Cycling in Melbourne Australia
SafeCyclingAustralia
Hi folks, while technically a Victorian, we are both concidering the move quite strongly next year :)
however my first post here concerns all Vic cyclists and Im hoping that you can all jump onboard and help myself and the AGF out over the next few months.
Rather than fumble through this on my phone, Ill paste the natiomal press release which went out three weeks ago.
Those that frequent BNA will know me as The Womble.
New National Website Launched To Save Aussie Cyclists
3rd October 2010
Last weekend, Safe Cycling Australia, a new national website, was launched to enlist the support of Aussie cyclists to lobby the State and Federal Government's for a Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule of at least one (1) metre to be enshrined in law.
This national response comes as a direct result to the Queensland Governments negative response to a recent Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule petition in that state, which collected over five thousand signatures.
Part of the reasoning behind Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan’s official reply, was that until such time as the Australian Road Rules were modified, the States and Territories weren’t obligated to modify their respective laws with regards to vulnerable road users.
The creator of the Safe Cycling Australia website, Dave Sharp of Brisbane, is proposing that such a change would help to ensure that cyclists can, as he puts it, “get from A to B and back to A again by being able to maintain a more authoritative position whilst sharing our limited roadspace safely with other road users."
"If the various State ministers wish to see cycling numbers double to 3.8 million, as stated in the new Australian National Cycling Strategy 2011-16, they must also pledge to modify their existing laws to ensure that motorists and cyclists have a more clearly defined rule where overtaking is concerned, to ensure a minimum of fatalities and injuries occur on our shared roads."
Once logged onto the new Safe Cycling Australia website, people can choose letter(s) to download, sign and send to their nominated target Minister and add to the ever increasing calls for the right of cyclists to ride safely on the roads we all pay for.
With rapidly growing support within it’s first week, the new Safe Cycling Australia initiative looks to have struck accord with the nation’s cycling community.
Dave Sharp expects that trend to continue in the foreseeable future. "I have already had a lot of support offered to me by many very generous and talented individuals and key organisations, all with a keen interest in ensuring the continuing resurgence in cycling as more and more Australians return to riding bikes."
"I believe a Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule is vital for all cyclists, it's for anyone who cycles for transport or recreation, including cyclists have trained on Australian roads for this weekends UCI World Road Championships in Melbourne. I would like to thank everyone who has helped so far, especially the Aussie pro cyclists that have been supportive up till now. It's nice to know those guys and girls are behind you."
New National Website Launched To Save Aussie Cyclists
3rd October 2010
Last weekend, Safe Cycling Australia, a new national website, was launched to enlist the support of Aussie cyclists to lobby the State and Federal Government's for a Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule of at least one (1) metre to be enshrined in law.
This national response comes as a direct result to the Queensland Governments negative response to a recent Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule petition in that state, which collected over five thousand signatures.
Part of the reasoning behind Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan’s official reply, was that until such time as the Australian Road Rules were modified, the States and Territories weren’t obligated to modify their respective laws with regards to vulnerable road users.
The creator of the Safe Cycling Australia website, Dave Sharp of Brisbane, is proposing that such a change would help to ensure that cyclists can, as he puts it, “get from A to B and back to A again by being able to maintain a more authoritative position whilst sharing our limited roadspace safely with other road users."
"If the various State ministers wish to see cycling numbers double to 3.8 million, as stated in the new Australian National Cycling Strategy 2011-16, they must also pledge to modify their existing laws to ensure that motorists and cyclists have a more clearly defined rule where overtaking is concerned, to ensure a minimum of fatalities and injuries occur on our shared roads."
Once logged onto the new Safe Cycling Australia website, people can choose letter(s) to download, sign and send to their nominated target Minister and add to the ever increasing calls for the right of cyclists to ride safely on the roads we all pay for.
With rapidly growing support within it’s first week, the new Safe Cycling Australia initiative looks to have struck accord with the nation’s cycling community.
Dave Sharp expects that trend to continue in the foreseeable future. "I have already had a lot of support offered to me by many very generous and talented individuals and key organisations, all with a keen interest in ensuring the continuing resurgence in cycling as more and more Australians return to riding bikes."
"I believe a Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule is vital for all cyclists, it's for anyone who cycles for transport or recreation, including cyclists have trained on Australian roads for this weekends UCI World Road Championships in Melbourne. I would like to thank everyone who has helped so far, especially the Aussie pro cyclists that have been supportive up till now. It's nice to know those guys and girls are behind you."
however my first post here concerns all Vic cyclists and Im hoping that you can all jump onboard and help myself and the AGF out over the next few months.
Rather than fumble through this on my phone, Ill paste the natiomal press release which went out three weeks ago.
Those that frequent BNA will know me as The Womble.
