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share the road! (Read 16969 times)
freediver
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share the road!
Dec 5th, 2006 at 9:53am
 
I ride my bike to work on most days. I have to use a 50m stretch of busy road to get through a major intersection. This morning I made the mistake of getting too far over to the left, which tends to make car drivers think they can overtake me without changing lanes (this is illegal, but people do it anyway). I was in the far left of three inbound lanes. I got clipped by a car. It's left rearview mirror hit the handle bars of my bike. Luckily the mirror gave way and it didn't knock me off. I reported it to the police. I managed to get the number plate and the officer was going to call the driver and talk to him about it. It would not have been possible to press charges because there was no evidence. The officer told me he rides on the footpath instead of the road, even though it is illegal, because your safety is more important than the law. I can't do that at this one intersection, but I'll be making sure I am over in the middle or the right of the lane so the drivers think twice about overtaking me. It always seems that the more room you give them, the closer they are when they overtake you.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #1 - Dec 15th, 2006 at 7:01pm
 
You are very brave riding a bike on a public road these days.  Sometimes even in my car, I feel unsafe.  The drivers are crazy and so many of them are rushing and if you stay within the speed limit - you're liable to be a target of road rage.  Some days I'll just pull over and let them all rip past.

Bike riders are a worry though even for a cautious driver like myself.  I always try to give them a wide berth, but it's just becoming increasingly unsafe for a rider to travel in peak hour particularly.

I'd take the officers advice and try to stick to the footpaths - although it depends if you live in a busy area  where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic - that would make it difficult.   Anyway good luck - you are in a vulnerable situation riding to work - so be careful.

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Reply #2 - Dec 20th, 2006 at 12:31pm
 
Heres what you need to do........where your drink bottle normally sits, attach a heavy hammer.  If that happens again, or you see the car that did it to you, at the next convenient set of lights, remove said hammer and belt the bugger out of their vehicle. Then ride off.  You dont have a licence plate, so there is not much they can do.  But what it will do is put fear into their hearts when they next see a cyclist, probably giving you a wide berth.  Im not a supporter of road rage but sometimes police are useless in exacting justice.
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Reply #3 - Jan 15th, 2007 at 8:32am
 
SBS wasn't on this morning so I switched to that sunrise show. Today they were talking about bad drivers. One of them said his pet peeve was cyclists who take up the whole lane. Fair enough, they often say stupid things and the others pick up on it, but this time they all agreed. What is wrong with these people? We should stick them on a bike on a busy road and see how they feel after trying to deal with drivers who think they should make do with the gutter and half a foot of bitumen so as not to interrupt their makeup session. Channel seven should issue a public apology to all the cyclists who get knocked of their bikes this week by people who now feel entitled to force cyclists off the road.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #4 - Jan 15th, 2007 at 6:55pm
 
Some cyclists are complete idiots. I came around a bend the other day doing 90 in a 90 zone with a semi right behind me and here is this bike rider, completely oblivious to whose behind him, doing 22 and taking up a third of the left hand lane. If a vehicle was coming the other direction that cyclist would be roadkill by now.

I'm sure you ride in a manner that you understand the other motorists have cars that do a lot quicker than bikes and because if you slow these vehicles, allowing them to run uneconomically creating the need to use more oil, the government will always be on your side.

I believe bikeways are for bikes. Because I believe in equality I feel the government should build bikeways and/or bike lanes for all major routes.

When it comes to me hitting another car or taking out the idiot on the bike, look out idiot.

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Re: share the road!
Reply #5 - Jan 16th, 2007 at 9:03am
 
I'm all for bike lanes, but until you get them, you have to share the road with bikes, just as you have to share it with old people who drive slowly. You shouldn't be driving at a speed where you cannot avoid obstacles anyway. There's always a chance you'll get a cow or a kangaroo on the road, both of which can kill the driver of a vehicle because they are up so high. Fair enough, I won't be riding in a 90 zone. It feels dangerous enough in a 60 zone. But unless bikes are banned (motorways) then you are legally required to share the road with them. You should think of it as the cyclist taking up the whole lane, not just a third of it, and you should give them the whole lane, or at least plenty of room, when you overtake.

