Cycling in Melbourne Australia
Cyclist death
The Age is reporting a cyclist death near Geelong this morning.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/cyclist-becomes-second-road-victi...
No mention of the Amy Gillett ride that was on in Geelong today.
It was also the first day of the Jayco Bay Series of road races, also in Geelong ...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Stephen Bell on -
I did the ride this morning and didn't know until I just saw the news. This is the most I could find on the web...
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2011/01/02/235515_news....
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Permalink Reply by Zed on
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Man's family want to build a bike path in his memory - however one commentator wants the money spent elsewhere:
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/bike-path-plan...
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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on -
Some of the motorist comments are appalling :-( Even for rabid antibike motorists :-(
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Permalink Reply by GeeBee on -
I think that the comments reflect a lack of understanding about how things actually work, for example, the one about is it legal to drive with two wheels in a bike lane? You and I know that it is not, but has there been an explanation of bike lanes, which are relatively new to some drivers?
Confusion between bike lanes and bike paths is common even within the cycling community.
Car registration is renewed every year, so why not an insert with the mailing detailing rule changes that have occurred within the last year?
Why not periodic retesting of drivers to see if they are up with current rules and understand the road environment, which will almost certainly have changed since they achieved their licence?
Type certification as for a pilot's licence? You can't drive a bigger/faster vehicle until you have demonstrated an ability to do so?
Psychological assessment for fitness to hold a licence?
Politically unacceptable, I know, but it would solve a lot of problems and take away the need to build new roads in some cases!
Maybe something to add in the consultation period for the national road safety strategy currently underway
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/national_road_safety_...
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Permalink Reply by Chris Harris on -
You can't regulate basic courtesy and respect for other people, if you try you will just make it worse.
Subjecting the vast majorty of sensible and responsible people to your suggested tests because a few boneheads have been tolerated long enough for them to become dangerous is also not logical or fair.
Why not put all that administrative effort and cost into identifying these people early and trying to adjust their attitudes while leaving the people who have done nothing wrong to enjoy the freedoms they were born with?
I get passed by thousands of cars every time I ride, and none of them have run me over, only a few get a bit close.
I don't want the thousands who managed to pass me without issue punished with petty tests.
My condolences to his family - the circumstances don't matter; when someone is left dead it's still a terrible event.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on
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We subject drivers over 70 to testing (in some states) even though they're statistically safer than drivers under 30. I'm a responsible driver (when I have to use 1 of those infernal machines) and I'd welcome having my road knowledge skills tested every 5 years because I know it would be helping to keep some drivers off the road.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on
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Psychological assessment for fitness to hold a licence is politically acceptable for pilots, why not for drivers? We have forgotten in Australia that a licence is a privilege, not a right. Even in the USA, driving is not a right. In Australia we consider cars like the USA considers guns.
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Permalink Reply by GeeBee on
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Actually I thought Chris's third paragraph pretty well made the case!
Consider a near neighbour of mine, he got his licence in about 1961 (he's over seventy). Think of the changes that have occurred since then, and the fact that this chap, and thousands like him, are still driving to the standard tested for over 50 years ago.
It was brought home to me when he asked me if, when he was turning into a side street, he had to give way to pedestrians crossing that street. He was unsure as it was so long ago when he was tested.
The answer, in case you are wondering, is yes, mostly but not always!
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Permalink Reply by Jack on -
I got my license in 1970 and strongly remember when turning you give way to peds. I saw an interesting thing the other day. A guy in an old American car with no indicators give a hand signal. At first I thought he was waving to a mate but as he pulled up fast I realised he was indicating a left turn.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Harris on
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I remember dad saying "when people give hand signals these days you know their window is open" - that was probably in the 70's.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on
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Slightly off-topic, but still sort of relevent. I gave a hand signal for a right turn (on the bike, of course ;-) and a motorist shouted at me, "you could let a bloke know where you're going!" I gather he didn't understand the hand signal. I had to resist the instinct to give another ;-)
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Permalink Reply by Chris Harris on
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Maybe he wanted you to send him a letter before you left..
"Dear Mr Tossa, I'm riding from Eltham to Springvale tomorrow."
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