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Ensuring safe passage for our Lycra warriors

Steven Marshall

by Steven Marshall

24 Jan 05:45am

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Filed under: Cycling, Driving, Mike Rann, Road Rules, Safety, South Australia

121 comments

Across Australia today a familiar push and shove is taking place as cyclists vie for space with the ever increasing numbers of cars on our roads. It is a pattern that is repeated throughout our towns and cities; a symptom of our car loving culture and sense of road entitlement from drivers and cyclists alike.

On the (safe) road to cycling Mecca

Drivers resent the packs of Lycra warriors when they take up entire lanes and invent their own road rules, and cyclists understandably fear cars which are often wielded like 100 tonnes of road clearing debris.

Neither party is blameless in this dangerous game of chicken, but it is up to state governments to appreciate the differing needs of commuters and adjust their infrastructure accordingly.

My home city of Adelaide last week played host to the Tour Down Under, a cycling Mecca which brought in the likes of Lance Armstrong and thousands of enthusiastic fans.

According to one keen bike rider who I have spoken to, there is no safer time to be riding on Adelaide roads as drivers accept that for two weeks bikes are legitimate modes of transport.

However, even as Mike Rann posed in his Lycra and sent flirty tweets to Lance Armstrong the reality of the situation is that for the rest of the year Adelaide is a dangerous place for South Australian bike riders.

Adelaide, with its wide streets and gentle gradients should be a bike rider’s paradise; but it remains a city fraught with dangers. Speak to any cyclist and they will tell you a horror story of pot holes, aggressive bus drivers, bike lanes that end suddenly (if they exist at all) and a hostile driving culture which means riders are as likely to be met with a bottle to the head as they are to a friendly wave from drivers.

Premier Mike Rann needs to realise that bike riding is a year long event. Cyclists deserve to feel safe every time they take to the road, not just when celebrities are in town.

There is a natural friction which occurs between cyclists and drivers as they fight for space on busy main roads, which is why I propose the establishment of shared commuter zones named bicycle boulevards on smaller roads which run parallel to the main thoroughfares.

These bicycle boulevards would give riders and pedestrians enough space to travel safely while also slowing down and alerting motorists to the increased presence of cyclists. I believe cycle routes situated adjacent to main roads should be considered by state governments across Australia as a cost effective way of both protecting bike commuters and encouraging the uptake of cycling in our communities.

The entrenched grudge between those on two wheels and those on four is unlikely to subside easily, but by creating dedicated bike lanes on non-arterial roads we are relocating large numbers of cyclists off dangerous main roads, thus bypassing many of the problems.

This is a solution that I have looked at in my own seat of Norwood, which despite its wide roads, tree lined streets and close proximity to the city still has only a small amount of everyday commuter cyclists.

Safety fears remain the core reason that people don’t use cycling as their premier mode of transport, and governments need to improve road infrastructure so that more people are comfortable taking to their bikes. It is all well and good to pay lip service to the effects of climate change, but real reductions in traffic can only be achieved if there are viable transport alternatives.

The sad reality of the situation is that cyclists are most at risk when riding to and from work in peak hour.

Tired, stressed drivers and rushed bike riders are not good bed-fellows, and it is along those major city roads that they are most likely to come to grief. It is for this reason that I believe governments have a responsibility to give cyclists other options by providing safe bike routes on non-arterial roads that still allow riders to arrive at work in a timely fashion.

This is an option that I have looked at in my own electorate, with the wide yet quiet Beulah Road providing me with an opportunity to create a safe bike highway which avoids the main traffic pressure points, taking pressure off daily commuters.

However, improved roads and infrastructure is only one part of the solution. In order to cut down on the damaging bitterness between cyclists and drivers governments need to provide education to both parties.

I doubt that any driver could fail to empathise with cyclists on busy roads if they themselves had experienced being approached from behind by screeching tyres and noisy horns with only a foam helmet for protection. It would also be worthwhile if young learner drivers were taught about how to handle cyclists when in their cars, how best to overtake large groups of riders, and about responsible road etiquette.

By the same token, many cyclists also need to be educated on how to ride safely and respectfully; as it is the traffic light jumpers and footpath weavers that tarnish all cyclists’ reputation. You wouldn’t expect a 16 year old to get behind the wheel of a car without the correct training, and I don’t think that is too much to ask for young cyclists to also undergo some form of education in how best to use the road.

Cycling will only continue to grow in popularity as petrol prices increase and environmental concerns begin to change people’s behaviours, and governments need to be prepared to address the issues that this creates. As the Tour Down Under winds up in Adelaide now is a fantastic time to look at the changing needs of commuters in Australia.

The culture of antagonism between drivers and riders needs to change to one of mutual respect and understanding if we are ever to become a truly bike-friendly nation. So, instead of blithely posing with racing celebrities, it is time for our leaders to get on their bikes and give us some real solutions. 

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121 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Rich C. says:

      06:42am | 24/01/11

      I’m interested to know if cyclists should be paying registration fees just like motorists do. That way, there would be more money to spend on repairing pot holes, building cycle lanes and the like, plus cycle rego plates would help discourage cyclists running red lights and ignoring other vital road rules.

      I’m not a regular cyclist but I do agree with the need for road equality between the two sides. It’s just a shame that only one side seems to want to put their money where their mouth is.

      Reply

    • Shifter says:

      03:00pm | 24/01/11

      Rich, most cyclist like me own a car and thus pay rego on a much heavier vehicle which we use half as much as constant drivers. Car registration itself makes up a small proportion of the bill you receive every 6 or 12 months, most of it is 3rd party insurance.

      Rego plates are a different story however. They would need to be designed in such a way that they are very likely to cause injury in the event of a crash, similar to the way that motorbikes have no front plate.

      That said, I’m not sure a rego plate would discourage the idiot cyclists out there. It’d be too small for bystanders to remember, bikes are too small to set off the sensors that red light cams use, and I’m pretty sure the aforementioned idiots wouldn’t bother registering.

      “It’s just a shame that only one side seems to want to put their money where their mouth is.” Any chance you’d want to expand on that statement? It seems a veiled attack with minimal basis.

    • Nafe says:

      03:11pm | 24/01/11

      The problem is that most cyclists would happily pay rego if they were then afforded the same respect as a car. Also with registration going on weight of the vehicle, it would cost more than it was get to administer. Road funding doesn’t come from registration anyway, it comes out of consolidated revenue. Also on registration, would you also be prepared to pay rego for your 6 year old kids bicycle? If not, where do you start?


      Personally i believe a nominal rego should be introduced for anyone over 16, plus they must attend some type of cycling course, this could be run through schools in Year 8 or 9 as part of their Physicle Education class.

    • Mayday says:

      05:00pm | 24/01/11

      Shifter the rego you pay is for the use of the car on the road not the bike.

      Third party insurance and registration for bikes is long overdue, if its compulsory for cars it should be for bikes and I would imagine the majority of bike riders also own cars!

    • Shifter says:

      05:41pm | 24/01/11

      Mayday, Rich C. is inferring rego is used to fund road maintenance (as are many other commenting below). Not the case.

    • mrniceguy351 says:

      02:19am | 25/01/11

      You dickheads are dreaming. There is no way cyclists will have to pay rego or display number plates in this country ever. We would be the laughing stock of the world if we did.

    • spider says:

      10:50am | 25/01/11

      Bikes don’t contribute to the wear & tear of the road anywhere near the degree that cars do.  Bikes don’t produce pollution that I have to breathe in.  Cyclists riding past my house don’t disturb me or drown out conversation & music the way that cars speeding down my street do.  When I cross at the lights with my son, it’s cars running the red that are the danger to us, not cyclists.  When I get a bus and the traffic is banked up, despite all the whinging motorists going on about being held up by cyclists, it’s actually all the big cars encasing a solitary driver that are taking up space.  Cyclists don’t require massive car parks or parking lanes just to have their vehicle sitting there doing nothing. 

      Cars dominate our cities and our lifestyles in ways that bikes couldn’t possibly.  I’m neither a motorist nor a cyclist, just a plain old pedestrian, and I can see plenty of reasons that motorists owe a lot more to the community than cyclists, and if not having to pay rego influences more people to take up cycling, then that’s a boon for us all, even you in your car.

    • Matt says:

      11:00am | 25/01/11

      Seriously a car weighs so much more than a bike and still barely does any damage to a road. How much damage do you think a pushbike would do? What on earth would be charging them for?

      Furthermore, bikes reduce congestion by taking cars off the road. Isn’t that enough public benefit that we don’t need to stick them for registration too? Building bicycle lanes are significantly cheaper alternative than building an extra lane for cars, but the main problem is getting people to use them. You’re proposing we provide a major disincentive by taxing them for getting off our roads?

      I think it’s a terrible proposition to charge registration for bike riders (and PS, I dont ride a push bike).

    • Michael says:

      07:00am | 26/01/11

      @spider. Cyclists wake me up nearly every day as peletons of them yell out to each other whether they are stopping for the red light 20m away or rolling right on through it. Every single day, group after group, same behavior.
      The cost of registration would be quickly recouped by the increase in revenue from red light fines.
      But lets get realistic here. I drive and I have to pass a test proving I know the road rules and pay my fees in order to use the road. Why are cyclists exempt from this? If you are over the age of 16 and riding on a public road then you should be licensed. That way when you run the red light you get the fine and lose the points exactly the same as if you were in a car.
      What about the insurance costs for when a cyclist hits a pedestrian? I’ve seen it happen and they get badly hurt. I have also seen bike couriers do runners from minor accidents like that so they are not held accountable.
      Lets face it, cyclists are giving themselves bad names because at the moment they are anonymous so there are no consequences. If they are held accountable for their actions they might start to give a crap about others.