New National Website Launched To Save Aussie Cyclists
3rd October 2010
Last weekend, Safe Cycling Australia, a new national website, was launched to enlist the support of Aussie cyclists to lobby the State and Federal Government's for a Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule of at least one (1) metre to be enshrined in law.
This national response comes as a direct result to the Queensland Governments negative response to a recent Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule petition in that state, which collected over five thousand signatures.
Part of the reasoning behind Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan’s official reply, was that until such time as the Australian Road Rules were modified, the States and Territories weren’t obligated to modify their respective laws with regards to vulnerable road users.
The creator of the Safe Cycling Australia website, Dave Sharp of Brisbane, is proposing that such a change would help to ensure that cyclists can, as he puts it, “get from A to B and back to A again by being able to maintain a more authoritative position whilst sharing our limited roadspace safely with other road users."
"If the various State ministers wish to see cycling numbers double to 3.8 million, as stated in the new Australian National Cycling Strategy 2011-16, they must also pledge to modify their existing laws to ensure that motorists and cyclists have a more clearly defined rule where overtaking is concerned, to ensure a minimum of fatalities and injuries occur on our shared roads."
Once logged onto the new Safe Cycling Australia website, people can choose letter(s) to download, sign and send to their nominated target Minister and add to the ever increasing calls for the right of cyclists to ride safely on the roads we all pay for.
With rapidly growing support within it’s first week, the new Safe Cycling Australia initiative looks to have struck accord with the nation’s cycling community.
Dave Sharp expects that trend to continue in the foreseeable future. "I have already had a lot of support offered to me by many very generous and talented individuals and key organisations, all with a keen interest in ensuring the continuing resurgence in cycling as more and more Australians return to riding bikes."
"I believe a Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule is vital for all cyclists, it's for anyone who cycles for transport or recreation, including cyclists have trained on Australian roads for this weekends UCI World Road Championships in Melbourne. I would like to thank everyone who has helped so far, especially the Aussie pro cyclists that have been supportive up till now. It's nice to know those guys and girls are behind you."
New National Website Launched To Save Aussie Cyclists
3rd October 2010
Last weekend, Safe Cycling Australia, a new national website, was launched to enlist the support of Aussie cyclists to lobby the State and Federal Government's for a Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule of at least one (1) metre to be enshrined in law.
This national response comes as a direct result to the Queensland Governments negative response to a recent Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule petition in that state, which collected over five thousand signatures.
Part of the reasoning behind Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan’s official reply, was that until such time as the Australian Road Rules were modified, the States and Territories weren’t obligated to modify their respective laws with regards to vulnerable road users.
The creator of the Safe Cycling Australia website, Dave Sharp of Brisbane, is proposing that such a change would help to ensure that cyclists can, as he puts it, “get from A to B and back to A again by being able to maintain a more authoritative position whilst sharing our limited roadspace safely with other road users."
"If the various State ministers wish to see cycling numbers double to 3.8 million, as stated in the new Australian National Cycling Strategy 2011-16, they must also pledge to modify their existing laws to ensure that motorists and cyclists have a more clearly defined rule where overtaking is concerned, to ensure a minimum of fatalities and injuries occur on our shared roads."
Once logged onto the new Safe Cycling Australia website, people can choose letter(s) to download, sign and send to their nominated target Minister and add to the ever increasing calls for the right of cyclists to ride safely on the roads we all pay for.
With rapidly growing support within it’s first week, the new Safe Cycling Australia initiative looks to have struck accord with the nation’s cycling community.
Dave Sharp expects that trend to continue in the foreseeable future. "I have already had a lot of support offered to me by many very generous and talented individuals and key organisations, all with a keen interest in ensuring the continuing resurgence in cycling as more and more Australians return to riding bikes."
"I believe a Minimum Safe Passing Distance Rule is vital for all cyclists, it's for anyone who cycles for transport or recreation, including cyclists have trained on Australian roads for this weekends UCI World Road Championships in Melbourne. I would like to thank everyone who has helped so far, especially the Aussie pro cyclists that have been supportive up till now. It's nice to know those guys and girls are behind you."
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Dave Sharp on -
Crap! I dbl pasted!
-
Permalink Reply by matthew on
-
As I understand it, this law exists (or some version) in some states of the US. I know it failed in the UK despite a large petition as it was already covered by "due care and attention".
Nevertheless- go for it, I get passed too close all the time.
-
Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on -
I think Australia "inherits" the "due care" that nobbled the law in the UK, however, it's an excuse to avoid a law that is tricky to implement - for example, how can a metre clearance be given in a residential street with parking on both sides?
Now, don't get me wrong, I support the 1 metre rule, I think it needs to be a mandatory part of driver training, too. It needs to be part of a whole package of motorist/cyclist interaction laws, or even general road interaction laws, which need to count for as much as 25% of driver training and testing.
