Obey the Road Rules...
Posted: 08 Feb 2013, 09:03
No one can ignore the ongoing discussion (I won't call it a war) between cars and bikes on using Sydney's roads. By all accounts, Brisbane and Sydney drivers are thought to be the most aggressive against cyclists, while Adelaide and Melbourne the most accepting (generally speaking. I don't have much experience riding in other cities regularly).
A chief Sydney driver complaint is that cyclists disobey the road rules. Running red lights, not stopping at pedestrian crossings, not stopping at give Way signs, riding on the footpath, the list goes on. A common cyclist retort is "but drivers break the road rules too".
While reading the Sydney Morning Herald comments the other day on a recent cycling story about the helmet debate a cyclist weighed in:
"As a cyclist I can say with absolute certainty that the percentage of cyclists regularly disobeying traffic law is at an order of magntidue greater than that for motorists, possibly as much as two orders of magnitude greater (that is 100 times greater). There really is no comparison whatsoever".
And it got me thinking. I would argue that a minority of drivers break the road rules. Running red lights etc. is not a common occurrence. Even talking on the phone is getting riskier by the day with fines and demerit points on the increase.
Cyclists however? While riding on Anzac Parade the other day I was stopped at the lights to cross Lang Rd with approximately 8 other cyclists. Of that 8, how many waited for the little green man? 1. Me. Again, down Oxford St, I was stopped at a set of lights with 6 other cyclists. How many waited for the green light? 2.
I acknowledge there are some instances where you might go ahead. If your bike does not trigger the lights for example. Or if they are pedestrian only lights and you have a bus behind you. It is perhaps the safer and wiser course of action to go on ahead. And while the city cycleways are wonderful, their light changing is woeful. There are so many cyclists on the paths these days that you will struggle to make it through the cycling green man before it turns orange. Especially on Kent St at peak hour.
As a club, when riding in groups, we obey all road rules unequivocally. To disobey rules can lead to catastrophe. So my question is, why don't we when riding alone? Is the time saved going through a red light worth more than your own safety? Which, ultimately, is what traffic lights are there for. And how many of us can honestly say we obey those rules when commuting, riding alone, or riding with others. By my experience the percentage is very low.
What is the purpose of this post? To try and encourage you all to obey the road rules. To spend a little time to placate Sydney drivers. So, on your next commute, take the extra 30 seconds to wait at the lights. Stop at the give way sign. Ride a little slower along Pyrmont Bridge so you don't scare the pedestrians. Wave thank you to drivers. And pass this message on.
A chief Sydney driver complaint is that cyclists disobey the road rules. Running red lights, not stopping at pedestrian crossings, not stopping at give Way signs, riding on the footpath, the list goes on. A common cyclist retort is "but drivers break the road rules too".
While reading the Sydney Morning Herald comments the other day on a recent cycling story about the helmet debate a cyclist weighed in:
"As a cyclist I can say with absolute certainty that the percentage of cyclists regularly disobeying traffic law is at an order of magntidue greater than that for motorists, possibly as much as two orders of magnitude greater (that is 100 times greater). There really is no comparison whatsoever".
And it got me thinking. I would argue that a minority of drivers break the road rules. Running red lights etc. is not a common occurrence. Even talking on the phone is getting riskier by the day with fines and demerit points on the increase.
Cyclists however? While riding on Anzac Parade the other day I was stopped at the lights to cross Lang Rd with approximately 8 other cyclists. Of that 8, how many waited for the little green man? 1. Me. Again, down Oxford St, I was stopped at a set of lights with 6 other cyclists. How many waited for the green light? 2.
I acknowledge there are some instances where you might go ahead. If your bike does not trigger the lights for example. Or if they are pedestrian only lights and you have a bus behind you. It is perhaps the safer and wiser course of action to go on ahead. And while the city cycleways are wonderful, their light changing is woeful. There are so many cyclists on the paths these days that you will struggle to make it through the cycling green man before it turns orange. Especially on Kent St at peak hour.
As a club, when riding in groups, we obey all road rules unequivocally. To disobey rules can lead to catastrophe. So my question is, why don't we when riding alone? Is the time saved going through a red light worth more than your own safety? Which, ultimately, is what traffic lights are there for. And how many of us can honestly say we obey those rules when commuting, riding alone, or riding with others. By my experience the percentage is very low.
What is the purpose of this post? To try and encourage you all to obey the road rules. To spend a little time to placate Sydney drivers. So, on your next commute, take the extra 30 seconds to wait at the lights. Stop at the give way sign. Ride a little slower along Pyrmont Bridge so you don't scare the pedestrians. Wave thank you to drivers. And pass this message on.