The truck driver would have seen the cyclist a lot earlier than you did. They have a good view from up there.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #6 - Jan 16th, 2007 at 12:59pm
 
LOL No Comment  Cheesy !  I would just give them the finger when they past. If thats not good enuf Id just grab a good sized rock and chug at their car windows mostly.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #7 - Jan 18th, 2007 at 10:00pm
 
The faster the roads the more productivity. Bikes have no place on the road. Just because the health lobby is powerful that a very small margin of the population has been catered to in the hope that more people will take to the roads for a cardio vascular workout. Take big gasps of that polluted air and tell me where your health benefit is.

The butterfly effect of the bike rider is, backed up traffic, causing frustration and a possible volatile situation. Emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire brigade can't get to their destination because a bicycle rider has traffic backed up for km's. Accidents can occur from the mess you leave in your wake whilst you ride along taking up a lane on a road that was only made for motorised vehicles. Yet you selfishly say "Share The Road" because you want to be different. I say "Shove Off".

The bike rider - Builder of stress and mess.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #8 - Jan 19th, 2007 at 8:55am
 
It is illegal to ride on footpaths in Australia. If more people rode bikes there wouldn't be as much traffic in the first place. One big limit to productivity in Australia is obesity. It is fast becoming the biggest killer - soon to overtake cancer. The air you breathe on a bike is same air you breathe anywhere else in the city. Cars may appear to give higher productivity, but a lot of that productivity is wasted on keeping our rode system up and running. I am justified in saying share the road because I am more than willing to share it with cars. I just don't like being forced off the road in fear of my life. As far as emergency vehicles go, you may not know this being someone who thinks they own the road, but when you hear one coming you move off to the side to let them through. Lots of cars on the road tends to create a situation where everyone needs a car, but they do this by destroying the amenity for other users.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #9 - Jan 19th, 2007 at 7:25pm
 
you wrote;

It is illegal to ride on footpaths in Australia.

Of course it is, the walkers didn't want to share the footpaths with you due to the dangers that you create and now drivers don't want to share the road with you because, once again, of the dangers you create.

If more people rode bikes there wouldn't be as much traffic in the first place

Now we all have to be like you.

One big limit to productivity in Australia is obesity

Someone forgot to tell the food industry.

The air you breathe on a bike is same air you breathe anywhere else in the city

When you are riding your bike you will take much deeper and much more frequent breathes than someone sitting in his airconditioned vehicle. Suck that polution in!

Cars may appear to give higher productivity, but a lot of that productivity is wasted on keeping our rode system up and running

I don't see how this is a waste, this is productivity. Just ask the Macquarie Bank.


I am justified in saying share the road because I am more than willing to share it with cars

You don't seem to get the point, the walkers and drivers don't want to share anything with a bike rider because of the dangers that they create to the uniformity of their lives.

Next minute we'll have skateboarders on our roads then roller skaters, where will it end?

As far as emergency vehicles go, you may not know this being someone who thinks they own the road, but when you hear one coming you move off to the side to let them through

As for owning the road, seeing that I buy petrol and this is where the taxes come from for the roads you could say that I contibute to the maintenance and building of the roads. I even pay a toll to use the road when on motorways. I wouldn't say I own it but I do contribute to it where bike riders contribute nothing but misery, frustration and anguish.

As for pulling over to the left when emergency vehicles are approaching of course I practice this but how does the 2 lane traffic bumper to bumper backed up for 2 km's because of a bike rider doing 22km's an hour all move to the left? The bike rider is obviously unaware of what he is doing because he wouldn't be able to see 2kms behind him and here the siren.

Bike riders come accross as very self centred and ignorant people due to the way they conduct themselves on the road and footpaths. Obviously you have proved this to be true if your unaware of the effects that you cause on the roads.







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Re: share the road!
Reply #10 - Jan 19th, 2007 at 9:55pm
 
Quote:
and now drivers don't want to share the road with you because, once again, of the dangers you create


Are you worried we might scratch your car as you run us over?

Quote:
Now we all have to be like you


No, the more people on bikes, the more road left for those still using cars too.

Quote:
When you are riding your bike you will take much deeper and much more frequent breathes than someone sitting in his airconditioned vehicle.


Apart from getting run over by the obese person in the air conditioned vehicle who thinks he owns the road, this is a good thing. It's called exercise. Living in a polluted city and exercising is far better than living there and not exercising.

Quote:
I don't see how this is a waste, this is productivity. Just ask the Macquarie Bank.


Roads are a means to an end, not an end in themselves. If there is alternate means that is cheaper, then it is a waste. GDP, or whatever your concern is, is a measure of activity, not productivity.

