Cycling in Melbourne Australia
Clear the streets! Return to your homes! Suburban cyclists 'racing without road rules'
Surely MUARC is capable of better research than this? And why the requirement to add in regurgitated waffle to thump people over the head with? Although in MUARC's defense, this is a clumsily written news article and the study may contain further details lacking here. But on first impression, this does sound disappointing.
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The Age: Suburban cyclists 'racing without road rules'
Cyclists riding in packs can take on the characteristics of a "race without the officials", according to a study that observed a group hogging lanes, riding side-by-side and ignoring red lights.
The Accident Research Centre at Monash University examined police video footage of a group of cyclists from 2005 and saw behaviour one might expect from riders in the Tour de France.
The study, Cyclist Bunch Riding: A Review of the Literature, found the cyclists breached the three cycling road rules investigated in the research.
"The cyclists were riding more than two abreast for the entire footage, almost the whole ride the cyclists were in more than one lane, and almost half of the red lights faced were ridden through," the study says.
One of the three co-authors of the report, Marilyn Johnston, said the behaviour was both illegal and dangerous. "There are potential safety impacts for pedestrians, cross-traffic coming through - it's the kind of thing that causes drivers to form a negative opinion of cyclists," she said.
Police asked Ms Johnston and her colleagues to undertake the study in 2007 after the death of an elderly pedestrian who was struck by a cyclist riding as part of a pack that failed to stop at a red light.
James Gould, 77, was killed in August 2006 as he crossed Beach Road in Mentone during the so-called "Hell Ride".
The cyclist, William Raisin-Shaw, was charged with failing to stop and fined $400, enraging some who felt the penalty was too lenient.
But footage of the same route in 2007 appeared to show that cyclists had improved their behaviour slightly.
"Cyclists rode more than two abreast for only 2 per cent of the total ride (and) no cyclist rode through a red light," the study said. "However, at the end of the footage, the behaviour was indicative of an unofficial race, as cyclists accelerated towards a roundabout."
The State Government will this year introduce new "culpable cycling" laws in a bid to curb reckless behaviour by some cyclists. Under the laws, cyclists would face jail and fines for serious offences that result in death or injury to pedestrians, other cyclists or motorists.
Ms Johnston said she believed the improved behaviour could have been the result of media coverage of the death of the pedestrian.
"We don't have access to their thought processes, but the extent of the change does suggest a conscious decision. They might have thought they could get away with that behaviour before, but realised what can result."
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The Age: Suburban cyclists 'racing without road rules'
Cyclists riding in packs can take on the characteristics of a "race without the officials", according to a study that observed a group hogging lanes, riding side-by-side and ignoring red lights.
The Accident Research Centre at Monash University examined police video footage of a group of cyclists from 2005 and saw behaviour one might expect from riders in the Tour de France.
The study, Cyclist Bunch Riding: A Review of the Literature, found the cyclists breached the three cycling road rules investigated in the research.
"The cyclists were riding more than two abreast for the entire footage, almost the whole ride the cyclists were in more than one lane, and almost half of the red lights faced were ridden through," the study says.
One of the three co-authors of the report, Marilyn Johnston, said the behaviour was both illegal and dangerous. "There are potential safety impacts for pedestrians, cross-traffic coming through - it's the kind of thing that causes drivers to form a negative opinion of cyclists," she said.
Police asked Ms Johnston and her colleagues to undertake the study in 2007 after the death of an elderly pedestrian who was struck by a cyclist riding as part of a pack that failed to stop at a red light.
James Gould, 77, was killed in August 2006 as he crossed Beach Road in Mentone during the so-called "Hell Ride".
The cyclist, William Raisin-Shaw, was charged with failing to stop and fined $400, enraging some who felt the penalty was too lenient.
But footage of the same route in 2007 appeared to show that cyclists had improved their behaviour slightly.
"Cyclists rode more than two abreast for only 2 per cent of the total ride (and) no cyclist rode through a red light," the study said. "However, at the end of the footage, the behaviour was indicative of an unofficial race, as cyclists accelerated towards a roundabout."
The State Government will this year introduce new "culpable cycling" laws in a bid to curb reckless behaviour by some cyclists. Under the laws, cyclists would face jail and fines for serious offences that result in death or injury to pedestrians, other cyclists or motorists.