    • Ironside says:

      06:53am | 24/01/11

      I’m not against bike riding at all, but the sad fact is a lot of bike riders don’t think the road rules apply to them and they are never fined for it. I cant remember the last time I saw a bike rider pulled over for making an illegal turn or running a red light. Additionally to those who say that bike riders have just as much right to be on the road as cars……no they don’t. If you want to drive a car on the road, you have to pass a test to get your L plates, do time and get experience for your P plates and then pass another test for your open licence, all this costs money, not to mention the requirement for compulsory insurance and registration for your vehicle….to pay for any injury you might cause and to pay for the road you are driving on. Compare that to a bike rider…..no licence, no insurance, no registration, no accountability.

      If we are going to start investing is bike specific road infrastructure then bike riders should have to register their rides, lets see how many people are riding their bikes when it costs them $300 a year for the privilege.

      Reply

    • MelD says:

      04:42pm | 24/01/11

      Here here! I can’t count the number of times i have been front line at a red light and a cyclist has pulled up the side right in front of me which delays my start off or they run the red lights without even really looking, probably thinking well if a car hits them it’s the drivers fault

    • 9Lives says:

      10:35am | 25/01/11

      Actually Ironside:
      “In essence, under the Road Traffic Code 2000 (RTC 2000), a bicycle is considered a vehicle and
      has all the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle (with some limitations and qualifications).
      Within the road reserve, on the carriageway (road), a cyclist is regulated by the RTC 2000 and
      treated as a vehicle except that:
      • It is not permitted on freeways or where specifically prohibited.
      • It may travel up to two abreast within one vehicle lane (no more than 1.5m apart). Other
      vehicles may not.
      • It must utilise a Bicycle Lane where one is provided. All other vehicles must not.
      • It may pass stationary vehicles, in the same lane, on the left when stationary in queues.
      All other vehicles must not.
      • In common with all other vehicles it is subject to the Speed limit applicable to the road, or
      that part of the ‘road’ that it is on where this differs.”

      So despite not paying for registration or having a cycling license, cyclists do have the rights and responsibilities of any other vehicle on the road apart from the exceptions listed above which clearly state that they are legally permitted to overtake a queue of cars on the left.
      As a cyclist who regularly rides to work, I personally prefer not to do this as I consider it too dangerous, and the cars are going to have to overtake me again anyway, however the fact remains that it is in fact legally permitted to do so.
      Also it is possible to acquire cycling insurance which is very affordable, although it is not compulsory to have such insurance, any cyclist that causes damage to property or injury to another person is responsible for any subsequent costs just as a driver of a car would be.

      As a regular cyclist who abides by the law, I get sick and tired of being bullied by drivers who think that it’s ok to endanger someone else’s life just because they believe that they own the road and the cyclist shouldn’t be there. Well I have news for all you inconsiderate drivers out there - you don’t own the roads, and cyclists have every right to take up space on the road as you do. I fail to understand how any driver would be able to justify injuring a cyclist if their bullying tactics on the road actually did cause an accident. Cyclists are people too, and maybe the next time you think about pulling off some sort of dangerous move which may endanger a cyclist’s life, you should consider how you would feel about it if that cyclist were your son or daughter.

    • CBR says:

      10:43am | 25/01/11

      Yeah! Charge cyclists through the the nose if they want the privilege of riding on our roads! The last thing we want to do is reduce congestion and encourage a healthy lifestyle. Then I won’t feel so fat and unfit while I’m stuck in traffic in my 4x4 and one of those lycra clad bandits whizzes by in the bike lane!

    • Raven says:

      11:03am | 25/01/11

      Yes, surely the answer to the rule-breakers is to make cycling as financially restrictive and elitist as car ownership.  People with the means to waste a bunch of money every year are far less likely to be irresponsible about it - as seen by the exemplary behaviour of car drivers.  Let’s keep the riff-raff out of it.

      I, too, am concerned at how easy it is to ride a bike without taking lessons or passing a license test.  I have a 5 year old that can do it and I’m sure he’d be terrible on the road.  Surely we need to make it more restrictive - maybe add some blinkers and mirrors and a stereo, things that will be more complicated to use, so we can even things out.

    • Ben Carr says:

      07:45am | 28/01/11

      Cars kill, maim, cause extensive damage to private and public property, eroding the time, space and health (lifespans, quality of life) of millions in our more congested cities, costing all australians $billions annually. Not to mention private cars have monopolised the huge income/ rates /gst tax pool that we all have to pay (even non car users) to have car specific infrastructure built at the detriment of our public transport and freight rail transport which is far more efficient than private car use and has been underfunded for years.
      Bikes on the other hand rarely kill and maim with great difficulty. cause next to no damage, take up a minimum of space, r faster in our congested cities and improve the health and quality of life of all (no noise air or space pollution). bike specific infrastructure is as cheap as a footpath. and the space bikes save on our public roads (made for all vehicles even bikes) gives room for our more vital vehicles used for public transport and industry.
      In short WHY? WHY, would you tax, or register something that is not harmful and makes the lives of everyone better? Ask yourself is your ego or selfishness impeding your judgement?

    • DanieL says:

      07:15am | 24/01/11

      Riding a bike in traffic takes guts and total awareness of your surroundings. People that that do so deserve the respect and courtesy it takes to share the road.

      Reply

    • ZSRenn says:

      02:43am | 25/01/11

      No they deserve a slap across the chops and told to wake up. Whilst they Ride amongst the cars breathing in pure CO and CO2 whilst their lungs are pumping in three times as hard as they usually do. Stupid thing is they usually look down on the smokers. It’s laughable.

    • DG says:

      07:26am | 24/01/11

      Some interesting points, but those options are already available to cyclists who instead choose to use the main roads (for the same reason that the cars choose to use main roads - habit and convenience).

      Often it is quicker to drive alone these back streets than to fight with traffic on the main thoroughfares, yet people still opt for the main roads even if it adds 10 minutes or more to their trip. Of course we aren’t talking about motor ways here, but suburban streets.

      While bicycles are free from any form of licensing or road use taxation the resentment will continue. Sure, many cyclists are car owners, but keep in mind a car is registered for the road not the driver. Equally cycles should be road registered, and their riders licensed for road riding.

      I am not proposing to ban people from riding bikes, just from doing it on roads without a licence (just as car drivers are permitted to drive on private land, but not on public roads unless they are licensed).

      With these changes the roads would be a far more level playing field - policed and regulated equally - with the rules applying to all road users.

      Further, while cyclists claim that they are unfairly targeted - I would suggest that the frustration shown to cyclists is no greater than that shown to any other vehicle on the road that routinely travels at well below the speed limit or that move along the shoulder until there is an obstacle and then expect to merge with traffic. The difference is that they are ‘brave’ enough to face this risk without a suit of armour.

      Regrettably, cycling on roads is an activity that is calculated to frustrate persons who wish to travel at the speed limit or demand that the same system of responsibility and punishment is applied to all road users.

      Reply

    • Shifter says:

      03:11pm | 24/01/11

      DG: good points, but if you make a blanket statement about not riding bikes on roads you’re basically prohibiting kids from riding around their neighborhoods, to schools etc.

    • DG says:

      01:43pm | 25/01/11

      Indeed I do - and I make no apologies for prohibiting children from riding on roads. Children (under 16) should be permitted to ride on the footpath and on the shoulder of the road (or on a bike path.

      Where they need to cross a road they should disembark from the bike and cross as any pedestrian.

      There is no good reason for a child to ride a bike in traffic. It is highly dangerous, and is easily avoided.

    • Tubesteak says:

      07:34am | 24/01/11

      In Sydney Clover Moore has proven her ineptitude once again by creating useless and barely used cycle lanes which have further clogged busy main roads.

      Riding simply isn’t practical. Not only can you not turn up to work with your suit and shirt crushed from being in a little bag but riding up William Street or Heartbreak Hill on a 35 degree summer day (or puring rain) doesn’t make any sense.

      The taking out part of a lane creates even more havoc as busses and cars have to vie for less space for the 20 or so bike riders.

      Bicycling may work in Amsterdam which is as flat as a tack but it doesn’t work in Sydney.

      Reply

    • Used to be fat says:

      04:05pm | 24/01/11

      I ride from Caringbah to Surry Hills 3 days a week and it actually takes less time than the same car ride during peak hour. I have a shower after my ride and no longer need to be a member of a gym for fitness.
      I have lost 15kg in 12 months and 4 inches off my waist.
      I would argue cycling works for me very well.

    • Steve Putnam says:

      07:48pm | 24/01/11

      I totally agree! Bourke Rd Alexandria which, has no residential buildings that I know of, being a series of warehouses and factories, has now lost hundreds of parking spots due to the imposition of a two-way bike lane that is never used.
      I’ve got no idea what Clover is trying to do…..banish all industry from the inner city perhaps? This whole ‘City of Villages’ line is just a whole lot of specious rubbish that is meant to appeal to a certain demographic. The way things are going whole inner city suburbs which used to be industrial powerhouses are being turned into dormitory suburbs such as can be found on the central coast.

