You are hereForums / By Discipline / Mountain (off road) / By Location / Australia / NSW / Northern Beaches / Northern Beaches Trail Advocacy / SMH: Sydney's drivers 'worst' for bike rage
SMH: Sydney's drivers 'worst' for bike rage
Another quality, "well researched", opinionated SMH article:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/sydneys-driv...
Sydney's drivers 'worst' for bike rage
August 2, 2008
SYDNEY drivers are more hostile towards cyclists than motorists of any other country, says a world authority on transport.
Christian Wolmar, a Briton who was invited by the State Government to promote bicycle use in NSW, said Sydney's cycling infrastructure is 10 years behind that of London.
"And believe me, London is by no means at the forefront of cycling," Mr Wolmar told the Herald. "You have to be much more careful here than in London because the drivers here are so much more hostile."
Mr Wolmar's comments come a day after the Herald showed commuting by bike could be faster than bus, train or car.
The traffic commentator, who has written extensively on transport planning, serves as a consultant and is a member of the board of Cycling England, mocked the NSW Treasurer, Michael Costa, whose passions are notoriously inflamed by the sight of lycra-clad bike riders.
"Apparently, he is quite hostile to cyclists but I can't understand how anyone, in this day and age, can be like that, particularly with petrol prices going up," he said. "People like him are backward in their thinking."
He said Sydney drivers "are much more likely to hoot at you".
"I think you need a serious education campaign, it's a matter of creating a culture where it's acceptable to cycle," he said.
"Once you start putting in the infrastructure like bike lanes and signs, and give cyclists priority, then drivers will accept them."
A spokeswoman for the Roads Minister, Eric Roozendaal, said you could not compare Sydney to London. "Sydney has around 2000 kilometres of cycle facilities while London only has 550 kilometres," she said.
""""""""""""""""
Hello SMH? ...and the message/meaning of this insightful article is ???
================
Try New York instead....this video of Critical Mass in New York City speaks for itself: WTF???
Just watch this NYPD cop cherry pick the guy at the very end of the line to take down. It’s a pretty impressive tackle, and you have to feel sorry for the biker who got crushed because he’s probably still in jail since his buddies can’t raise enough money to bail him out on that obstruction of justice charge. An outrageous video.
The beauty of the whole situation is that the cyclist was arrested:
Long was arrested and charged with attempted assault, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. The criminal complaint against him claims he deliberately steered his bicycle into the officer, causing both of them to fall to the ground.
- Login to post comments
- Bookmark & share
and these are the people spouting freedom all over the world??????
Seeing Sydney is the only place i have been knocked off my bike i have to agree. Though i did have the pleasure seeing the driver being carted off by the police!
That vid has made the news on Fox US. The copper is apparently a third-generation copper, a newby on probation. He's been stood down pending investigation. The major sin was the BS he spun on the sworn arrest sheet - fatally contradicted by this video. The guy he creamed is a war vet, so I don't think it looks good for the copper. The best he can hope for is simply to be fired. I'd like to see a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
as i was reading this post the subject arose on the sunrise programme. two absolute morons commented that cyclists should not be on sydneys roads and the brain dead woman actually said that all cyclists should stay off the roads in sydneys cbd and stick to cycling in parklands!!!!!!!
without f.....g swearing my dear, do you honestly think that all these cyclists are cycling in the cbd for fun on thier day off? NO NO NO! they're trying to get to work quickly, efficiently and in a way that doesn't pollute our beautifull city.
it just shows the bloody ignorance of the non cycling community in australia.
and also, if the bloody parklands didnt keep getting closed off to us all it might just keep a few of us off your precious roads!
one more thing, if anyone knows a 'p' plate driver of a silver commodore station wagon in the oxford falls area, tell him ive got his rego number and he's gonna wish he was never born if i ever see him around again soon. this stupid prick went out of his way when driving towards me to cross the double white lines and nearly run me off the road whilst laughing to his mates. revenge is sweet!!!!
Go get him Gazza.
Education is the key... don't worry, they will all have to give up their cars soon and we'll be the ones laughing.
Oh, and report the moron to the police, get a copy of their report, etc, etc... just in case they actually feel like doing something. I know you're hot headed at the moment, but as we all know, the best revenge is just to live life well so relax and let it be. Besides, why do anything - karma is a gem and will certainly get this dick in the end!
I have started commuting from Lane Cove to Alexandria a few time a week and its getting pretty full on! I have been commuting for years people have still turned in across me even when the HID is on. (then again they cut me up even if i am in my car!)
We do live in a terrible city for bike commuting and I hope the people who decide on the transport infrastructure wake up and see in how may areas that bike commuting is beneficial.
Lorrie
i get a bit excited about this topic because i commute to work every day for the last two years. first and only bad traffic incident occured only a couple weeks ago. some knob (not nob) jockey came straight through a roundabout without looking meaning i had to hit the brakes on a damp day and ended up sprawled on the asphalt in the middle of a busy roundabout. the f..... driver then wound down his window and tried to tell me that i was a nuisance. it was the car behind him that actually pulled over to offer help. i got the knobs rego too GAZZA and when i got to work the cops coincidently just happened to be in the carpark booking someone. so i spoke to the cop about what happened and unfortunately it is, as you might expect, a complicated procedure to lodge against him. only worth it if you got badly injured or totalled an expensive bike really.
a couple other opinions i'd like to put out there:
as a smaller, less visible vehicle on the roads, cyclist should be responsible for riding appropriately too. i have leanrt alot of safe riding techniques since starting out two years ago. riders that are on busy roads with dark clothing, no lights at night or riding in the middle of the lane for no real reason give experienced riders a bad image and i'd have no sympathy for them. even i probably should have riden more defensively in the above situation (approached roundabout slower).
think twice before you ask for bike paths or access to parklands. are they really practical when your average speed is 40 km/h plus? i think the best option is sharing the roads if cyclists ride sensibly.
lastly, more expsoure usually brings more acceptance. so bung some slicks on your MTB, lock the suspension and join us on the roads! you'll be fitter and feel better during the day.
okay i'm done now.