As the Commerce Commission ends an investigation involving a bicycle importer and distributor, it is warning anyone buying bicycles to check them carefully preferably before buying and certainly before the bicycles are ridden.

Commission Fair Trading Manager Rachel Leamy said that summer, and particularly before Christmas, is a time when many bicycles are bought.

"If the bikes do not comply with the bicycle safety standard the results can be tragic," Ms Leamy said.

When buying bicycles people should check that the handlebars are straight, that the seat is attached firmly and that the brakes work. There should be no sharp edges or projections. Wheel nuts must be securely attached and there must be guides for the chain and gears. Reflectors are also required under the bicycle safety standard.

Kitset bicycles must have a handbook and warning that, in the interests of safety, the bicycles should be assembled by a skilled cycle mechanic.

Ms Leamy said that the investigation just concluded with a settlement involved kitset Repco brand bicycles imported by Roslyn Cycles & Fitness, a division of Pacific Dunlop Holdings (New Zealand) Limited.

The kitset bicycles did not have the required warning that they should be assembled by a skilled cycle mechanic.

"We found no problems with the bicycles themselves, the company fully co-operated with our investigation and responded to our concerns immediately," Ms Leamy said.

Roslyn Cycle and Fitness has given signed undertakings to:

  • ensure that all its kitset bicycles are labelled with the correct warning;
  • inform all retailers to whom it sold Repco bicycles that they must be correctly labelled to comply with the safety standard;
  • provide the correct warning labels to the retailers;
  • follow up and ensure that the retailers have received the warning labels; and
  • ensure that all its staff are aware of the Fair Trading Act and the bicycle safety standard.
Background

The Fair Trading Act gives the Minister of Consumer Affairs power to make product safety standards mandatory. To date there are mandatory product safety standards for:

  • bicycles;
  • toys for children aged up to three years (to prevent choking hazards); and
  • children's night clothes (this is a fire safety standard).

Media contact: Fair Trading Manager Rachel Leamy

Phone work (04) 498 0908

Commission media releases can be viewed on its web site www.comcom.govt.nz