    • Ben Carr says:

      08:07am | 28/01/11

      If treated fairly (kept healthy) the human body (and brain) is much more adaptable than a car and what you give it credit for. Cycling up any road in any weather condition is possible. In our congested cities it is usually faster to cycle to work, shower, dress, eat breakfast and coffee….chill for a few minutes than it is for a car trip to the same destination….your lifespan and energy levels will be better for the ride to.
      PS 20 bikes take up the same space as 2 cars, or 1 bus.
      PPS residents of Amsterdam gave the same (non) reasons as you did for not cycling 40 years ago. Your not alone in your thoughts though, Australians in general just have some catching up to do.

    • Akrasiel Rising says:

      07:39am | 24/01/11

      Cyclists don’t pay road taxes through petrol or registration. They are not required to have CTP insurance and they ride three abreast and block traffic even when they have bike lanes available.

      I agree build them bike lanes or dedicated bike ways and charge them taxes to maintain them… and before the smartarse lycra brigade chimes in with their usual self serving argument, I pay income tax too but I don’t ask you to foot the bill for my recreational activities! If you want to use your bike (vehicle) on the road, pass a test on the road rules, pass a probationary period and face the same consequence as road users when you break the law… then you might get some small measure of empathy from the other road users.

      Reply

    • Shifter says:

      03:35pm | 24/01/11

      Really? The old I don’t want my taxes to go to anything I don’t use chestnut? Lets see how that works when you’re an old age pensioner.

    • John says:

      04:37pm | 24/01/11

      Okay….. so i’ll just take out my F250 work truck on weekends instead of my pushy.
      Bet that will my take up a little more space then my smart ass bike antics. Will certainly slow you down on your speedy mission to the pub/shops.
      Happy now?
      (In fact all cyclists should use there cars instead- just imagine how angry you will be waiting minutes instead of seconds to get where you are going.)

    • centurion48 says:

      07:52am | 24/01/11

      Steven, it is not clear from your article or bio whether you are, or ever have been, a cyclist. I am. Cycling is my predominant mode of transport in Sydney. These discussions on how best to keep cyclists safe invariably end up with a recommendation to send cyclists off on a minor road, a footpath, or in a direction they don’t necessarily want to go. Cyclists have equal rights with motorists so why is it the cyclist who gets the shunt? Cyclists are in just as much hurry to get where they are going as drivers. Once, just once, I would like to see somebody recommend that motor vehicles get sent to the side road and cyclists are allocated the arterial road.
      If somebody threatens you from a car, either physically or verbally, take the car rego number and report it to the police. Make the driver of the vehicle responsible for the actions of the passengers (it happens with seat belts). That is how you treat bullying.
      I agree with the need for cyclists to also obey the law and would be more than happy for police to crack down on red-light runners.

      Reply

    • AFR says:

      08:11am | 24/01/11

      Yawn…. another cyclist v car “debate”. Can we please get over the “lycra warriors” BS? Look around at cyclists and the majority aren’t exactly wearing sponsored vests terrorising pedestrians.

      Reply

    • Elphaba says:

      08:14am | 24/01/11

      I will have a bleeding heart for cyclists when I see them obeying the road rules just like any other vehicle.

      Too many times I have been almost run over on pedestrian crossings and at the lights when I have right of way, but some goober thinking he’s king shit for reducing his carbon footprint.

      Cyclists.  They’re a menace.

      Reply

    • Shifter says:

      03:41pm | 24/01/11

      Or the times peds are tying their shoelace blocking both lanes on a shared path, or cars who turn right across you rather than wait that precious 5 extra seconds.

      People. They’re a menace. Regardless of the method of transport.

    • Elphaba says:

      06:39pm | 24/01/11

      @Shifter, true, we’re all arseholes at one point or another.  Rarely does a car not stop at a pedestrian crossing when I’m trying to cross.  But every other cyclist I see will not stop at a crossing, even when I am waiting to cross.

      Only 2 weeks ago I was almost hit at the lights by a cyclist as I was crossing.  I had right of way, he dinged his bell like he owned the road.

      If I had a stick, I would have jammed it in his spokes.  There’s no excuse.

      I know, here are an awful lot of bikes in Pyrmont.  But since when did they take it upon themselves to disobey the road rules?

      If it was rare, I wouldn’t gripe.  But it’s just not.  It’s everywhere.  Every day.

    • Shifter says:

      07:35pm | 24/01/11

      Sounds like you’ve found the nest of idiot cyclists. Do the rest of us cyclists a favour and poison it, will you?

      This would take a bit of guts, but if it’s happening that often at a crosswalk why not stop one of them and ask why they aren’t stopping of their own will at a crosswalk when there is a pedestrian waiting to cross?

      If it’s a case of SMIDSY, then let ‘em off with a warning. If not, go for the spoke jabbing! They’re probably the same cyclists who get violent at cars.

    • Elphaba says:

      07:57am | 25/01/11

      @Shifter, consider poison in their water bottles my new goal in life. wink

      I think next time I’ll yell “Pedestrian waiting to cross!” and see what happens.

      For cars that haven’t stopped at pedestrian crossings (ie, texting whilst letting the car roll slowly through the crossing), I’ve banged on the hood of the car and yelled ‘I’m walking here!”

      I’m pretty sure the driver went home to change their underwear after. wink

    • Shifter says:

      01:18pm | 25/01/11

      Appropriate swearing whilst giving fair warning is always acceptable. Just yell “DING!” at the top of your lungs whenever you’re about to cross. Or carry an air-horn. Mind you if I saw that happen I’d probably crash my bike in a fit of laughter.

    • Elphaba says:

      01:55pm | 25/01/11

      @Shifter, I just though of Homer Simpson on Whacking Day.

      “Now, where’s my giant foam cowboy hat and airhorn?”

      Essential getup for the spooked pedestrian.

    • Shifter says:

      06:13pm | 25/01/11

      Let’s not take the Whacking Day simile too far lest cyclists be substituted for snakes.

      However if this means we get a free Barry White concert (and while we’re substituting, I will swap Barry for another Metallica show), then I suppose it’s not all bad.

    • Elphaba says:

      03:52pm | 26/01/11

      Shifter, since Barry is dead, it’s gonna have to be ‘Tallica.

      Whoop whoop! \m/

      In other news, the bloody Californians are getting a Big 4 show.  I know they won’t bring it to Oz, but how amazing would that concert be *sigh*

    • Shifter says:

      04:50pm | 27/01/11

      I wonder if Metallica ever ride bikes around SanFran. There’s a pretty decent sized cycling population over there.

    • Elphaba says:

      08:15am | 28/01/11

      @Shifter, lol, how are they supposed to be big hard men of metal on pushies?

      Oh wait, they exposed their softer side in ‘Some Kind Of Monster’.  Maybe they could pull it off…

      Just no lycra.  Please, no lycra…

    • Ben Carr says:

      08:17am | 28/01/11

      2 friends hit by cars dead, 4 friends with permanently debilitating neck and vertebrae injuries, me with poor sleep and permanent congestion cough from cars noise and air pollution. Don’t know any friends or family dead or maimed by a bike. Cyclists a menace….. That must put car drivers in the same league as hitler and stalin

    • Shifter says:

      10:54am | 28/01/11

      @Elphaba - I’ve seen Kirk in some pretty skinny pants on stage, I’m not so convinced that long lycra tights would be that much different.

      I could, however, see the guys getting around on some big black beach cruisers.

    • Elphaba says:

      12:48pm | 28/01/11

      @Shifter, nooooo!  Black leather pants are completely different to lycra.  They have an edge.  They’re badass. Mmm, black leather pants… 

      However, after further thinking about this, Lars used to wear spandex pants on stage in the 80s.

      Ewww…

      Looks like you win.  Lars can wear lycra, but if I see Hetfield in them I’ll probably pass out (and not in a good way).

    • Jack Thomas says:

      08:17am | 24/01/11

      You cyclist-haters are getting slow - “lycra brigade” (it’s usually lycra louts) was not mentioned until at least the 5th posting.

      @Akrasiel Rising - I didn’t realise we could pick and choose who gets the fuinds from our income taxes. What part of cycling are you choosing not to fund anyway?

      If we can, let me put down my list as well - fat middle aged men who refuse to be active except for opening their big mouths, smokers, shooters. That’s do for now.

      The arguments against cyclists you trot out are old and tired, road taxes? Yawn. Rego, licence fees, etc. don’t pay for the roads even you realise that yet surely?

      The really amusing thing about these dinosaurs is that they want all cyclists on segregated bike paths. So, you’re lobbying for a massive increase in funding there are you?

      The reality is, you get slower, fatter and older, sitting in your car stuck in traffic, while the cyclist riding is invariably healthier, will live longer, is better educated, and (in my view) better looking. No wonder you’re jealous and cranky.

      PS. The reason why (many) cyclists wear lycra is the same reason swimmers wear Speedo’s training in the pool and not jeans, why weekend tennis players wear tennis shorts not cargo pants, etc. Think about it.

      Reply

    • Henry says:

      08:24am | 24/01/11

      @tubesteak (actually I feel ill just typing that.)

      Not sure how you say commuter cycling in Sydney doesn’t work when SO MANY people find it does.