Ms Johnston said she believed the improved behaviour could have been the result of media coverage of the death of the pedestrian.
"We don't have access to their thought processes, but the extent of the change does suggest a conscious decision. They might have thought they could get away with that behaviour before, but realised what can result."
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mickey Who on -
Blah blah blah blah blah blah.... I mean really, they could've filmed the peloton of the Tour de France and call that illegal riding. And those riders in France hog the WHOLE street!!!
What about the rest of us who commute, use the bike as a utility transport and don't at all drive an outdated fossil remnants burning bits of metal?
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Permalink Reply by Adrian Tritschler on -
No, the Tour de France is an organised race, it is not an informal ride on a public road subject to road laws.
As for "What about those of us who commute?" If you read the abstract then you'll see that it was outside the scope of the report: "This report is a review of the literature on cyclists who ride in large groups or bunches on public roads."
Seems that a lot of people are getting a little upset at a report stating the bleeding obvious: Large groups of people tend to a mob mentality and ignore laws that individually they'd obey. Doesn't matter if these groups are people arguing in a pub, jogging around the Tan, riding on bikes on the road or on motorbikes cruising up the highway. Have you read the report, or have you only read the newspaper? The other major conclusion was that following widespread negative publicity the mob all behaved better, especially when they knew they were being watched by cameras -- again hardly earth-shattering news.
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Permalink Reply by Treadly and Me on -
Firstly, let's not get our feathers ruffled about research being done. Certainly research is almost always, to some extent, political but it also adds to the body of factual knowledge, even if the findings sometimes make for uncomfortable reading.
But let's also remove the filter of the media. I got hold of the report, and have only had time to skim the abstract, exec summary and conclusions.
First inconsistency. The Age says:
But footage of the same route in 2007 appeared to show that cyclists had improved their behaviour slightly.
(Emphasis added)
The actual report says (p. viii):
In comparison, there are dramatic reductions in the breaches of these three rules in the 2007 footage…Furthermore, no cyclist rode through a red light during this footage.
(Emphasis added)
and also in the abstract:
In addition, footage of bunch riding from Victoria Police, recorded in 2005 and 2007 was analysed and the behaviour of cyclists was found to have differed considerably.
(Emphasis added)
The conclusion also mentions "considerable differences in the cycling behaviour of riders filmed however, it is not known if this is representative of a general and permanent improvement of bunch riders" (p. 22)
Bollocks to a "slight" improvement, we're talking "dramatic reductions" in road rule breaches, including absolutely no red light running, which the report says is arguably "the most dangerous of unlawful behaviours that bunch riders tend to engage in" (p. 23).
Another inconsistency, The Age says:
The Accident Research Centre at Monash University examined police video footage of a group of cyclists from 2005 and saw behaviour one might expect from riders in the Tour de France.
The actual report does mention the Tour de France but in no place that I could find does it make that particular comparison. Indeed, given that the TdF is a closed-road, professional race there a number of ways in which any Beach Rd bunch is not at all like the Tour (although perhaps not obvious to a non-cycling observer). In particular, the way in which the Tour occupies the entire width of the road in a very dense bunch.
To my mind, a glaring omission is that there is no mention in The Age article of the Cycling Code of Conduct, although it is mentioned in several places in the MUARC report as a possibly important educational tool. (And yes, I have been dismissive of the Code of Conduct before, but it exists and cyclists who want a Cycling Australia card have to sign up to it.) I wonder if a comment was sought from CycleSport Victoria?
Finally, let's bear in mind that the MUARC report is a literature review. It found, in part, that "only three publications specifically addressed bunch riding" and that "There are limitations to the conclusions and recommendations that can be drawn from the available data".
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Permalink Reply by RobE on
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Thanks for the succinct review of the review T&M, there has been pressure for an interim report as many questions are being asked on how long this study is going to take, as in the meantime the refusal of Bayside City Council and Kingston City Council to change their view on the kerbside parking on Route 33 is delayed. They both cannot point definitively to this study as THE study, just that " a MUARC study is underway" and when released they MAY again look at the safety of Beach Rd. The State Government has already hinted it could invoke no standing and no parking rules on Beach rd ( not a clearway, which is an inappropriate and politically unacceptable term to them, ( and has different rules) so it will in the end be No Standing and No Parking at defined times... )... Even though Port Phillip City Council had no trouble invoking Clearway measures on Clearway signs on sections of Route 33 within its boundaries...
