer]

cdh@wg.icl.co.uk (Chris Hughes) wrote:

>Is it not a requirement in NZ law that a 'vehicle', to go on the road, have two
>independent braking systems? I believe there is such a requirement in the UK;
>and that it rules out unis on the road since they have only one braking system
>(ie, back pedal pressure). Chris
>

It seems clear to me that you do have two completely independent breaking
systems. You have two independent feet, pushing on two independent pedals. What
more do you want.

Bryce

--
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| Bryce Grevemeyer | Phone: (313) 845-5589 | Ford ETC C370 | FAX: (313) 845 3799
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[Ken Fuchs]

cdh@wg.icl.co.uk (Chris Hughes) wrote:

>Is it not a requirement in NZ law that a 'vehicle', to go on the road, have two
>independent braking systems? I believe there is such a requirement in the UK;
>and that it rules out unis on the road since they have only one braking system
>(ie, back pedal pressure).

Couldn't dismounting and putting some good old fashioned shoe leather to work be
considered a second braking system. This means of braking is used quite often in
crowded gyms full of unicyclists here in the US.

Stay on Top,

Ken Fuchs <kfuchs@winternet.com

[Mark Tillotson]

Bryce Grevemeyer <bgreveme@etcv01.eld.ford.com> wrote:
> It seems clear to me that you do have two completely independent breaking
> systems. You have two independent feet, pushing on two independent pedals.
> What more do you want.
>
> Bryce

I would have thought that Uni's have the ultimate fail-safe braking
mechanism---in the event of the `driver' becoming unconscious for any reason,
the vehicle automatically jettisons said driver, and comes to a halt on it's
side, all in the space of a few feet.

__Mark

[ markt@harlequin.co.uk | http://www.harlequin.co.uk/ | +44 1223 873829 ]