      Anyone living on the North Shore ... did you know that during peak hours there is an average of EIGHT HUNDRED cyclists crossing the Harbour Bridge EVERY HOUR? And similar numbers cross the Anzac Bridge.

      Imagine EIGHT HUNDRED EXTRA VEHICLES in front of you during rush hour.

      Then give thanks for people who cycle to work.

      Reply

    • Brando says:

      08:26am | 24/01/11

      I’m amazed when I actually see a cyclist obey the road rules. I saw one actually stop at a red light and wait for it to change to green before proceeding and I wanted to get out and shake his hand.

      I’ve seen cyclists break 5 or 6 laws in less than a minute and I suggested to one he should apply for some sort of official record for the most road rules broken in 60 seconds (surprisingly my suggestion didn’t go over that well).

      Accordingly I find it hypocritical to hear cyclist demand that other road users obey various laws that just happen to suit the cyclists.

      Furthermore, anyone who points out that in Europe cyclists are catered for more has obviously never been there. The cyclists in Europe aren’t the lycra clad idiot commandos pretending they’re in the tour de france on their way home from work. In Europe they ride completely different types of bikes at a much more leisurely pace

      Reply

    • Shifter says:

      03:49pm | 24/01/11

      Euro city commuters travel much shorter distances than most folks in Australia. Different machines for different applications. I wouldn’t ride my mountain bike 20km into work each day, nor would I take my fixie cruiser off road.

      The infrastructure is very different between places, there’s no comparison.

    • Jack Thomas says:

      12:01pm | 25/01/11

      What, you mean you saw a cyclist break the law like so many drivers talking on their mobile phones do as well?

      How many drivers do you comment to about them breaking the law?

      Surely you acknowledge the millions of dollars revenue from drivers breaking the law speeding, running red lights, talking on their nmobiles, etc. as well? Well, go on then…

      As a commuter cyclist I hate seeing those moron cyclists who run red lights or don’t wear helmets, because their behaviour impacts how drivers see me. This should not matter, but unfortunately there are many moron drivers who think it is their right to then ‘enforce the law’. Some are just fat yobbos who yell out, but some are dangerous morons who drive too close, etc.

      Seriously Brando, if you are arguing that Australian drivers obey the law then you must be nuts. State Governments rake in millions of dollars a year in speeding fines from drivers who are…breaking the law.

      The difference is that you see one cyclist run a red light (moron that he/she is) and think every cyclist is the same. If I took that view it could be argued that we have the worst skilled drivers in the world. Then again…

      Your uneducated view that Europe treats cyclists better because “they ride completely different bikes at a much more leisurely pace” is very funny though. Well done, I actually snorted when I read that.

      I am looking forward to seeing the average Aussie bogan in his car treat cyclists better because they are going slower and are on a different bike. Isn’t the ‘slow cyclist in front of you’ infuriating to most drivers though?

      PS. I like the “Lycra clad idiot” term you throw in without even understanding why a cyclist would wear that. Next time you go for a run in your jeans, maybe swim at the pool in your jumper, let me know.

      Oh? You don’t actually do any physical activity?

    • Freeman says:

      08:30am | 24/01/11

      Lot’s of people calling for cyclists to pay rego for cycling. Can we not have at least one form of transport free from exorbinant taxes? why don’t we tax pedestrians, after all, we have to put in footpaths for them? Cars require 3 mtere wide lanes with 6 inches and more of concrete beneath them, bikes don’t. that’s what rego costs go toward. Bike’s have a negligable effect on roads as far as wear and tear goes.

      Reply

    • Freeman says:

      08:44am | 24/01/11

      Oh, and a fair article too, Steven.

      Reply

    • Warren says:

      08:54am | 24/01/11

      Cyclists break the road rules constantly; but so do car drivers. Not a day goes by when I don’t see a car running a red light. But there is a big difference between being hit by a 10kg bicycle and a 1 tonne car.

      The registration argument is a furphy. Registration is calculated by weight. My 10kg bike would cost next to nothing to register, less than the cost of administering a registration system which is why no country in the world has implemented registration for bikes. You might as well register pedestrians.
      Car driver are aggressive because some sharp suited shyster has persuaded then to part with $35000 so they can sit in traffic while bicycles merrily pass them by. I’d be pissed off too.

      The good news is that most people recognise that cycling & bike infrastructure are part of the future. Bikes reduce congestion, fumes & generally help make cities more pleasant places to live.

      Reply

    • ibast says:

      08:56am | 24/01/11

      Anyone that has visited overcrowded Asian cities knows that cyclists are crucial to the transport mix.  If even a small percentage of cyclist in those cities were to transfer to cars the result would be absolute gridlock.  Not only that, cyclists in those cities are not expected to obey the same rules as cars.  Fair enough too.  bikes are not cars and they are capable of safely maneuvering through the traffic where a car can’t.  Those calling for them to obey they same rules are just upset by being overtaken by a push bike.

      As for rego, if a bike were to pay $1 for rego, taking into account the damage done to roads, proportionally a car’s rego would have to be about $10,000 and a truck’s rego would have to be about $500,000.

      No, we should be doing everything we can to encourage people out of cars and onto bike.  A person on a bike is a car out of the queue and that is good for everyone.  If you want to bleat on about rego, do so about trucks.  They are not carrying their fair share of the road damage.  Get some real rego costs there and we might see more freight on rail and some of these congestors and killers off the roads

      Reply

    • Pete says:

      09:01am | 24/01/11

      Just because one rides a bicycle, that doesn’t mean they don’t own a car.  A car that sits at home until the weekend that has paid up registration and insurance.  That’s how it is for me anyway.

      When cycling is your main form of transport, compulsory third party is a suggestion I can agree with.  But, for example, membership of Pedal Power here in Canberra gives you exactly that.

      Reply

    • Lauren says:

      09:23am | 24/01/11

      1. Sigh. At least admit that if you take all bicycles off roads, and all bicycles lanes off Sydney roads, Sydney roads would still be congested. It’s not bicycles or bicycle infrastructure causing congestion.

      2. Cyclists, like any other road users, include a group that do no follow the law. That doesn’t mean the whole group do not follow the law, and neither does it mean that cyclists as a whole have no right to comment on their rights on the road. e.g. if anyone said “I can remember the last time I saw a car driver holding a phone to his ear”, “A lot of car drivers drive close to a bicycle when overtaking”, or “I was surprised to see a car driver use a hands free kit”, we wouldn’t pretend that all car drivers had no say in road usage. Rinse and repeat for pedestrians.

      3. A bicycle weighs 10–15 kg. With rider: 100kg. A Toyota Echo weights 1000 kg. With driver 1080kg. Car weights are usually not mentioned in car reviews. Cars cause more damage when hitting anything: the road (potholes), people, infrastructure. Any injuries due to bicycles are news, simply because injuries due to cars are no longer news. Charge registration for potential damage: base it on weight, and bicycles will pay $10 annually maybe. A Toyota Echo is not a big car either.

      Reply

    • Bilby says:

      09:26am | 24/01/11

      Riding the 20 odd kms into work this morning, I had time to ponder the various points made in this article. That ever changing view from the harbour bridge is just gorgeous.

      1. I’m of the “riding for transport” clan. You know the ones. Normal shorts, paniers, lights everywhere. I’ve never been abused by a driver, but the lycra clan are a whole different matter. What a pack of tossers.

      2. I would be quite happy to pay a licence fee and carry a set of plates, which would enable me to be identified and therefore be made accountable. I’m sure this would ease the ill feeling between motorists and cyclists. In my mind the fee would cover admin and production costs of the plates. Nothing too steep.

      3. A proportional rego fee might be appropriate. Someone has to pay for the bike lanes. Personally I think many motorists would pay to get us off the roads, so let’s share the costs.

      4. Insurance. Possibly.

      5. Bike Lanes - Should be more of them, on non-arterial roads, but with consideration for providing a reasonably direct route. My route includes about 30% bike lanes, including shared bike/bus lanes which are a potentially fatal joke.

      Henry - 800 an hour?? Where does that data come from? I’d estimate there is about 10 to 20 bikes max on the bridge at any one time at peak hour. Maybe they all went through earlier.

      Reply

    • Shifter says:

      07:44pm | 24/01/11

      1. “lights everywhere” - you mean the OMG-please-see-me-and-don’t-kill-me type?

      2. In a crash situation a think bit of aluminium might have unintended consequences involving gashes and blood loss.

      3. Proportional to weight like cars (In WA)? For my 1200kg car I pay approx $60 for 12 months rego. For my 9kg bike, 45c seems like a good deal.

      4. You don’t have it? What if your bike gets nicked from work? What if you plow into a tree? What if you plow into a pedestrian?

      5. Or at least decent shared paths. Lumpy jagged concrete pavers? No thanks.

    • Shifter says:

      07:49pm | 24/01/11

      Ahh whoops, underestimated the rego fee slighty. It’s around $180 for my car. So $1.35 for my bike is still pretty good.

    • Nathan says:

      09:28am | 24/01/11

      Can we please drop the common misconceptions that crop up in EVERY cycling article?

      1. Petrol taxes and registration does not, ever, pay for road maintenance.

      2. The majority of cyclists don’t wear lycra. Sure people riding for fitness or have long commutes don on special cycling gear, but most commuters and casual riders wear whatever they’re going to wear for the entire day.

