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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/21/cyclists-arent-the-enemy-australia-needs-road-rules-to-protect-us

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Cyclists aren't the enemy - Australia needs road rules to protect us Cyclists aren't the enemy - Australia needs road rules to protect us
(5 months later)
Every day when I hop on my Every day when I hop on my bicycle, I attach lights to the handlebars and the seat post, two flashing beacons to warn motorists of my fragile presence. I wear lurid green or orange lycra jerseys and the mandatory helmet. I want to be seen. I want to be safe.
bicycle, I attach lights to the handlebars and the seat post, two flashing Whenever I’ve experienced a near-miss with a vehicle – and believe me it happens far too frequently – when I quiz the driver why they came so close their inevitable response is “I didn’t see you”. I point to my flashing lights, in vain. I try to understand that, for a second or two, perhaps I was in their blind spot. It forces me to ride even more defensively, to always make eye contact with motorists planning to turn across my path.
beacons to warn motorists of my fragile presence. I wear lurid green In the past week, we have witnessed three high-profile incidents involving cars and cyclists. On Sunday, news came through that six cyclists were hit by a single vehicle in an accident on Southern Cross Drive in Sydney. Thankfully, no-one was killed, but all the cyclists were rushed to hospital. Social media showed photos of the damage to the car – a shattered windscreen and large dents. Looking at that photo, we can all imagine the damage that inflicts on a human.
or orange lycra jerseys and the mandatory helmet. I want to be seen. I want to The cyclists were all members of a local club, out for their regular Sunday morning ride. They were riding in a peloton, probably two abreast, perhaps in a line of three or more, obeying the law. Whenever I’ve ridden in a peloton, I’ve always felt safer than on a solo ride. No longer can the motorist claim that I can’t be seen. There’s a tribe of us, as long and wide as any car. There’s no blind spot in this bunch. To hit six cyclists, one expects there must have been a huge error of judgement.
be safe. On Monday evening in Melbourne, a female cyclist was doored by a group of men getting out of a taxi. When the cyclist attempted to get the names of the men in order to report the accident, she was abused. She courageously pursued the men politely requesting their details, only to be mocked and finally ignored.
Whenever I’ve experienced a Meanwhile, footage has emerged from Brisbane showing a cyclist waiting in the left lane at a red light. An Audi comes up behind him and stops. When the light turns green, the cyclist takes off and a few seconds later is knocked to the ground from behind by the Audi. There is no question that the driver of the Audi did not see the cyclist.
near-miss with a vehicle – and believe me it happens far too frequently – when One thing is certain. Too many cyclists are being injured or killed on our roads. If this many citizens were killed in a single plane crash, there would be a coronial investigation and extensive media attention directed to the likely causes. When the cause of the incident was verified, the government would enact legislation that would prevent or minimise a repeat of the accident.
I quiz the driver why they came so close their inevitable response is “I There is already substantial evidence on the causes of most accidents involving cars and bicycles. That evidence overwhelmingly points to mistakes on the part of motorists in the vast majority of cases. Legislation therefore should be directed at the cause of these accidents – the motorists. We look to the Queensland legislation to encourage other governments to act for the safety of all concerned.
didn’t see you”. I point to my flashing lights, in vain. I try to understand And yet when cyclists die or are injured, there is hand-wringing from one side and a storm of anti-cyclist abuse from the other. Sadly, it’s not only trolls who indulge in cyclist-bashing. It’s as if the donning of lycra means we cyclists can be demonised by a section of the public as somehow less human. We are portrayed as selfish road warriors - not fathers, sons, mothers, daughters.
that, for a second or two, perhaps I was in their blind spot. It forces me to Everyone can cite the rogue cyclist who disobeys the road rules. It’s as if that one maverick steals every law-abiding cyclist’s right to safe passage. Suddenly there are irrational calls for bike registration so the rogue can be identified. Yeah, right. How many of us turn up to the local police station after we’ve witnessed a bloke in a BMW run a red light or a young woman driving a Barina while texting. “Officer, I have her number plate, you must charge her!” You’d be laughed out of the police station.
ride even more defensively, to always make eye contact with motorists planning The “us and them” argument demeans us as human beings. The accident in Sydney on Sunday will leave emotional and physical scars: not just for the cyclists involved, but also for the motorist in question. While apparently uninjured, he may bear the guilt and the nightmares of what occured on a suburban street for years to come.
to turn across my path. Without suitable infrastructure, without appropriate government legislation, we are all losers. We potentially lose our mobility; our sense of freedom; our right to safe passage; our alternative to a bumper-to-bumper commute; our enjoyment of a healthy pursuit.
