Cycling in Melbourne Australia
Bullshit
Now that I've got your attention with a mild expletive, the Sunday Age has seen fit to publish a reheated piece of crap about bicycle registration that will apparently assist, placate and pay for riders to use the roads.
This follows on from a recent series of articles in the Brisbane Times, Courier Mail and 3AW's Neil Mitchell
Listen to the mp3's linked in this following sentence: as it's obviously Situation Normal for Mitchell and this issue is a barrow 3AW have been pushing to no avail for absolutely ages, including remarks made by Nick McCallum in January 2007 and contributing 'special comments' from David Galbally.
Recent news articles. Yes there's a theme here and possible subtext.
- Courier Mail; Queensland bike lobby group wants cyclists to be licensed (19 March 09)
And then ....
- Brisbane Times: Bicycle licence calls 'ridiculous' (19 March 09)
From the Bicycle Queensland site: More cyclists, not more red tape (19 March 09)
Bicycle Queensland is against registration for cyclists, and in favour of removing barriers to increasing participation in cycling. Today's Courier Mail includes quotes from Ben Wilson, Bicycle Queensland's manager, in an article with the misleading headline: "Shock call to licence cyclists".
- SBS Cycling Central: You’ve Paid Your Rego – So Enjoy Bike Week! (20 March 09)
But wait, there's more ...
Brisbane Times: Bike licence scheme gains momentum (7 April 09)
Returning to todays Sunday Age "cyclists should pay" article, it's written despite the overwhelming evidence and experience to the contrary, although in all seriousness, this thin-as-gnats-piss article comprises only of a trumped up insurance survey and an interview with Bicycle Victoria's Harry Barber, who convincingly argues against the idea anyway. It seems to of totally escaped the Sunday Age that there's cited evidence to the contrary, as the apparent negative aspects massively out balance the positives of introducing such a scheme.
And obviously, a particular group of Australian media commentators continue to believe that bicycle riders actually create such unique and perplexing situations on our nations roads that the issue can only be solved by suggesting the registration of bicycles. That's despite the fact that this idea never worked successfully long-term anywhere in the world.
That's also despite the entire premise coming to a skidding halt in the articles final sentence;
A VicRoads spokesman said it did not have the resources to make bicycle registration a viable option.
***
Educate yourself
- The Medical Journal of Australia: Editorials - Cycling and health: an opportunity for positive change?
- Cycling Promotion Fund; Bicycles belong on the road, registration free
- Herald Sun; Rego? On yer bike (17 Jan 07)
- Bicycle Transportation Institute: Right to use the road
- Team Estrogen: Cycling Myths Debunked, Part I
- Team Estrogen: Cycling Myths Debunked, Part II
Tags: bullshit
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by RobE on
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typical pissweek offerings from a third rate rag...ahmmm 5th rate rag... waste of paper, only its oil burning, polluting, drunkard, substance abused, dysfunctional bogan devotees are stupid enough to buy it, and through the power of RSS we get a reminder of their idiocy and the hangers on they pay to perpetuate their filfth of incitement, misinformation and scandal mongering (by such such noteless characters/orgs as Midchill, Muckrakeullum and 3yAWn)... sadly they cause their desciples to go out and create more havoc by inciting them to cause harm to sensible road users...
dont buy their rags, dont listen to their idiocy on air
cycling is a noble sensible means of personal transport , recreation and enjoyment. It was around long before anyone ever drove motor vehicles, it existed sanely and safely until people started using motor vehicles as weapons and implements of danger... to seek to impose controls over vulnerable road users to placate the drivers of cars is as useful to society as those idiots pushing such a move...
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Permalink Reply by Jack on -
I thought about this the other day after listening to Neil Mitchell carry on about all the proposed money to be spent on cyclists. I think the term "Bike Path" is not a good one when referring to this path subject. I think here in Whitehorse and Knox they call them "Shared Pathways" which is a better term for more that just cyclists use them. I went for a ride on Friday morning with the camera running my ambition was to let it run from Vermont South to Dorset Road North Bayswater along the Eastlink/Dandenong Creek Trail, this would give be a good indication of the number of bikes compared to pedestrians. Unfortunatly it started to rain about the Bayswater railway line so I shut the camera down. It was running for 20 minutes and in that time I came across 24 Cyclists 19 oncoming and passed 5, 23 Pedestrians 11 oncoming and passed 12, 5 Joggers 2 oncoming and passed 3, 1 Roller Blader and 1 Council Ute ( I expect being Good Friday he was there for the overtime) So if you consolidate them up 24 Cyclists and 29 Pedestrians. As I only passed 5 cyclists it would be fair to say there would be more following me so it not really a fair comparison.
Cycle Lanes maybe a different thing but I will stay out of that one.
I would say that the ammount of traffic both bikes and pedestrians would be normal. What does amaze me is the number of mums with Orienteering prams that use the Vermont South to Jells Park trail.
Cheers, Jack.
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Permalink Reply by weg on -
Of course if Pallas or Brumby were serious about getting people cycling, they'd come out and say rego was garbage. A few comments like that, with police support explaining the road rules, would kill most of this, but they choose otherwise.
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Permalink Reply by Cory on -
Meh to me actually paying a rego. I'd be ok with it, and it'd stop one avenue of bleating from the haters. And, I think they would be dumb enuf to implement it, even tho it would cost the taxpayer lotsa $.
HOWEVER!
This would be catastrophic towards getting more ppl on bikes. I agree with what Weg said wholeheartedly. State Gov does only enough wrt cycling to provide them with the nice greenwash soundbites and paragraphs in reports.
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Permalink Reply by ChrisS on -
Another article today: Flip Shelton - Why bicycle registration is a must
As mentioned elsewhere, Flip commences with a good opening sentence, then meanders around and loses it. Overall her article could of done with a tad more judicious editing.
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Permalink Reply by Jack on
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I think I saw a Promo for Ch7 News last night, missed the content but it seemed that there maybe a problem with cyclists in the CBD I did see old Neil Mitchell having a say. It was either a promo for the news or Today Tonight for Monday night. I am sure a video will appear on the list tonight.
As a locksmith I spend most of my day driving from job to job, a lot of that driving is in the CBD and I can honestly say Cyclists are the least of my problems. I am too worried about where I am to park for the next job and avoiding Taxis to even notice cyclists behaviour. I admit there are some rogue cyclists about but most of those hang around the inner Melbourne Suburbs. Usually easy to spot as most don't wear helmets.
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Permalink Reply by Oz on -
Yeah I saw the promo too. Neil's fat head featured prominently. "A CH 7 news special report (*rolls eyes*) tonight 6pm". Basically sounds like the usual dribble about cyclists paying rego and being made more accountable etc etc blah blah. Should be good for a laugh.
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Permalink Reply by ChrisS on
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Problem is that the boofheads want accountability, whatever that really means, and riders to be identifiable.
Now for starters, if there wasn't such a rooted perspective when it came to riders as legitimate road users, then a licence would also automatically entail 3rd party insurance, education about rights & responsibilities and the desk sergeant taking you seriously when making a complaint. But such a cycling licence hasn't worked anywhere long-term. If you know of a functional example then I'm all ears.
Unfortunately Kneel hasn't extrapolated the actual issue out that far, he's still trapped in some law and order bollox.
Anyway, I do like the suggestion of showing a current CSV licence the next time a dkhd has a verbal crack.
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