      3. The majority of cyclists don’t flout road rules. Sure there’s always the lazy idiot who flys through a red light because he can’t be bothered unclipping one foot. But the one bad egg seems to get noticed whereas the other hundred well behaved cyclists aren’t noticed.

      Steven, I’ve seen the proposal for turning Beulah Rd into a bike thoroughfare. All well and good, but have you tried riding that route yourself before? It’s near impossible to cross Fullarton Rd during peak hour. The entire council area is filled with bad bike lanes. They disappear whenever you get within site of an intersection (where you need them most!), many are only operation during peak hour, and not that that really matters because there are always cars parked in them even when they are operational (where are parking inspectors when you actually need them?).
      Your electorate really needs to pull the finger out when it comes to infrastructure, because at the moment it’s rubbish.

      Reply

    • DG says:

      09:37am | 24/01/11

      I’m noticing a lot of angst about the rego for cyclists idead. maybe it’s just me, but the rego isn’t about the cost of repairing roads, but a system of holding cyclists responsible for compliance with the road rules. As centurion48 stated above, car registration allows a person to lodge a complaint about the behaviour of a road user. Registration for cyclists would extend the same level of responsibility to those road users.

      Reply

    • K from Adelaide says:

      09:58am | 24/01/11

      What an amazing and well written article Steven! I love riding my bike but i rarely do for fear of becoming road kill. I know that if at least some of your suggestions were taken on board by State Government, myself and many people I know will be leaving the car at home and taking a much healthier and environmentally friendlier joy-ride.

      Reply

    • AFR says:

      09:58am | 24/01/11

      DG, where do you propose we draw the line? Bikes, skateboarders, the old people on the four wheeled thingys, pedestrians (the biggest flouters of the road rules of all)? And what age? Are you suggesting I need to register a bike for a 4 year old with training wheels? Lodging complaint about a fellow road user? How often do peple do that about motorists?

      Reply

    • pedals says:

      09:58am | 24/01/11

      Ah the tiresome rego debate. I have never seen a car run a red light or dangerously invade a pedestrian crossing because it’s registered…...?

      I cycle commute every day. I would happily be registered. Let’s start a war of complaints to the police about poor behaviour then. I guarantee you that the cycling fraternity will be able to lodge more complaints than motorists. Either through higher instances of lawless motorist behaviour or just simply due to the discipline of cyclists to actually know the road rules and follow through with reporting a complaint.

      The car commuters will continue to sit in gridlock, shake their fists and wish they had the motivation to cycle. And when they see a cyclist break the law they will likewise wish they had the motivation to report it. Nothing will change. Motorists only complain about this stuff because they hate how slow their choice of transport mode is. Which in addition is very expensive for the results they are getting.

      And lastly, as pointed out by other posters, the lycra cliche. Also tired and inaccurate. Check the Melbourne commuter types travelling in from the North each day, they are numerous, they are there each day, and no lycra.

      Reply

    • Lauren says:

      10:05am | 24/01/11

      Not defending the “800” number. But raw SHB numbers have been collated by North Sydney Council based on the counter on the cycleway. A PDF is at http://bikesydney.org/new10/?p=1188

      Registration: so now it’s about responsibility. Aside from Switzerland, how do people manage to ride bicycles anywhere else on the planet without registration? Irresponsibly? Speaking of responsibility, 30% of the trips in Sydney are < 5km. If a person is able to ride that trip, or drive it, which choice is the responsible one?

      This is not angst. Angst is when petrol prices increase—inevitably.

      Reply

    • rufus says:

      10:06am | 24/01/11

      I’m a cyclist and a motorist.

      I wear lycra when cycling - it’s cooler and more flexible than cotton. It’s brightly coloured to help drivers see me. The shorts contain padding that reduces saddle soreness. Can we get over the ‘I hate lycra’ pointless obsession that some have?

      I obey traffic rules when cycling and driving. I see other cyclists and motorists that don’t always do so. there are people who don’t always follow rules wherever you go. Can we get over the ‘but cyclists don’t obey the rules’ rubbish?

      I pay rego fees and insurance for my car. I know the registration doesn’t cover all costs but makes me accountable if I cause a motor accident that kills or injures someone. My bicycle isn’t registered but I’m far more likely to be injured myself - possibly by a motorist - than cause injury or damage to anyone else while cycling.

      I keep fit while cycling and keep a car off the road in the process. Is it too much to expect a little respect and safety from motorists, and some resources for safer bike paths?

      Can we get over the ‘I hate cyclists/I hate motorists’ tirades that accompany articles like this?

      Reply

    • DG says:

      10:15am | 24/01/11

      @AFR:

      Any conveyance travelling on the road should be registered. So that all road users are accountable. A person crossing the road is clearly not using a conveyance on the road, but scooters, bikes, skateboards and segways should be prohibited on roads unless registered.

      A 4 years old with training wheels should not be riding on the road so that avoids that issue, neither should skateboards.

      Perhaps if people started reporting crimes that they witness, rather than flashing their headlights to warn about the RBT up the road, the world would be a better place. Maybe, just maybe, people should behave in public as if their mother was watching their every move. Perhaps then we would have people (cyclists and drivers alike) complying with the law.

      Reply

    • JC says:

      10:21am | 24/01/11

      I’m a regular cyclist, both on the daily commute in work clothes, and weekend rides in lycra. I also drive a car. Apart from a few minor quibbles, I thought it a fairly well written piece myself.

      The fact of the matter is, most cyclists obey the road rules, same as most drivers do. AS the article says, it’s the actions of a select few that tarnish our reputation. I put it to anyone that in reality, much fewer cyclists break the road rules than drivers, yet no one who sees a car pull an illegal turn, or pass too close, then thinks that ALL cars do likewise. Sure it, annoys you, but you don’t get inflamed about it. Why should us cyclists be treated differently? The only difference is that we’re much more noticeable due to standing out from the mass of motor vehicles.

      As for us being slow, and frustrating” others, learn the road rules concerning bikes. If you don’t like following us, the rules are clear, pass us like you would any other slow moving vehicle. We DO try our best to keep the pace, and to stay out of the way, but if we claim a lane, or ride two abreast (as is allowed in the road rules that all drivers should’ve learnt to get their licence), most of the time it’s for both our safety and yours. We’d rather that a car be delayed a little and then pass us safely (by overtaking as you would any vehicle, NOT trying to squeeze past), than end up driving us into the gutter or hitting us. We hope that drivers would feel the same way about hitting their vehicle against us too!

      In the end, we’re legally road vehicles too, and the mentality that “we slow you down because we’re not meant to be there” is wrong. So is the mentality of some cyclists that “we’re better than motor vehicles, so the rules should change to suit us”. The fact is, we’re BOTH road users, and as such the respect should go both ways.

      Reply

    • Alces says:

      06:46pm | 24/01/11

      I’d challenge the most cyclists obey the road rules, I don’t recall the last time I’ve seen a cycle make even an attempt at a hand signal, something that was drilled into me at riders education.

      Why do I care more if a cycle obeys they rules than a car? In most cases the worst that’s going to happen if I have an incident with a car is some panel work, an incident with a cyclist is never going to end well. And menace that they are, I keep my distance from four wheel drives, because I’m just as squishy to them.

      As for taking up space - generally I don’t have an issue with this - on the plains most as you say keep up, heading up to the hills, is another story, almost weekly during the dry months, I catch a cyclist doing 20 in an 80 zone, where I can’t pass, and who won’t pull off the road and let the bank of cars get on with it, something trucks, and buses have the manners to do.

    • Henry Whyler says:

      10:26pm | 24/01/11

      @Alces

      Dear Alces, may I ask when you did riders’ education and they drilled you about hand signals??

      I’m guessing it would have been a very long time ago - 20 years or more? - when most bicycles still had back-pedal brakes.

      If you read the CURRENT road laws, you’ll see cyclists are not required to make hand signals.

      This is because on modern bikes, both hands are used to brake. Also, it helps to be holding on tight to steer around crazy motorists, potholes and jaywalking pedestrians… the true miscreants of our roads (but no one complains cos we’re all lawbreaking pedestrians aren’t we?).

      Also, in this city, no one pays attention when one indicates, even in a car, except to try and cut you off! I can see myself doing the “stopping” sign and all that would happen would be, cars would swoosh past me with millimetres to spare.

      But as I was saying, no hand signals required by law. Funny how so many people hate cyclists for doing things they think are “illegal” but actually are not. These would include riding two abreast (legal) and overtaking a line of stationary cars on the left (legal).

    • Liz says:

      10:35am | 24/01/11

      The riders are rude, inconsiderate and the race means our Farmers’ Market is cancelled loosing thousands to the stall holders and other businesses that have to shut, we can’t access our township and it’s a gross inconvenience held for people who can’t even take their own rubbish home.Our workers can’t get to work because the riders have to be out and about so early during practise.  Over it? You bet!

      Reply

    • scotty says:

      10:41am | 24/01/11

      You want dedicated boulevards?  Cyclists can start paying registration every year to fund them.

      I already pay more than enough taxes thank you very much, and I shouldn’t have to pay more because cyclists ignore so many road rules they have to be kept separate from other road users for their own safety.

      And while you are at it, speed limits for all users on these new paths to protect pedestrians - the shared paths around Brisbane are a deathtrap for walkers because of the cyclists who think they are actually in the tour de france - they had to introduce speed limits on some new shared paths to protect pedestrians.