What concerns me is the use of terms like "cyclists in danger" and "save the cyclists." This proposed law is an issue of driver behaviour, not one of cycling danger, but through imprecise language, is telling the politicians that cycling is dangerous. Even without the 1 metre law, it's not, patently not.
If the campaign words safety issues in terms of driver attitudes, and how drivers are not adequately aware of their responsibilities, rather than how cycling is dangerous, then we get politicians thinking about the real issue, driving culture. To focus on it as a purely safety issue continues to prove to the Australian mainstream that cycling is dangerous, when it generally isn't, it's the attitudes of a significant number of drivers that is dangerous.
-
Permalink Reply by Jack on -
So would this work the other way as well when cyclists lane split in traffic? It would b e nice to have the luxury of the 1m rule for vehicles but it may backfire on cyclists. I don't ride a lot on the road but when I do I am well aware of some drivers, I have come to the conclusion that a lot of them don't even realise they are passing so close to you.
-
Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on
-
Excellent point, Jack, and lane splitting is one of those things which pisses motorists off, causing them to cry, "Danger! Dangerous cycling!" yet lane splitting in snarled traffic is essential to get anywhere (and most definitely NOT dangerous when one rides alertly.)
-
Permalink Reply by Cory on -
And here's the link, boys and girls.
http://www.safecyclingaustralia.org/
Visually, I think you need a far more obvious 1m minimum message when ppl first visit the site. If people can't see what it's about at a glance, some won't bother hanging around to actually read.
Oh, and I know that some cyclists are passionately against the AGF message, because it is only a metre (NZ have done 1.5m).
But... I'm all for this to be legislated. Good luck, and happy to help out.
-
Permalink Reply by Chris Harris on -
Would having this law make me feel any safer on the road?
Probably not, but in time it might if behaviours changed.
I wonder how it would be enforced?
The police could contract out to a private comany who made some bikes with laser measuring devices out the side and a camera on the front so they could take pics of people who pass at <1m and send them a fine.
It would have to be a pretty hefty fine to recover the costs, and then some...
Or I could report them to the police when they pass too close.. and they would ask how I knew it was <1m.. and I'd say, it just was... that would be enough for a fine.. surely?
-
Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on
-
...they would ask how I knew it was <1m.. and I'd say, it just was... that would be enough for a fine.. surely?
ROTFLMFFAO! :D
Not even with 100 independent, pro car witnesses taking your side :-)
-
Permalink Reply by Dave Sharp on
-
The point of asking for 1 metre is do as to get a foot in the door. If we asked for 1.5 straight up theyd never give it a second look, and Im as keen as anyone to push for the extra half metre once we have been catered for to begin with.
As for the Kiwi's getting 1.5m straight up, they thought about their infrastructure long before any of us were born. They allowed for oad widening etc in their major cities and the road network is the best in the western world - something us Kiwi's are proud of.
Don't worry, 1.5 is on the horizon
-
Permalink Reply by Peter Robinson on -
Just going by experience riding where laws force the motorist to respect the cyclist it really does make you feel safer.
The work of Dr Ian Walker in demonstrating that cars drive further from cyclists depending on whats on their heads is not given the credit that it is due.
It makes it clear that car drivers DO see you and DO respond.
That is further backed up by his finding that an aparent female rider is given even more space.
We've missed the obvious truth here while concerned for the implications for the helmet debate.
Drivers can be easily made to willingly treat cyclists differently.
I recently asked an electronics contractor if it was so difficult to replicate Ian Walkers findings. From that device it could be a short step to the device you are thinking of.
I have already visited the safe cycling site and sent my petition to the minister and I would suggest as many of us as possible do the same. The more the merrier and we can make a difference.
-
Permalink Reply by trundlebug on -
I think the real value of it is not that motorists are subject to fines, but that they're made to think about it. It'll probably have no effect on the witless hoons who deliberately swoop as close as possible to cyclists, but it could potentially have some effect on those who just aren't aware of the hazards. They're obvious if you stop and think about it, but you have to stop and think about it first, not while you're driving. A bit of legislation along with a campaign making people aware that it's a legal obligation rather than an optional consideration strikes me as a good approach to combatting a lethal sense of entitlement.
-
Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on
-
That is further backed up by his finding that an aparent female rider is given even more space.
Seriously, this flashes me back to the late 90s, when I finally let my ponytail go. The treatment I got in traffic worsened by a whole order of magnitude! I'd always wondered if it was the reason, but couldn't figure why. Now I (probably) know. I've always got better treatment when towing a kiddie trailer, regardless of whether the load was small children or groceries.
© 2013 Created by DamianM.