Quote:
You don't seem to get the point, the walkers and drivers don't want to share anything


My point is that they should share the road.

Quote:
As for owning the road, seeing that I buy petrol and this is where the taxes come from for the roads you could say that I contibute to the maintenance and building of the roads.


And rightly so. Bikes don't wear roads out. Vehicles do.

Quote:
I even pay a toll to use the road when on motorways.


Which is besides the point as bikes aren't allowed on them.

Quote:
As for pulling over to the left when emergency vehicles are approaching of course I practice this but how does the 2 lane traffic bumper to bumper backed up for 2 km's because of a bike rider doing 22km's an hour all move to the left?


If you are moving at 22km/hr then there will be plenty of room if you slow down even more. Most two lane roadways can easily accomodate three vehicles side by side, plus you wouldn't be following so closly that you can't merge anyway.

Quote:
The bike rider is obviously unaware of what he is doing because he wouldn't be able to see 2kms behind him and here the siren.


I have never know this situation of a cyclist holding up 2km of traffic to occur. It is quite fanciful, but not at all reflective of reality. Out of fear for their lives, cyclists always go out of their way to avoid having a long queue trying to overtake them. The last thing you want is an angry obese person in an air conditioned vehicle trying to squeeze past you when there isn't room. I for example only use the road for about 5% of my trip to work, and am quickly back off it when there is room.
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Reply #11 - Jan 20th, 2007 at 4:58pm
 
Anybody riding a pushbike on the roads these days has a repressed death wish.  I have seen cyclists do the most atrocious things on the road.  Get behind the wheel of a car and see how vulnerable you are.  I give you cyclists as much room as I can, but sometimes it's touch and go in today's peak hour traffic. Any pushbike rider advocating damaging other's property (cars) is a roadrager and should be dealt with accordingly.  Pushbikes should be licensed and carry plates as do motorised vehicles, only then will there will be a recourse at law.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #12 - Feb 17th, 2007 at 6:01pm
 
It is amazing. If you took a car mirror and walked up to a cop and whacked him with hit you can be very sure that you would get charged - even if there was no resultant 'evidence'.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #13 - Feb 19th, 2007 at 9:07am
 
We need more bike lanes.  It's ridiculous that bike riders have such little choice these days.  We are supposed to be encouraging more people to use public transport, yet the roads are jam packed with angry car drivers - usually with no passengers

Even if they had to narrow some of the arterial roads minimally to allow safer passage for bike riders - it might encourage frustrated car owners to use the public transport system.

Everyone has a right to walk, ride or drive - but those who want the healthy alternative are being punished and having their lives put at risk.

We've got two governments making our lives a misery.  On one hand the federal government gives generous fuel subsidies to those who drive larger vehicles to work, but rejects giving the same subsidies to public transport commuters.  And on the other hand we have a cash strapped NSW (I think Victoria has the same problems) cutting costs by reducing the number of peak hour trains and buses.

We need the State and Federal governments to work on this together.  Cut the fuel subsidies, put more cash into trains and buses and everyone will be happy.  Those who chose to walk or ride a bike can do so without the threat of losing their lives because they want to stay healthy.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #14 - Feb 27th, 2007 at 7:21pm
 
I got my bike serviced last week. I rode home via an unfamiliar route. As I was turning left at a fairly high speed (3 lanes each way before and after turn), I got beeped at from a car just behind me. I must have only held this car up by a few seconds as I checked behind me as I was approaching the corner and there was no-one there. It was a small car with two young ladies in the front, probably only just old enough to drive. After the corner, as they passed, the driver had one hand one the wheel and was swerving over two lanes so she could lean across her passenger and yell at me through the open window. No idea what she said, but she didn't look happy Shocked. I nearly caught up to her two intersections further on, but she just got away.
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Reply #15 - Feb 27th, 2007 at 9:22pm
 
Hey Mantra - can't believe you really drive a car. All that Co2 you're putting in the air. That's really naughty.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #16 - Feb 27th, 2007 at 9:28pm
 
My car has a 5.8 litre engine with a 650cfm carby, 4v heads and extractors.
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Greens seek Sydney CBD road closures
Reply #17 - Mar 19th, 2007 at 8:45pm
 
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Greens-seek-Sydney-CBD-road-closures/2007/03/19/1174152957459.html

Road closures in Sydney's CBD would become a regular occurrence under a plan by the NSW Greens to reclaim the city streets for pedestrians and cyclists.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon is calling for a four-month trial of regular Sunday street closures in central Sydney, along with the establishment of an online service to help plan walking and cycling trips, allowing people to enjoy the city centre.