      The uproar from cyclists was priceless.  Even more so when the police started staking out the paths with radar guns and handing out warnings.

      Reply

    • Lauren says:

      10:44am | 24/01/11

      Anyway, if bicycle riders are such freeloaders. Breeze effortlessly through traffic, have all the rights and no responsibility, get away with crime. Then join us sometime, or sometimes. You can be the model rider that we emulate. I joined the car driving brigade a while ago due to the advantages; you should do the same with bicycles. Welcome, seriously.

      Reply

    • Az says:

      10:51am | 24/01/11

      Try living and driving up in the Dandenong Ranges here in Melbourne on any given weekend when – literally – hundreds of Cyclists clog the narrow, two-lane mountain roads.

      Many of them riding 4 abreast when all the road signs say “Single File”.

      It’s a bloody nightmare as I have to drive at 30km an hour up a winding mountain road with little or no chance of overtaking because 4 Lycra wearing arses think the road is there purely for their sunday morning ride and get highly indignant when I lean on the horn.

      In contrast to commuting cyclists, these cyclists are not using the roads to get to work but simply for their own leisure and at the expense of the locals.

      Reply

    • scotty says:

      11:03am | 24/01/11

      The lycra brigade will hate this, but why not licencing for bike riders before they can ride on the road?

      All they would need is a theoretical type test to ensure they know the road rules etc.  Doesn’t have to be expensive, but a first step to ensure the level of knowledge is adequate before risking themselves and others on the roads. 

      Seems they are the only ones allowed to use a road without establishing they actually know the rules - why not start by levelling the playing field?

      Reply

    • eddie says:

      04:02pm | 24/01/11

      So you wold want to effectively prevent kids from riding bicyles then scotty. i can see it now , sorry sonny, you cant have a bmx until you are old enough to get a license. This is one of the issues the anti bike brigade ignores. I have had numerous people run me off the road, swerve at me, abuse me etc over the years when riding and I am one of the ones who obeys the rules, When some clown does it to me I often think , ” what would that dickhead do if he saw someone sweve at his school aged kid like that?” but because I am an adult and chose to ride a bike - I am fair game.

    • Lauren says:

      11:08am | 24/01/11

      You mean you were indignant and decided to share it when you leant on the horn. If you think a crime is committed, and you know exactly where and when it will be committed regularly, what is your role as a private citizen? Report it and follow through. Or comment about it on the Internet.

      Reply

    • Lauren says:

      11:12am | 24/01/11

      Scotty, if you want to ride on the road, and want the government to organise an exam for you before you ride, by all means lobby the government. But don’t use it as an excuse not to get on a bicycle on the road.

      Reply

    • Nathan says:

      11:18am | 24/01/11

      Scotty. Plenty of people who do have a license demonstrate daily that they clearly don’t know the road rules.

      And if you want to get in to a debate about who pays their fair share of the road - considering roads are paid for our of general taxes that every one pays (regardless whether they drive, ride, or skip down the road), and that wear and tear on the road from a cyclist is minuscule compared to that from a car - cyclists who don’t drive are actually paying far more for “their share” of the road than a motorist is.

      Reply

    • Ryan says:

      11:23am | 24/01/11

      Hold cyclists to the same level of accountability as a car, motorbike or truck and the respect might return. i.e. pay road taxes, obey the road rules, required to have insurance, required to have a government sanctioned license to ride on the road.

      Reply

    • ibast says:

      11:31am | 24/01/11

      I can’t believe the number of people that will cut off their nose to spite their face.  Even if you could introduce registration for bike, what do you think the result would be?  It would result in people just getting in the car.  keeping in mind it only takes 1 or 2% more cars on the road to cause gridlock, what do you think the result would be?  Some people need to think a bit past the annoyance of being overtaken by a push bike in traffic.

      Besides it would just be unenforceable.  I ride a few times a year.  Do you think people like me are going to bother getting rego?  And if the cops crack down on it I’ll just take the car.

      Particulate pollution, noise pollution, gridlock, diminishing fossil fuels and that’s without getting into the CO2 debate.

      Reply

    • TheRealDave says:

      11:40am | 24/01/11

      I am all for NOT having bike rego and getting more people onto bikes around the cities….as long as we start holding the bastards to the same laws as the rest of the road users instead of doing whatever they damned well please. I’m sick to death of seeing them disobey traffic rules, signals etc Minority my arse! I must just be lucky encounter that ‘minority’ all over the bloody city on any weekday…. wish I could encounter winning lotto numbers as often.

      Reply

    • Lauren says:

      11:40am | 24/01/11

      Ryan, cyclists are currently not required to have insurance, or have a license. You may now define what it means to disrespect cyclists. If it involves following road rules by, overtaking safely, not abusing cyclists verbally or with your car horn, and not throwing things at them, then please let the rest of us know.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      11:49am | 24/01/11

      Cycling is fun and is interesting, especially rural biking, where sights and smell linger,(road-kill, excluded). And watch out for signs : ‘Maccas, 4 minutes away’, where that’s 4 minutes is by car, so riding is a half-hour, so best eat that sanga now.
      Best ‘level playing field’ is to un-register all cars,and when they hit or are hit by an object, the resultant trauma is at least 100g’s (that as if colliding with 50 tonnes). And then they must feel as if they might fall in front of another moving vehicle. (Cyclists also wear lycra cause it doesn’t stain.)
      But I like the immediacy of the bike. There’s nothing like sayin ‘gidday’ after a vehicle has skimmed yer right elbow, hoons bellowing, yellin, ‘pay tax, or get off the road !’ ‘I’ve payed enough tax, and I own the road !’
      Cars hurry too much. Drivers race home to chicken n’chips, like to listen to the sounds of their exhaust. (Some are only men when caged like a hen.)
      Best to slow down. Bike riders can’t spend all their energy slowing down cars so’s yous can get home to yer wives in one piece : we have to get home to yer know.

      Reply

    • Thommo says:

      11:58am | 24/01/11

      The earth is currently dangerously low on carbon dioxide in the air. My organisation, 550.org is attempting to get the ppm up to 550 by 2015. You can help just by driving your car as often as you can. I’m lobbying the government to have pushbikes banned from all public roads to help achieve this goal.

      Reply

    • neil says:

      12:02pm | 24/01/11

      I like to cycle to work on a nice day but I always use cycle tracks, back streets and cut through parks. Why anyone wants to ride on main roads is beyond me.

      A sensible way to seperate bicycles and cars during peak hour is to make it illegal to ride in clearways, when you can park there you cant ride there. As the article says there are always parrallel secondary roads that are safer.

      Reply

    • Hermano says:

      12:41pm | 24/01/11

      The comments section for these articled are always amazing.  Same old tired arguments about no cyclists obeying the rules, about cyclists not paying for the roads, about cyclists blocking the traffic.  Why are these people so angry?  Don’t they understand how roads are paid for?  Do they not see all of the cars running red lights and speeding?  Do they not see the road toll: on average more than 1 person killed by cars EVERY DAY in NSW alone.
      As far as I see it we cyclists are doing society a favour.  We don’t wreck the precious roads, we don’t cause congestion, we don’t kill people (but are often killed ourselves).
      I’ll be as self-righteous as I bloody well please, and keep exercising my government-mandated right to ride on the road for as long as I can.  You can thank me later.

      Reply

    • Enterda Fray says:

      12:49pm | 24/01/11

      Whoa, just about to make the leap into the wild world of commuter cycling - in Sydney. Interesting times ahead I think. Already my car has remained at home during peak times for years while I caught a train from the outer suburbs - freeing up car space for those that have no choice. No I thought I would do the right thing again and free up some public transport space when I move closer to the city, but still a decent cycle commute away. I have used my bike for transport journeys (non commuting) for a while too so have some taste as to what is to come, but still believe their is an overriding good to commuter and transport cycling than there is to just sitting in a singly occupied 2 tonne metal box getting to and from work just because it is more convenient to me and bugger everyone else (obviously this does not apply to tradies, parents etc etc that do need cars - but the amount of people that dont would make a huge difference to traffic levels).

      So the issues I will face are space - 2.5m lanes are not safe enough to share a bike (often at traffic speed) and another 2 m wide vehicle (especially with the lack of requirement to REALLY demonstrate ability when gettign a licence - another irony in some of the posts here). Hence I will rightly take the entire lane on multi lane roads. I am licenced up to heavy rigid vehicles so am pretty competent in all types of road transport and as such this should demonstrate my ‘worthiness’ to use a road, apparently. My car sits at home, taking up much less space and creating farr less weight related wear and tear than it would if I rightly used it to get to work. I then take up one less car space and lets not get into the environmental impacts. 

      Now my wife was actually hit by an errant cyclist in her car when they ran a red light. They limped off leaving a damaged bike next to my wifes car which sustained $3000 of damage we had to get fixed due to being unable to identify the at fault driver. P****d off? hell yes, but I am more intelligent than to brand all cyclists in the same way. A car also damaged our car then took off - later reported stolen so we had to pay again for that. If you are unlucky, you are unlucky. I am glad the vehicle that came through the red light was a bike and not a stolen car or 4WD though. Idiots are idiots, regardless of vehicle type, and I agree - all should be punished.

