New Zealand cyclist given points on driving licence for riding through stop sign
Despite not having a licence, the cyclist received 20 demerit points
A cyclist in New Zealand was given points on a driving licence that he doesn't even have because he cycled through a stop sign.
Paul Taylor was riding in Rolleston - just over 20 kilometres from Christchurch - when he failed to come to a halt at a stop sign because he claims a truck was going through the junction behind him so he knew he could pass without any other traffic coming from the right.
>>> New Zealand hotel bans lycra shorts to avoid ‘unsightly bumps and bulges’
But his actions were caught on camera by a police man who pulled him over and asked for his driving licence.
Mr Taylor doesn't have a licence but was still given 20 demerit points; drivers who receive 100 points in two years are suspended from driving for three months.
"I said I don't have one. That's why I ride a bike. He took 20 demerit points off. But I haven't got a licence," Mr Taylor told Stuff.
Mr Taylor was also fined $150. He says he has been cycling for 46 years and this was the first time he had been stopped by police.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I've never ever heard of anyone getting a ticket on a bike before," he added. "My bike's probably worth $20."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and long reads across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013. In 2024 he released a seven-part podcast documentary, Ghost in the Machine, about motor doping in cycling.
Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains. He lives in Valencia, Spain.
-
One domestic road race can produce equivalent emissions to flying from London to New York and back, twice: the why and how of more sustainable events
Sustainability specialist and road race organiser Travis Bramley set out to discover if his love for cycling could align with his commitment to the environment. Here’s what he found
By Travis Bramley Published
-
Is Mathieu van der Poel winning races “in zone 2” helping or hindering cyclo-cross?
The Dutch world champion has turned up off-road now, and immediately won twice. Is this fun?
By Adam Becket Published