"In Sydney's CBD traffic congestion means cycling and walking are often quicker, or only slightly longer than driving or catching public transport," she said.

It comes as a new study shows many Sydneysiders are put off cycling around inner-Sydney because of safety concerns.

Four out of five occasional cyclists told a City of Sydney survey that there was too much traffic in the CBD to contemplate cycling.
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Reply #18 - May 17th, 2007 at 3:08pm
 
Some drivers just don't get it. I have recently started cycling to work. I'm just a guy who rides to work, trying to lose some weight, save some money and look after the environment. But you have to deal with idiots in cars swerving towards you, not indicating, yelling out the window.

I attempt to stay off the road wherever possible, but need to be on it in certain sections. I try to ride as quick as possible (sometimes up to 50kph - cars still try to race past), and stay out of the road as much as possible. I have however, taken to sitting in the middle of the road in some places so that cars do not attempt to pass me as I fell that it is too dangerous. At most - I would hold a cra up for 30s. That is what I don't get. If the car driver got some exercise ecery once in a while, maybe they wouldn't be so depressed with their monotnous, boring lives that 30s behind a bicycle incites road rage,

However, 99% of drivers are courtous, thoughtful and give me a wide berth. Thankyou.
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Motor scooters a menace on roads: survey
Reply #19 - Jul 18th, 2007 at 10:52am
 
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Motor-scooters-a-menace-on-roads-survey/2007/07/18/1184559819774.html

As motorcycle and scooter sales soar, more than one third of NSW drivers say scooters are the "new menace" on Sydney roads.

Scooter sales for the six months to April were 20 per cent higher than the same period last year, while motorcycle sales enjoyed an even bigger jump - of 36 per cent - in the same period, insurance company AAMI says.

But it says motor scooters, usually with automatic transmission and simpler to ride, are still seen as a worse hazard than their more powerful two-wheeled counterparts on major city roads.

The research also showed 78 per cent of NSW car drivers in the survey said they had seen motorcyclists breaking the law and taking unnecessary risks on the roads.

"This isn't to say that car drivers are any safer or less erratic than motorcyclists, but it does suggest they need to be more vigilant and not take dangerous risks like ducking and weaving in and out of traffic," Ms O'Connor said.

"The unfortunate and often tragic reality is that the motorcycle or scooter rider will come off second best in an accident involving a car, regardless of who is at fault."

Mr O'Connor said a 2004 RTA study had shown in the event of a crash, motorcycle riders were 20 times more likely to be killed than drivers.



Cyclist dies after being hit by car

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Cyclist-dies-after-being-hit-by-car/2007/07/23/1185042980621.html

A cyclist has died after being hit by a car in Melbourne's south-east on Monday morning.

The cyclist and the city-bound car collided on the South Gippsland Highway at Dandenong about 5.40am (AEST), Victoria Police said.



Coroner recommends road cycling changes

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Coroner-recommends-road-cycling-changes/2007/07/26/1185339139615.html

A coroner has recommended closer monitoring of road cycling safety after a cyclist fatally struck an elderly pedestrian during one of Melbourne's notorious Hell Rides.

"Undisciplined large groups of cyclists like the Hell Ride need to be discouraged as they are a significant safety risk to the public as well as themselves," Mr Johnstone said.



Cyclist fine to be viewed as 'pathetic'

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Cyclist-fine-to-be-viewed-as-pathetic/2007/08/08/1186530418767.html

A cyclist who fatally hit a pedestrian during one of Melbourne's notorious Hell Rides has been fined $400, despite a magistrate admitting the penalty would be seen as "pathetic".

In sentencing, Mr Rozencwajg noted that Raisin-Shaw had been charged only with disobeying a traffic signal, not over Mr Gould's death.

Last month, coroner Graeme Johnstone called for research into the policing of cyclists following Mr Gould's death.



Woman cyclist dies in hit and run in Qld

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Woman-cyclist-dies-in-hit-and-run-in-Qld/2007/10/28/1193506334169.html

A cyclist has died in a hit and run in Bundaberg on the central Queensland coast.

Police say the 44-year-old woman was riding down Targo Street at about 7pm (AEST) on Saturday night when she was struck by a car and killed instantly.

They say the car, believed to be a green hatchback, stopped momentarily after the collision then quickly sped off.