      It is worth noting that I have actually been pulled over for speeding - on my bike. 66km/h in a 50 zone. Ironically I would never have done it in a car, but always went quick down this hill on the bike as there was no shoulder and cars would often overtake over double lines, at sometimes in excess of 100km/h just to ‘get past the bike’. It had nothing to do with slowing traffic, it was just a psychological things that cars cant be behind (even speeding) bikes. It was unfortunate that one of those times a police car came the opposite way.

      My bike is insured for third party through BINSW, much like a lot of the other bike commuters I have spoken too. Again generalisations based on ignorance just feed this us v them mentality.

      Reply

    • Bilby says:

      01:11pm | 24/01/11

      HarbourLink says 700 to 800 an hour in peak times.
      North Sydney council says about 400 (or 100 every 15 mins). On census day (13th Oct 2010) an automated counter counted 945 in a two hour period (about 470), and a manual counter got about 1200 in the same time, which still adds up to only 600 per hour.

      Someone’s fibbing.

      Reply

    • neil says:

      06:45pm | 24/01/11

      which hour?

      lies, damn lies, and statistics

    • DG says:

      01:18pm | 24/01/11

      I should have added - I live way out in the ‘burbs and commute to work on the train.

      My encounters with bicycles are few and far between - however just this weekend I was following some cycling mob over a decent hill -I caught them as they were making the climb. Then they were cruising down the hill about 20kph below the speed limit (they were doing about 60-65k), I stayed behind them (allowing room in case there was a spill). When we got to the bottom of the hill and started on the climb for the next they narrowed into single file on the left of the lane and gestured me past - I pulled out and went on my merry way (it was an over taking area, but by pulling to the left of their lane they made it much easier).

      If any of that mob are reading (riding out near Picton) : Cheers - hope it was a good ride. 

      For the most part that is consistent with all of my encounters with cyclists.

      If only the same could be said for drivers who are cruising below the speed limit, angrily tailgating people who are doing the speed limit or using the phone while driving.

      However, from friends and family living closer to the city I hear other tales. I expect that inner-city cyclists are a different breed - horned fiends who show no regard for anyone or anything. They demonstrate no regard for the congestion they cause and make no effort to alleviate the issue (such as pulling over when they are traveling below, rather than at, the speed limit).

      Reply

    • Fiona says:

      01:27pm | 24/01/11

      My oh my, drivers are a terribly unhappy lot, and seem to have no idea of how the world really works.

      I have a drivers licence.  I pay rego.  I used to drive to work every day, across the congested harbour bridge.  Then I discovered that riding a bike is quicker and more fun than driving.  I haven’t driven a car for about 17 years now, but still I get no refund at all on the rego I pay for the family car each time I choose to cycle instead.  I am licenced, ride in work clothes, and obey the road rules, but drivers around me break the rules and drive poorly every day.  Police won’t act on my reports of driver law-breaking when I report their rego (just try it, centurion48).

      Hearing that cyclists don’t pay tax I rang the ATO and tried to register for my exemption, but to no avail.

      Akrasiel Rising obviously opposes his council spending on swimming pools, until swimmers pay an extra tax to fund them?

      So when you see me on the roads (including main roads - no option if I’m to get to work) - be nice and be legal.  Please.  After all, you don’t want me back in my car adding to your traffic jam.

      Even better - be happy - get on a bike and discover the ease and joy of riding for yourself.

      Reply

    • Arbrokemiarmdad says:

      01:36pm | 24/01/11

      Thank you – thank you so much –for reducing gridlock – minimising pollutants – amusing me with your fearless feats of dering-do  weaving through the traffic and trying not to ground yourself at lights  – whilst dressed up like a circus clown – invest in a mirror and have a look at yourselves - your all a bunch of freewheeling tools – get out of my way!

      Reply

    • fred firth says:

      02:04pm | 24/01/11

      Cycling would be safer if more people rode bicycles.
      More people would ride bicycles if they didn’t have to wear stupid looking helmets.
      Cyclists in helmets ride bikes like men in hats drive cars.
      Finally, Lycra is for chubby ladies.

      Reply

    • Justin says:

      02:09pm | 24/01/11

      I’m sure the conversion from Powered Two Wheeler to Bicycle works when I say if you’re concerned about your safety then don’t be concerned about your safety. I have a healthy disrespect for my own personal safety, and the more I try to kill myself, the more people let me do whatever I want. It’s probably why so many people whinge about cyclists breaking the rules. They’ve all worked out the only way to stay safe is to be agressive as possible. Being passive just gets you a trip to the hospital courtesy of Mrs Jones talking on the phone and a SMIDSY moment.

      Reply

    • Mike T says:

      02:09pm | 24/01/11

      Happy to give cyclists the same level of respect that i give to any motorists as soon as the majority of them begin to act and obey the road rules that relate to ALL to them.

      PS. I put motorcyclists in the same basket.

      PPS. I said “majority” so i dont want responses from individuals pleading that “they obey the road rules”. If they cant see with thier own eyes that the majority of cyclists zip between lanes, go through red lights etc. then they are absolutley full of it!!!!!!!

      Reply

    • Matt says:

      05:50pm | 25/01/11

      It is legal to ride between lanes of stationary traffic. It would help if all sides were aware of the rules - riders and motorists.

    • H says:

      02:13pm | 24/01/11

      This was a good article and most of the comments made have merit too, for both sides.  As a driver I have to say there are many good bike riders who obey the road rules (laws), stop at lights, stop at tram stops for tram passengers etc but there are far more who are aggressive, abusive and disregard the rules barrelling along, pulling out around slower riders and putting themselves in harm’s way.  Just the other morning I had one fly past and punch my car for no apparent reason as I waited for the light to change.  I don’t think it is unreasonable for a bike rider to pay a small registration fee and have a number plate on their bike.  This would legitimise them as having the equal rights on the roads they feel they have.

      Reply

    • Bilby says:

      02:31pm | 24/01/11

      Mike T - As a motorist, do you not make sure that you’re aware of what stupid things the cars around you might do? Next time you drive home, make a mental note each time it happens.

      * Car in front changed lanes without looking. Avoided by slowing down.
      * Stopped traffic in front. Breaked slowly so that cars behind wouldn’t run up my ass.
      * Car in front cruising for location. Gave them room for when they throw out the anchors without warning.

      I’ll bet a fair sum that you avoid idiot drivers every day but do it subconsciously. As such, you’re lack of respect is not justified at all, unless you equally disrespect motorists, which would be fair.

      Reply

    • MiKe t says:

      05:43pm | 24/01/11

      @ Bilby


      Not deny that some car drivers are idiots. In fact i never made any comment regarding exclusive stupidity being owned by cyclists ( i commented on cyclists, because thats what the artice is about, seems fair dosent it?.

      So i take it by your argument is that many car drivers are also stupid so that makes what some cyclists do acceptable????

      To answer your question i notice many, many drivers breaking road rules. But it it is without doubt not the majority of cars that i pass. On the other hand i cant recall the last time i stopped at a set of lights and the cyclist abreast of me, or behind me, stopped and waited for the light to turn green….they simply zipped between the lanes (often bumping cars). I repeat Bilby that the lane Zipping is not just common it is done by almost all cyclist, often at great risk (to them and other people on the road).

      If by me pointing this out, somewhat offends you, or shows lack of respect,. Then i must apologise and just close my eyes and pretend it dosent happen…... as you seem happy to do

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      02:35pm | 24/01/11

      Driving a car, I hated cyclists.  They deliberately slow traffic down and refuse to get out of the way, even when there’s a bike lane right next to them, forcing you to pass perilously close to get anywhere near the speed limit as the amble along at 20Kmh in a 60 zone. 

      Now that I walk to work, I still hate cyclists.  They ride along city footpaths (illegal) at high speed with no bells and swearing when you happen to be in their way and dive through red lights frequently coming close to cleaning up pedestrians obeying the road rules.

      Unless you’re a cyclist, there’s no place for you in a cyclists eyes.  Pedestrians are too slow, and cars and filled with lazy fat bastards who would be less miserable if they only cycled.  Apparently. Has nothing to do with cyclists kicking peoples doors, balancing on rear vision mirrors etc…

      Reply

    • Audrey says:

      04:46pm | 24/01/11

      2000+ dead,100000+badly injured, paralyzed ,brain damaged-your children,parents friends-every year.
      -just so you can drive your car as fast as you like.
      Yes cyclists are a real threat.

    • Tim the Toolman says:

      03:08pm | 25/01/11

      “Yes cyclists are a real threat. “

      Threat or not, they clearly have comprehension issues if that was what you took from my post.  That level of understanding would also explain the inability to understand that the little piece of road with a bike painted on it is for bikes.

      And I have no children, my parents don’t ride on roads and some of my friends, well, they do choose the lycra for some reason.  So far they’ve remained relatively alive, however.

    • Hermano says:

      02:46pm | 24/01/11

      Arbrokemiarmdad: you’re welcome!  Come join us sometime.
      Mike T: If you count the majority of cyclists as lawbreakers you must count more than the majority of motorists as lawbreakers (if that’s even possible).  Stop getting angry at the bikes passing you in traffic and get a bike yourself!  It’s fun, you’ll get fit and you won’t succumb to the stress-induced rage that your spelling and over-punctuating suggests you are wont to. 
      I’m law-abiding and rarely have trouble with motorists, except when they take affront at my very existence and decide that I’m better off dead.  I’d hate to see how I’d be treated if I was a road-hogging arsehole.

