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A cyclist who crashed after avoiding a seemingly badly parked car in Dunedin has drawn attention to loose gravel appearing to add to his difficulties.
St Kilda resident Mark Saunders said cycle paths were an asset for the city, but they could be dangerous if grit was not cleared often enough.
Mr Saunders said he came off his bike near Watercooled Sports in central Dunedin on Thursday last week, at the start of a cycle path, after he attempted a left turn made much more challenging by a vehicle intruding on the Kitchener St cycle lane.
The car was stationary and diagonal in an area marked with yellow lines and the driver was still inside, he said.
"If the car had not been parked across the cycleway, I would have had a straight approach and the accident would not have occurred."
Mr Saunders said loose gravel made it harder for him to maintain control.
"Due to the fact there was so much grit spread across the pathway, combined with the fact it was wet, the bike slid out from underneath me," he said.
Mr Saunders said he was subsequently well looked after by staff at the Musselburgh Medical Centre, who dressed the wound on his left leg.
Dunedin City Council transport group manager Jeanine Benson said the council was sorry to hear about an incident resulting from "what sounds like some pretty inconsiderate parking".
"We operate a regular schedule of cycleway maintenance, including sweeping and removing debris, but debris can accumulate sporadically at different locations, at times," she said.
"We also respond to public requests for additional work, as required."
Mr Saunders, an accounts manager who has been working from home, said his injury would keep him away from lunchtime swims for the next week or two.