Bike numbers on the rise in Australia

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Bike-numbers-on-the-rise-in-Australia/2007/11/16/1194766936273.html

Australians are getting on their bikes and scooters in greater numbers than ever before.

And the number of diesel cars has increased by almost 50 per cent to about 570,000 since 2003, the latest national motor vehicle census reveals.

The census, one of a series first conducted in 1921 but more regularly by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) since 1971, shows Australia has 14,774,921 assorted vehicles, a 12.2 per cent increase on the 2003 figure and 2.9 per cent more than last year.

Motor-cycle numbers soared past the half-million mark to 511,966 - up 35.9 per cent since 2003 and 10.6 per cent in the past year.



China puts brakes on bike thieves

http://www.smh.com.au/news/breaking-news/china-puts-brakes-on-bike-thieves/2007/12/03/1196530571215.html

China's capital, where four million bicycles are stolen a year, is clamping down on bike thieves before it hosts the Olympics, state media says.

China is home to a world-record 470 million bicycles, but theft is widespread.

Starting at the weekend, new bicycles must have identification numbers and buyers must register using their real names, the China Daily said.

"The registration of names, ID and phone numbers will make it easier for police to trace stolen bicycles and return them to their rightful owners," the newspaper said.

Around 4,000 people have been caught stealing bicycles this year in the capital Beijing.



Elderly man hit by 'blinded' cyclists

http://news.smh.com.au/elderly-man-hit-by-blinded-cyclists/20080128-1ojs.html

A 72-year-old Sydney man was knocked unconscious when a group of cyclists, who were blinded by the morning sun, slammed into him.

A NRMA Careflight spokesman said the man was walking along the verge of the M4 motorway, in Sydney's west, when the accident occurred about 6.30am (AEDT) on Monday.
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$1m plan to ease bikes on trains row
Reply #20 - Feb 16th, 2008 at 10:26pm
 
http://news.smh.com.au/1m-plan-to-ease-bikes-on-trains-row/20080215-1shu.html

The Victorian government will spend $1 million on 20 new bicycle cages at railway stations as it moves to placate cyclists over its bungled ban on bikes on public transport.

Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky on Friday reversed the ban in an embarrassing backflip, following uproar from cyclists.

The bike ban was introduced on peak hour trains six weeks ago but Ms Kosky later ordered a review when she learned her department had not adequately consulted on the changes.

Under the new arrangements, bikes will be allowed on all metropolitan and regional V/Line train services.

But they will be restricted to the last carriage while Connex works towards possibly modifying carriages to make them more cyclist friendly.

In a further win for cyclists, fold-up bikes will be allowed on all Melbourne trains, trams and buses from April 1.

The government will also invest $1 million on 20 new bicycle cages at railway stations to reduce congestion on trains.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #21 - Feb 17th, 2008 at 12:12pm
 
freediver wrote on Dec 5th, 2006 at 9:53am:
I can't do that at this one intersection, but I'll be making sure I am over in the middle or the right of the lane so the drivers think twice about overtaking me. It always seems that the more room you give them, the closer they are when they overtake you.


Wear bright clothing and ride in the middle of the lane. It's legal, and encouraged. If you ride to the left side of the lane you're only tempting drivers to squeeze by, and this is more likely to cause an accident.
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Campbell Newman pledges bike path funding boost
Reply #22 - Feb 22nd, 2008 at 2:35pm
 
Campbell Newman pledges bike path funding boost

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23228384-952,00.html

FUNDING for bike paths would quadruple if the Liberals won next month's Brisbane City Council election, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said today.

Cr Newman, with Liberal candidates in tow, rode from the City Botanic Gardens to New Farm park to announce the $100 million funding commitment this morning.

Under the plan, Cr Newman said bikeways would be fast-tracked and missing links of the network completed.

City Hall would spend an average of $25 million in funding each year for four years to complete the plan.

Over the past four years a total of about $25 million has been spent on bikeways.

Cr Newman said it was important for commuters to have options other than private cars and public transport.

"The money that we spend will be to complete some of the missing linkages for example along Bulimba Creek, down in Yeronga, down in Fairfield, just around the corner here in New Farm linking the Powerhouse along the front of Cutters Landing," he said.

"We want to do that so that recreational cyclists can enjoy getting out there and being active and healthy, but we also want to create a network that is real alternative to the use of the private motor vehicle."