      Reply

    • Mike T says:

      05:49pm | 24/01/11

      @ Hermano..

      Not denying its fun, and by no way angry that cyclists are passing me in traffic…My concern is that is extremly dangerous to do so….i guess thats why it is against the law to do it. But as long as it’s fun hey?

      And thanks for the backhander about my spelling. Just a little tip though… if you are going to have a go at someone about thier spellling and puncuation then dont ass up the actual sentence where you do so…..sort of make you look stupid smile

    • Hermano says:

      06:38pm | 24/01/11

      Check my sentence, it’s fine!
      Also, it’s not illegal to pass cars on the left.  I pass cars on the left and then get the hell out of the way.  I commute 65kms return, and there isn’t one part of my trip where I hold up cars, but my commute is probably an exception.  It’s also incredibly safe, as long as everyone is being sensible (which I admit is probably a rarity).  I’ve borne the brunt of angry motorists when I’ve been doing nothing but riding along minding my business in the bike lane.  Most recently I had a red-faced council worker lean his entire upper body out of his truck window to tell me to “go f*ck yourself!” right after he’d nearly run over me.  THAT’S when things get dangerous: when you mind your business but encounter irrationality.

    • Wynston Cruso says:

      06:39pm | 24/01/11

      Hah, yes yes, bikes are always passing me in traffic. My 2010 WRX is no match for the speed and acceleration of a bicycle… Pesky cyclists always beating me to destinations I’m sure.

    • Mike T says:

      09:49pm | 24/01/11

      I have no issue with them passing me on the left lane, right lane…heck they can pass me in any lane they like. My issue is when they pass between cars that are stopped at lights or edging along during heavy traffic (please read my post)....by this im refering to the 50cm gap between me and the car next to me….thought i was pretty clear on this issue…this is dangerous and illegal and done by most cyclists. If it’s not done by you…well then thats great…you are one of the minority that i refered to in my origional post that would no doubt respond with the “i dont break the rules, so dont judge me”..... whilst i commend you for adhering to the rules, you are not one of the people im refering to so not sure why you are getting yor back up, maybe your your jumping to the defence of illegal cyclists based on past abuse that you have received?? Maybe you think this type of riding is ok….

      My motivation here is not to bad mouth cyclists my concern here is them being injured or me having to live with myself for being involved in a fatality when a cyclists slides between me and another car during slow moving traffic….  I have seen many a bicycle/motocycle accident especially through europe…. it just strikes me that the two wheelers sometimes see themselves as tool to by pass traffic….this would be fine if it wasnt extremly risky behavior that follows it

    • hermano says:

      07:26am | 25/01/11

      Thanks Mike, I appreciate your point.  I do agree that some cyclists put themselves in dangerous spots: thanks for being conscientious enough to worry about not hitting them.  See, if there were more people like you and I in the world we’d all be better off.  Me obeying the law and you not wanting to injure anyone.

    • ted says:

      04:00pm | 24/01/11

      pay some road taxes and obey the law otherwise go back to the gym

      Reply

    • hermano says:

      07:30am | 25/01/11

      Stop killing people or get off the roads.

    • Cate P says:

      04:33pm | 24/01/11

      This would help smooth the antagonism.  All drivers should turn their wiper washer tank jets to the left during summer.  When they pass a cyclist they can give them a cooling spray.

      Reply

    • Mayday says:

      05:09pm | 24/01/11

      No one has mentioned the group Critical Mass who block the Sydney Harbour bridge and cause a lot of disruption to motorists and they generally do it at peak hour for maximum inconvenience.

      Why do cyclists wear Lycra, its one of the most sweat inducing fabrics to wear?

      Reply

    • George says:

      05:42pm | 24/01/11

      @Mayday

      Cyclists wear Lycra just to annoy people, of course!

      Actually ...
      1. It doesn’t flap in the breeze which let me tell you gets really irritating after an hour or so.
      2. It dries as you go, while cotton turns into a sweaty lump on your body
      3. It doesn’t chafe during long hours in the saddle. Etc ...

      Try it! You’ll soon become addicted.

      PS Critical Mass are about as relevant to the vast majority of cyclists as
      late-night drag-racing hoons are to motorists.

    • John Tracey says:

      05:54pm | 24/01/11

      Your comment:
      Cycling is a Liberal Party sport. Labor Party people use public transport.
      See the PUNCH article of Kevin Andrews the Liberal Party Federal Member for Menzies last week in THE PUNCH ( Nigeria’s number one daily mass circulation newspaper)

      Reply

    • Ms Flib says:

      06:34pm | 24/01/11

      It disturbs me that people can show such hatred and disrespect for each other over this issue. There are advantages and disadvantages of each mode of transport. There are both cyclists and drivers who disobey the rules.
      Rather than ranting on about how much we hate cyclists or drivers, we just need to drive/ride safely and respects the needs of others. Easy really!

      Reply

    • MikeD says:

      07:31pm | 24/01/11

      Usual bollocks from the haters.
      Automobiles need to be registered because they are expensive and cause carnage, it doesn’t give you more right to use public space than someone else and it certainly doesn’t entitle you to intimidate others away from making sensible transport choices (such as cycling). I love my car just as much as the next bloke but using automobiles inapropriately is a waste of time, space and a big waste of money (taxpayers money included).
      Cycling is the best way to travel short distances, without a healthy number of cyclists populated areas encounter all sorts of problems, unneccesary congestion, unneccesarily crowded footpaths, public transport, car parks and unsafe streets. 
      Most Australian cycling fatalities occur while cyclists are obeying the road rules. Perhaps if the average motorist new how to indicate before changing lanes and look before opening their doors it would make sense for us to obey the Australian road rules.
      Cyclists have a right to use public space, motorists have no right to put our safety at risk.

      Reply

    • Cate P says:

      11:25pm | 24/01/11

      Gee Mike D maybe, just as motorists must if they wish to avoid accidents, cyclists need to ride as though every other road user is a selfish idiot.  Just saying ...

    • colin christensen says:

      11:56am | 25/01/11

      I have been a motorist for fity years. I am also a cyclist. In that time I have paid a lot fo money to drive, user pays and all that. However, I and other drivers only meet a fraction of the infrastructure costs, the rest being paid for by all of use, whether we drive or not.

      Cyclists take less out of consolidated revenue by far. Indeed, the logical economic argument would be for those not driving to be rewarded with a rebate.

      And I have not even added in social costs associated with our love of the driving car.

      Every cyclist on the road on a given day who otherwise would be driving is saving us money, not costing.

      How about letting this old chestnut go and address the content of the article.

      I pray they never charge me, you and anyone else, for the privilege of wandering around the local park. User pays is seldom as it seems.

      Reply

    • Kimba says:

      11:57am | 25/01/11

      I have no issue with cyclists using the road. I do it myself from time to time and believe I deserve an appropriate level of respect and care. I try to do the same in return.  I have no strong opinion about registering bicycles (although on a personal level I’d rather not as my family own a couple). I do see some issues related to kid’s bikes etc.

      I do have a cycling question I am genuinely curious about however. I regularly travel down Windsor Road between Rouse Hill and Windsor, where there is a new looking, road separate, bitumen, 2 lane cycleway with bicycle traffic lights at intersections. It pretty much looks like the gold standard in bicycle lanes to my uneducated eyes.
      However, the majority of cyclists don’t seem to use it. On Saturday morning I counted 8 out of 9 (and I promise this is not an exaggeration) cyclists riding on the road in preference to the bike lane. I stopped counting then and started to wonder why this is the case.

      So my question is, is there there any logical explanation for this? I’m not having a go, I’m genuinely curious. Maybe there is something to be learnt for building future cycleways if this one isn’t right?

      Reply

    • ben Carr says:

      09:51am | 28/01/11

      I have not used that section of road or cycle path… but if I had to guess, all the cycle paths I have used r not generally good for commuting rides or exercise (road cyclists) due to the stop start nature built into them by the RTA.
      On the new cycle paths I have used in the inner city, at every intersection the cyclist has to wait for the green cycle light This often takes 3minutes or more to activate (only if the button is pushed) and is on only for 6 seconds (worse than being a pedestrian). Meanwhile right next to this frustratingly slow light sequence the road traffic is allowed to flow on unimpeded.
      From an exercise point of view this is terrible as your endurance training and momentum is continually interrupted. From a commuting point of view this is woeful as your journey (depending on how many intersections) has slabs of time added to it, eroding the many benefits of riding the bike in the 1st place.
      The cycle paths are a good place to learn to ride a bike on and gain confidence, or for a leisurely site seeing tour. But the public roads are much more effective for regular cyclists to use. and since most regular bike riders pay tax to fund roads through GST, income, and rates they feel entitled to the efficient main roads rather than the stop, start, cycle paths on which the RTA has placed a very low priority on the users time and momentum.
      Hope this explanation helps, hopefully someone who cycles the windsor rd can add their 2cents.

    • Gavin says:

      01:20pm | 08/02/12

      On the issue of riaetlve speeds of cyclists and motorists, when I was living in Salisbury (11km south of Brisbane CBD) and cycling to work in Fortitude Valley (next to Brisbane CBD) I would usually average about 28kmh and would exceed this speed on flat or downhill stretches, and would not infrequently find myself delayed by morning peak traffic crawling along at below 25kmh.  QED cars hold up traffic.

      Reply
 
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