Cycleways needed to protect riders - expert  By Matthew
Backhouse  File photo / NZPA File photo / NZPA  A cycling expert
is calling on the Government to provide dedicated cycleways with
curbing channels to protect cyclists from traffic.  Professor
Simon Kingham from Canterbury University said there was a
perception cycling was unsafe compared with other forms of
transport, but the overall risk was actually lower when the
health benefits of exercise were taken into account.  "The main
barrier to people cycling is that they don't feel safe - it's
absolutely clear and we've done some research in Christchurch on
that about three years ago."  Dr Kingham said more people would
cycle to and from work if it was seen to be safer.  "It's
people's perceptions of what is safe, and what people have made
very clear is they want to be separated from traffic. They don't
want to be cycling on a road with nothing but a painted white
line between them and a car.  "They want some sort of physical
barrier whether it be a curb, a