Labor's lord mayoral candidate Greg Rowell said Cr Newman was playing "catch up" with bikeway funding because he has been funding tunnels instead.



Vic drivers find cyclists a road hazard

http://news.smh.com.au/vic-drivers-find-cyclists-a-road-hazard/20080226-1urp.html

More than 60 per cent of Victorian motorists find cyclists are a road hazard, according to research carried out by insurer AAMI.

AAMI says its research shows almost half - 47 per cent - of Victorian car drivers have had a close call with a cyclist.

AAMI public affairs manager Geoff Hughes says bicycle sales have risen sharply in recent years as people look for ways to beat traffic and rising fuel prices, and to reduce their personal impact on the environment.

"The fact that 64 per cent of Victorian drivers surveyed find cyclists to be a road hazard shows some drivers still have much to learn about sharing the road," Mr Hughes said.

He said 82 per cent of Victorian motorists think roads are dangerous for cyclists and 61 per cent think they can do more to make roads safer for cyclists.

"The challenge for drivers is to convert this awareness into meaningful action to help make the roads safer for cyclists," Mr Hughes said.

"Drivers need to exercise patience and give cyclists appropriate clearance when passing them, and look out for them before opening car doors, when turning, and when entering roundabouts and intersections."



Man charged over cyclist hit and run

http://news.smh.com.au/man-charged-over-cyclist-hit-and-run/20080227-1v6p.html

A man accused of deliberately hitting a group of Perth cyclists in a road rage incident has been charged by Perth police.

The 19-year-old Mindarie man was charged with four counts of an unlawful act with intent to harm and one count of reckless driving.

Police allege the man continually sounded his car horn at four cyclists riding two abreast on Marmion Avenue, Iluka, in Perth's northern suburbs about 7.30am (WDT) last Tuesday.

"Two riders went to the passenger side of the sedan and two rode to the other side to speak with the driver about his behaviour," police spokeswoman Sgt Diane Simpson said.

"The sedan allegedly moved forward and then accelerated in reverse clipping one of the cyclists," she said.

"The sedan again moved forward and struck another rider who rolled onto the bonnet while his $10,000 bike was crushed beneath the car."

The driver allegedly fled the crash scene.



City crash cyclist urged to call police

http://news.smh.com.au/city-crash-cyclist-urged-to-call-police/20080305-1x48.html

Bicycle Victoria is urging the cyclist who knocked down a pedestrian in Melbourne's Bourke Street late Tuesday to contact police.

Don McFadyen, 62, was taken to hospital with a dislocated hip and a severe fracture of the arm above his elbow.

Mr Barber believes paramedics at the scene treated both men and when the rider had recovered he got back on his bike and rode away.

However, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Ambulance Service said paramedics' record of the incident showed that the cyclist had left the scene by the time they arrived.



Cyclists in 50-bike Sydney hit and run

http://news.smh.com.au/cyclists-in-50bike-sydney-hit-and-run/20080508-2c56.html

A pack of 50 cyclists - including reportedly at least one Olympian - has been involved in a hit and run incident on a Sydney road.

No one was seriously injured, an ambulance spokesman said. Four cyclists were treated at the scene for minor cuts and abrasions, but did not transport any to hospital.

Police say a car crashed into the group of cyclists on Southern Cross Drive in Botany at about 6.45am (AEST) on Thursday, and drove away without stopping.
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« Last Edit: May 8th, 2008 at 12:48pm by freediver »  

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Re: share the road!
Reply #23 - May 15th, 2008 at 10:07pm
 
I passed a lady on my way to work this morning who had been hit by a car. She had blood on her face and her back tyre was bent, but she was sitting up by herself. I passed another bike accident at the same intersection a few months back. Last week at a different intersection I passed a guy who had been hit by a car. He looked unconscious, had blood dripping from his mouth etc. There's still a blood stain on the road.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #24 - May 17th, 2008 at 11:17am
 
freediver wrote on May 15th, 2008 at 10:07pm:
I passed a lady on my way to work this morning who had been hit by a car. She had blood on her face and her back tyre was bent, but she was sitting up by herself. I passed another bike accident at the same intersection a few months back. Last week at a different intersection I passed a guy who had been hit by a car. He looked unconscious, had blood dripping from his mouth etc. There's still a blood stain on the road.


