That was the verdict from cyclists yesterday on new rumble strips being installed along fog-lines at the edge of Otago, Southland and Canterbury roads.
President of the Central Otago Wakatipu Cycle Club Ed Taylor told the Otago Daily Times he was concerned the lack of sealed road on the outside of the rumble strips left cyclists no option but to ride on the inside, further out into the traffic lane.
"When motorists are passing, we try to go as far left as possible, but when we are flying along at 30kmh, hitting those rumble strips will be a dangerous manoeuvre.
"I think cyclists are going to stay further out in the road."
The new strips are part of the Government's $22.5million "safety boost" programme along 30 regional state highways.
Rumble strips are said to reduce all crashes by around 25% and fatal run-off-road crashes by up to 42%.
An inspection by the ODT yesterday found the strip of seal outside the new rumble strips near Wanaka to be between 60cm and 45cm wide.
A summary of NZ Transport Agency guidelines for rumble strips published on a Raglan website last year, said there should be 1m between the edge of seal and the rumble strip.
"If this shoulder width cannot be provided, then no rumble strip will be installed.
"This is for the benefit of cyclists."
The agency did not respond to ODT inquiries yesterday.
Mr Taylor said if there was 1m outside the rumble line he would be "more than happy" to ride there.
"But there isn't.
"It just narrows right down so you've got to cross back over the rumble strip.
"Doing that at speed is going to be tough."
Mr Taylor said he did not doubt rumble strips were "a fantastic safety feature" for keeping motorists in their lanes.
"I'm just not sure how they work for cyclists."
He expected rumble strips would be discussed at a club meeting next week.
In the South, rumble strips are being installed on State Highways 86, Allanton to Momona; 87, Mosgiel to Kyeburn; 8, Cromwell to Milton; 6, Haast Pass to Cromwell; 83, Pukeuri (SH1) to Omarama; 8, Lake Ruataniwha to Cromwell; 90, Raes Junction to McNab; 6, Frankton to Five Rivers; 94, Mossburn to Milford Sound; 97, Five Rivers to Mossburn; 94, Oreti River bridge (SH6) to Mossburn; 99, Lorneville to Riverton; 94, Gore to Lumsden; 6/94, to Winton; 96, Mataura to Ohai; and 99, Riverton to Clifden.