All I ask for is transparency in the process. I , and others, have been pushing Bayside Council, MUARC and other stakeholders to get on with this and it is slowly coming together.
The Age is doing the usual media scandalous reporting and fabricating to drive and exacerbate perception... I dont buy papers so I have done my bit about them....
The Bayside Leader did a similar scandalous headline this week calling Bicycle Riders " Public Enemy No.1"
(Bayside Leader Pic front page ). The pic curiously confrims the danger of parking on Route 33, and how a rider is volunteering to ride in the danger zone to give courtesy to passing drivers. This courtesy places every rider in the left lane in danger of being doored, and if riding two abreast of forcing other riders to pass in the outside lane. Never a mention of this in any paer.... argh... anyway I have given the Leader a serve on their headline and their misconstrued analysis of their report from which their reporter manufactured a headline claim. From the statistics “ buried” in the My Melbourne Survey that claim cannot support their disgraceful headline. The major enemy upon public roads in Bayside is Congestion (36%), followed by drivers talking on the phone (24%), Trucks (21%) speeding (18%), Hoons (16%), then we get to cyclists at (15%), followed by Road Rage (12%), Speed cameras, Tolls (tolls, in Bayside?) and Trams… so cycling rates 6 on the hierarchy in Bayside, and 8 across Melbourne ( out of 11)…barely a No 1 position in anyone’s language. The data has to be suspect to start with when significant responses show irrelevant input relating to Trams and Tolls which do not effect Bayside…(No Tolls in Bayside, No Trams IN Bayside, just up to the border and nowhere near Route 33.
Change the law, simple solution, bring in the Paris code that all road users are responsible for those lighter than they are... then we will have real road sharing and total responsibility driving attitude change...without it we will have this continuing stupidity and fodder for media ranting, and time wasting by governments and injuries and deaths on the roads that should and could have been avoided.
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Permalink Reply by Cory on -
The State Government will this year introduce new "culpable cycling" laws in a bid to curb reckless behaviour by some cyclists. Under the laws, cyclists would face jail and fines for serious offences that result in death or injury to pedestrians, other cyclists or motorists.
Hmmm... in one way, I'm thinking 'bring it on'. As riders, we should be responsible. However, if they're going to change the laws, why not change the primafacie legislation so that it's for the larger to prove they aren't at fault? Then it looks after EVERYONE!
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Permalink Reply by fxh on -
I would have thought the Hoon Laws might be applicable - let the cops sieze someones bike if they are hooning on it.
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Permalink Reply by Adrian Tritschler on
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There are plenty of other existing laws that can apply, but as with many things in Australia, it is far easier to be seen to be doing something by introducing yet more laws and penalties than by attempting to enforce existing ones.
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Permalink Reply by LongLoad on -
I agree, a general Culpable behaviour law would be better, covering everyone. Cars Bikes, horses, scateboards and those electric scooter things old peolpe hoon down footpaths and into traffic on.
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Permalink Reply by fxh on
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I notice over at BV forum there is a predictable outpouring of indignation based on misinformation and not a little arrogance. It should be no surprise that the media simplifies anything into binaries right and wrong with a good dash of drama.
The report was specifically about (1) unorganised (2) bunch riding in (3) large numbers on (4) public roads. It was prompted by Victorian State Coroner's investigation into the death of an elderly pedestrian, following a collision with a cyclist who was riding in a bunch. And as such the conclusions seem appropriate and in keeping with what evidence there is.
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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on -
Bloody Cyclists!
Killing 1600 people in Australia last year and causing serious injuries to at least 3 times that many road users....
Oh sorry i got you guys confused with motorists.
Carry on then
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Permalink Reply by Doddsy on
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"Cyclists rode more than two abreast for only 2 per cent of the total ride (and) no cyclist rode through a red light," the study said. "However, at the end of the footage, the behaviour was indicative of an unofficial race, as cyclists accelerated towards a roundabout."
So cyclists accelerating towards a round about while travelling under the speed limit a is a serious offence in comparison to a bus pulling out of a car park and running a cyclist over?
http://www.theage.com.au/national/council-knew-of-cbd-bus-dangers-2......
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