Share the road project examples

Information on successful national and international projects.

Don’t burst their bubble

Waimakariri

Intent

To help vulnerable road users such as cyclists, walkers, joggers and school children by making motorists more aware of the space they need to provide them.

Audience

Cyclists and pedestrians

Approach

This programme promoted the concept that just as motorists are protected by the ‘bubble’ of their car, motorists should perceive a bubble around other road users that should not be broken. Each advertisement, using local people, was accompanied by a short story about that person and their problems on the road. Six colour advertisements, focusing on a walker, a jogger, a cyclist and a horse rider, were made and placed in the local paper. These were followed up with three billboards at strategic sites.

Evaluation

A survey of 25 people undertaken a month after the last advertisement found that 15 recalled the advertisements without prompting, two recalled them with prompting, eight had no recall of the advertisements and 23 agreed that the message was clear. All reported that they slowed down near other road users. By the end of 2004, seven South Island and two North Island councils had taken up or planned to adapt the bubble concept for use locally.

Reference

Chris Neason, Bubbles protecting vulnerable road users. New Zealand Road Safety Programme 2002/2003. Waimakariri District Council, 2003.

Contact details

Chris Neason
Road Safety Coordinator
Waimakariri District Council
Private Bag 1005, Rangiora

Margaret Parfitt
Transport and Road Safety Coordinator
Nelson City Council, P O Box 645, Nelson

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Last updated: 22 February 2007