You didn't stop to offer assistance?
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Re: share the road!
Reply #25 - May 17th, 2008 at 11:55am
 
With the guy who was unconscious, there was already a large crowd standing around. I felt bad enough just having a sticky beak. I came back the same way about 15 minutes later and the ambulance was there. There were putting some board thing behind his back to load him in without damaging his neck. With the lady I saw on Thursday, there was someone else with her and another bloke on the footpath on a mobile, plus another lady from the nearest car. She was on a small traffic island in the middle of a large intersection. I didn't think a crowd would help. The one a few months back already had cops everywhere.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #26 - May 20th, 2008 at 11:05pm
 
Just 2 examples of why cyclist shouldn't be on the roads.  I wouldn't mind sharing if they paid their way via a license and/or rego like other road users have to.  I believe that's why (some) other road users hate them so much.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #27 - May 21st, 2008 at 9:41am
 
Cyclists don't cause any wear and tear on the road surface like heavier vehicles do. They have to go somewhere, and at the moment it is technically illegal for them to ride on the footpath.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #28 - May 21st, 2008 at 11:06am
 
one of the reasons I gave up commuting ot work on my bicycle was there were too many cars on the road.

The way some cyclists ride , I can entirely see why car drivers distrust them.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #29 - Sep 8th, 2008 at 3:06pm
 
There was a surplus before the last federal election of BILLIONS as well as the Billions extra that would keep coming in thanks to the GST. Instead of the wholescale bribe for votes that came from both major parties, this money could have been used to start building bike track from suburbian areas into the city.

In many cases the current rail routes could have been utilised, many have enough room to allow bike paths to be built alongside and because they are rail lines they are generally flat so people of most fitness levels could enjoy them and utilise them.

Charge bike registration, to help cover the cost for policing on the bike way. Kids or primary/highschool students can register one bike for free linked to the household, but adults would need to pay. I'm not suggesting $500 a year.

Ultimately the Grand Vision could be to link satelite cities and some regional areas with bikeways. Difficult when in Australian politics there's not a grand visionary amongst them. In Holland you can go almost anywhere on a pushbike and the bikeways there. In fact it is an extremely popular european holiday activity biking and camping in Holland. Australia is not like Holland in size so our infrastructuer cost would be higher because of the greater kilometers to be covered. But surely it is in our ability to link the suburbs and cities with safe bikeways.

Charge an extra tax on junkfood, softdrink, alcohol and cigerattes to get it started. Don't just pick on junkfood. Millions of bike users equals the opportunity for new businesses in bike sales, repair and even manufacture. Surely we can made a descent, sturdy and longlasting pushy here. make it generic with interchangable parts across a broadrange of models. We don't have to buy every piece of poo the Chinese make.

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Re: share the road!
Reply #30 - Sep 9th, 2008 at 2:46am
 
Hey Freediver,
Maybe one of the Adreno members recognised you......Lol.

Im glad you werent seriously injured.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #31 - Sep 22nd, 2008 at 3:58pm
 
That's an interesting idea for bike lanes along railway tracks. I'd feel a lot safer there. Trains don't tend to swerve into you at the last moment. But you would have to put up some kind of barrier between the bikepath and the tracks. There would also be limited connections with roads. Most train lines are gradually expanding so they may be a bit cramped in places, but this could take advantage of the spare land that is often maintained beside tracks.

There are a lot of bike paths around here that follow creeks. These work very well. The land is also flat and tends to have green space along it already. People don't like to build houses on creek flats for some reason.....
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Re: share the road!
Reply #32 - Sep 9th, 2010 at 12:19pm
 
response to e-petition about 1 meter passing distance:

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_qld/Responses/1407%20&%201504.p...
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Re: share the road!
Reply #33 - Sep 9th, 2010 at 1:20pm
 
ya get the same attitude on a motorbike, but at least you're faster than the cars that are trying to kill ya.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #34 - Sep 9th, 2010 at 2:04pm
 
freediver wrote on Sep 9th, 2010 at 12:19pm:


I agree with some of what you been saying here FD (I only just found the thread)....I generally try to leave 1.5 or 2 metre if possible....

