Fines costly for cyclists

More than 6700 tickets have been issued to Canterbury cyclists for not wearing helmets in the past decade.

Nationally, police have issued more than 85,000 tickets to cyclists for not wearing helmets in the past 10 years.

Fourteen cyclists have died on NZ roads and 332 have suffered serious injuries since January last year, NZ Transport Agency figures show.

Two of the dead cyclists were not wearing helmets.

Bicycle helmets were made mandatory in January 1994.

Non-compliance can result in a $55 infringement fee or maximum $1000 fine on summary conviction.

Cycling Advocates Net-work spokesman Patrick Morgan said the organisation wanted the helmet law reviewed.

However, cycle lanes and vehicle speed reduction were more important priorities, he said.

A 2011 Ministry of Transport survey found 93 per cent of cyclists wore helmets.

The ministry advises that helmets reduce the risk of brain injury by up to 88 per cent.