Cycling in Melbourne Australia
BV propaganda spin on the police CBD blitz
Makes me wonder why I joined BV, when it seems a portion of my membership is paying the wages of some pathetic spin doctor:
"Police blitz peds on red
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19 May 2009. Contrary to expectations, almost 400 CBD pedestrians were nabbed for defying the red light in a four day police blitz, far more than the number of bike riders caught.
During the blitz last week, which the media inaccurately described as targeting bike riders, 392 pedestrians were caught crossing the road against a red light and received a $57 on-the-spot fine.
Seventy-two cyclists were issued with a $227 on-the-spot fine for riding through a red light.
The figures confirm that city streets have become increasingly hazardous for bike riders as pedestrians develop the habit of ignoring traffic signals and stepping into the path of bike traffic.
And the figures show that the public perception of bike riders flouting red lights en masse is not backed up by the evidence.
During the intensive four day police campaign more than five times as many pedestrians than cyclists were caught running the red.
Police issued more than 550 penalty notices during the four-day blitz on pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists in the Melbourne CBD.
Ninety-three motorcyclists were caught for offences including riding through a red light, failure to wear a helmet and riding an unlicensed bike. Fines range from $57 to $227.
During the operation, police issued a further 311 penalty notices for motor car traffic offences, including failure to wear a seatbelt, talking on the phone, or driving an unlicensed vehicle.
Police targeted city intersections including Spencer and Collins Streets, Spencer and Bourke Streets, Elizabeth and Flinders Streets, Flinders and Swanston Streets, and Swanston and Collins Streets.
Senior Sergeant Shane Pettingill from the Melbourne Traffic Management Unit said police were alarmed by the number of people continuing to put their lives at risk.
“People don’t seem to understand that they’re risking their lives every time they cross the road against the red man, dart between cars, or ride through red lights.
“People may think they are invincible but it only takes a split second to be involved in a collision and if there is a car or tram involved, a pedestrian or cyclist is going to come out worse off.”
Support the people who support your bike riding. Join Bicycle Victoria.
"
"Police blitz peds on red
About this page
* Email me updates
* Send this to a friend
19 May 2009. Contrary to expectations, almost 400 CBD pedestrians were nabbed for defying the red light in a four day police blitz, far more than the number of bike riders caught.
During the blitz last week, which the media inaccurately described as targeting bike riders, 392 pedestrians were caught crossing the road against a red light and received a $57 on-the-spot fine.
Seventy-two cyclists were issued with a $227 on-the-spot fine for riding through a red light.
The figures confirm that city streets have become increasingly hazardous for bike riders as pedestrians develop the habit of ignoring traffic signals and stepping into the path of bike traffic.
And the figures show that the public perception of bike riders flouting red lights en masse is not backed up by the evidence.
During the intensive four day police campaign more than five times as many pedestrians than cyclists were caught running the red.
Police issued more than 550 penalty notices during the four-day blitz on pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists in the Melbourne CBD.
Ninety-three motorcyclists were caught for offences including riding through a red light, failure to wear a helmet and riding an unlicensed bike. Fines range from $57 to $227.
During the operation, police issued a further 311 penalty notices for motor car traffic offences, including failure to wear a seatbelt, talking on the phone, or driving an unlicensed vehicle.
Police targeted city intersections including Spencer and Collins Streets, Spencer and Bourke Streets, Elizabeth and Flinders Streets, Flinders and Swanston Streets, and Swanston and Collins Streets.
Senior Sergeant Shane Pettingill from the Melbourne Traffic Management Unit said police were alarmed by the number of people continuing to put their lives at risk.
“People don’t seem to understand that they’re risking their lives every time they cross the road against the red man, dart between cars, or ride through red lights.
“People may think they are invincible but it only takes a split second to be involved in a collision and if there is a car or tram involved, a pedestrian or cyclist is going to come out worse off.”
Support the people who support your bike riding. Join Bicycle Victoria.
"
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Maree Carroll on -
I wonder why they didn't try to mention the number of likely cyclists riding through the CBD during the blitz, to show what fraction of people did get caught being naughty.
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Permalink Reply by AlexZ on -
Not to mention the number of pedestrians, likely to be what, 30 or 40 per cyclist, to really give true meaning to the stats....
I'm pro-biking and all, but this sort of stats spin is really pathetic IMO
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Permalink Reply by Jaeger on -
Seems like advocacy groups always end up having someone just take things a little too far. No able-minded cyclist would believe this shit, why do they bother? Hopefully no media picked this piece up because it makes cyclists look like complete fools. Not a member of BV, how does their membership shape policy and media responses? If I was a member I would be really pissed off.
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Permalink Reply by Alex 4.0 on -
I don't really understand where all this hatin' is coming from. Of course BV is going to put a bike spin on those stats.
Definitely agree with Maree and AlexZ though, I think the cops are remiss in not stating the number of people that use the city in each category, be it pedestrian or cyclist or motorist. ( If you're passing through the city in a car, you stay a motorist, but if you park and get out, you're a pedestrian now ;-) ) ... what I mean is that the numbers on their own don't really help with sweeping generalisations, surely you need per capita info to do that.
Arguing which offence is the more serious is pretty subjective anyway, particularly when it comes to the fines for crossing at a pedestrian crossing on foot, running a red on a bike, or running a red in a car. This popped up in the blitz warning discussion over at fixed.org.au .
( Having Sen. Sgt. Sick Cuddle blame the victim in a collision at the end of the article doesn't help matters either. )
I'd like to see BV get 'more people riding more often' by spending more bucks subsidising first bike purchases ... then N+1 will take effect ;-)
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Permalink Reply by ChrisS on -
As mentioned on the Other Thread about this:
550 penalty notices over four days:
392 pedestrians: On the spot $57 fines
93 motorcyclists: Various offences. Fines range from $57 to $227.
72 cyclists: $227 on-the-spot fine for riding through a red light.
Additional: 311 penalty notices for motor car traffic offences, including failure to wear a seatbelt, talking on the phone, or driving an unlicensed vehicle.
Or listen to Steve's take on this via the weekly YarraBUG podcast.
Mind you, it's common enough knowledge that BV contributed to the N+1 cargo cult with thousands of free GVBR bikes a few years back, let alone several cycling orgs making submissions to the Henry Taxation Review on FBT status for cycling stuff.
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Permalink Reply by ChrisS on
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It sounds pretty funny unless you know there's dozens, if not hundreds, of similar anecdotes such as this. Not funny haha, but funny really fucking sad.
(NB: reasonable potty mouth is allowed on MC, just go lightly on insults)
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Permalink Reply by Ken Oath on -
Snip
Sgt Deb Lay said along with pedestrians, cyclists were our most vulnerable road users.
Perhaps the coppers should start penalising the vulnerable members of the community, such as the elderly, the disabled, women, children, the homeless, the poor etc etc.
A fine for riding through a red light is $234. Failure to wear a helmet, use a dedicated bike lane or carry a light or other equipment each carry a $58 fine.
Since when do I have to use a dedicated bike lane? Does that mean that I breaking the law by riding on the road on the Nepean Highway?
Sounds like another anti-bicycle plot with BV acting as copper's nark.
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Permalink Reply by Euan on -
Since when do I have to use a dedicated bike lane? Does that mean that I breaking the law by riding on the road on the Nepean Highway?
For quite a few years as it happens. A dedicated bike lane is one of those things that's on the road, with a bicycle lane start and end sign. You're obligated to use it unless it impractical to do otherwise.
The pike path on Nepean Highway is not a dedicated bike lane, it's an off-road path. You are not obligated to use that which is just as well as I consider it more hazardous.
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