That being said,....some cyclists are their own worst enemies though...
Particularly bicycle couriers....
I used to drive buses in Sydney and it was common occurence to have couriers ride straight through red lights or off kerbs without looking.....On one occasion I was in York Street (the main bus terminal for North Shore bus runs..it's 4 lanes 1-way) and a courier on a bike can around Wynyard park, the wrong way up a 1 way st, turned the wrong way into York St and rode diagonally across an intersection as I was turning right (almost under the front of my bus), went up the pram ramp onto the footpath, through a group of 8 or 10 people........then turned to me, shook his fist and yelled " Why do YOU learn the effing road rules"........
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Re: share the road!
Reply #35 - Sep 16th, 2010 at 4:27pm
 
Quote:
Heres what you need to do........where your drink bottle normally sits, attach a heavy hammer.  If that happens again, or you see the car that did it to you, at the next convenient set of lights, remove said hammer and belt the bugger out of their vehicle. Then ride off.  You dont have a licence plate, so there is not much they can do.  But what it will do is put fear into their hearts when they next see a cyclist, probably giving you a wide berth.  Im not a supporter of road rage but sometimes police are useless in exacting justice.
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That's a great idea, expose yourself to attempted murder charges. 

If you hit my car with a hammer I would remind you of some inescapable laws of physics.
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Politicians and Nappies need to be changed often and for the same reason.

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Re: share the road!
Reply #36 - Sep 16th, 2010 at 4:31pm
 
freediver wrote on Jan 16th, 2007 at 9:03am:
I'm all for bike lanes, but until you get them,
you have to share the road with bikes, just as you have to share it with old people who drive slowly. You shouldn't be driving at a speed where you cannot avoid obstacles anyway.
There's always a chance you'll get a cow or a kangaroo on the road, both of which can kill the driver of a vehicle because they are up so high. Fair enough, I won't be riding in a 90 zone. It feels dangerous enough in a 60 zone. But unless bikes are banned (motorways) then you are legally required to share the road with them. You should think of it as the cyclist taking up the whole lane, not just a third of it, and you should give them the whole lane, or at least plenty of room, when you overtake.

The truck driver would have seen the cyclist a lot earlier than you did. They have a good view from up there.


In all fairness FD, the old people would be breaking the law, in Queensland you are now eligible for an ~$200 fine and loss of 3 demerit points IIRC for driving substantially under the speed limit.  The transport department saw fit to enable a speed limit of 90kph which was being obeyed.  The vehicle travelling substantially under that is the one creating the risk.
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Politicians and Nappies need to be changed often and for the same reason.

One trouble with political jokes is that they often get elected.

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Re: share the road!
Reply #37 - Sep 16th, 2010 at 4:43pm
 
freediver wrote on May 15th, 2008 at 10:07pm:
I passed a lady on my way to work this morning who had been hit by a car. She had blood on her face and her back tyre was bent, but she was sitting up by herself. I passed another bike accident at the same intersection a few months back. Last week at a different intersection I passed a guy who had been hit by a car. He looked unconscious, had blood dripping from his mouth etc. There's still a blood stain on the road.


Did you stop and talk to her FD?  If not you have just assumed it was not her fault.

I was sitting at a traffic light on a 3 lane carriage way the other day and saw this lycra clad fool approach the light look up the adjacent left street to ensure nothing was coming and proceed straight through the traffic light, only to be nearly cleaned up by a motorbike coming from the opposite direction.  

I guarantee you the headline would have read "cyclist killed by unobservant driver" instead of "f&*Kwit with a death wish kills himself and risks the lives of others by flagrantly disregarding road rules"

Personally I don't have an issue with cyclists.  It is legal for them to use the roads, and I have no beef.  Shame it isn't illegal for them not to use common sense in the process.

I have come around a blind bend at the speed limit only to have to slam on the brakes to avoid collecting a gaggle of lycra clad masochists riding 5 abreast and 4 deep on the road; it would have been a nasty crash and the ones that were killed would have pointed the finger squarely at me, when it was in fact the cyclists who were breaking the law.  


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Politicians and Nappies need to be changed often and for the same reason.

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Re: share the road!
Reply #38 - Jun 3rd, 2011 at 6:38pm
 
if you ride a bike on a road then concentrate only on your riding not on any thing.if over taking is possible then take overtake other wise don't behave as hero.
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Re: share the road!
Reply #39 - Aug 10th, 2014 at 2:00pm
 
This is how to share the road





Nice job on the overtake.
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Reply #40 - Aug 14th, 2014 at 4:28pm
 
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Re: share the road!
Reply #41 - Aug 18th, 2014 at 11:04am
 
Aussie wrote on Aug 14th, 2014 at 4:28pm:


Oh well done! The civil engineers in that country sure know what they're doin'. NOT. Grin

Then they end up in jobs downunder.  Angry
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