In the past week, we have It’s time respective state governments began to invest in providing appropriate cycling lanes to service established commuter corridors. It’s time all state governments followed the lead of the Queensland parliament and enacted legislation requiring drivers to leave at least one metre of space when overtaking cyclists.
witnessed three high-profile incidents involving cars and cyclists. On Sunday, news came It’s time the Australian commuting public were offered alternatives to the one-passenger-per-vehicle madness of our current road network. More bike lanes means an increased numbers of cyclists and commuters which naturally leads to fewer cars on our roads and less congestion. Everyone’s a winner. If there was suitable infrastructure in place along this regular cycling route in Sydney, we can be confident six cyclists would have arrived home to spend the rest of the weekend with their families.
through that six cyclists were hit by a single vehicle in an To enact “a-metre-matters” legislation at least addresses one known cause of many accidents between bikes and cars. A simple act to enforce the rights cyclists have to safe passage. It’s not an instant fix, but it is the first stage on a re-education program for we motorists.
accident on Southern Cross Drive in Sydney. Thankfully, no-one was killed, but It’s certainly better than having to watch video footage treating cyclists as nothing more than annoying obstacles to dangerous drivers and passengers.
all the cyclists were rushed to hospital. Social media showed photos of the
damage to the car – a shattered windscreen and large dents. Looking at that
photo, we can all imagine the damage that inflicts on a human.
The cyclists were all members
of a local club, out for their regular Sunday morning ride. They were riding in
a peloton, probably two abreast, perhaps in a line of three or more, obeying
the law. Whenever I’ve ridden in a peloton, I’ve always felt safer than on a
solo ride. No longer can the motorist claim that I can’t be seen. There’s a
tribe of us, as long and wide as any car. There’s no blind spot in this bunch.
To hit six cyclists, one expects there must have been a huge error of
judgement.
On Monday evening in Melbourne, a female
cyclist was doored by a group of men getting out of a taxi. When the
cyclist attempted to get the names of the men in order to report the accident,
she was abused. She courageously pursued the men politely requesting their details,
only to be mocked and finally ignored.
Meanwhile, footage has emerged from Brisbane
showing a cyclist waiting in the left lane at a red light. An Audi comes up
behind him and stops. When the light turns green, the cyclist takes off and a
few seconds later is knocked to the ground from behind by the Audi. There is no
question that the driver of the Audi did not see the cyclist.
One thing is certain. Too many
cyclists are being injured or killed on our roads. If this many citizens were
killed in a single plane crash, there would be a coronial investigation and
extensive media attention directed to the likely causes. When the cause of the
incident was verified, the government would enact legislation that would
prevent or minimise a repeat of the accident.
There is already substantial
evidence on the causes of most accidents
involving cars and bicycles. That evidence overwhelmingly points to
mistakes on the part of motorists in the vast majority of cases. Legislation
therefore should be directed at the cause of these accidents – the motorists.
We look to the Queensland
legislation to encourage other governments to act for the safety of
all concerned.
And yet when cyclists die or are
injured, there is hand-wringing from one side and a storm of anti-cyclist abuse
from the other. Sadly, it’s not only trolls who indulge
in cyclist-bashing. It’s as if the donning of lycra means we
cyclists can be demonised by a section of the public as somehow less human. We
are portrayed as selfish road warriors - not fathers, sons, mothers, daughters.
Everyone can cite the rogue
cyclist who disobeys the road rules. It’s as if that one maverick steals every
law-abiding cyclist’s right to safe passage. Suddenly there are irrational
calls for bike registration so the rogue can be identified. Yeah, right. How
many of us turn up to the local police station after we’ve witnessed a bloke in
a BMW run a red light or a young woman driving a Barina while texting. “Officer, I have her number plate, you must charge her!” You’d be laughed out
of the police station.
The “us and them” argument
demeans us as human beings. The accident in Sydney on Sunday will leave
emotional and physical scars: not just for the cyclists
involved, but also for the motorist in question. While apparently uninjured, he may bear the guilt and the
nightmares of what occured on a suburban street for years to come.
Without suitable
infrastructure, without appropriate government legislation, we are all losers.
We potentially lose our mobility; our sense of freedom; our right to safe
passage; our alternative to a bumper-to-bumper commute; our enjoyment of a
healthy pursuit.
It’s time respective state
governments began to invest in providing appropriate cycling lanes to service
established commuter corridors. It’s time all state governments followed the
lead of the Queensland parliament and enacted legislation requiring drivers to
leave at least one metre of space when overtaking cyclists.
It’s time the Australian
commuting public were offered alternatives to the one-passenger-per-vehicle
madness of our current road network. More bike lanes means an increased numbers of
cyclists and commuters which naturally leads to fewer cars on our roads and
less congestion. Everyone’s a winner. If there was suitable infrastructure in
place along this regular cycling route in Sydney, we can be confident six
cyclists would have arrived home to spend the rest of the weekend with their
families.
To enact “a-metre-matters”
legislation at least addresses one known cause of many accidents between bikes
and cars. A simple act to enforce the rights cyclists have to safe passage.
It’s not an instant fix, but it is the first stage on a re-education program
for we motorists.
It’s certainly better than
having to watch video footage treating cyclists as nothing more than annoying
obstacles to dangerous drivers and passengers.