Simple things to make cycling better and safer
- ColinOldnCranky
- Posts: 6734
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:58 pm
Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby ColinOldnCranky » Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:15 pm
So, I will start the ballrolling in the post immediately following.
(Suggestion - Change the Subject heading of your post to reflect the specific issue.)
- ColinOldnCranky
- Posts: 6734
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:58 pm
Visible movable barriers
Postby ColinOldnCranky » Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:22 pm
However, I reckon that reflectors or reflective paint would seem to be the minimum requirement for these barriers. Unpainted concrete is one of the easiest things not to see even if a rider does have lights.
I'd extend the same simple requirement to plastic barriers. Paint them with reflecting irridescent paint, or glue reflectors on them.
Perhaps BTA and others could lobby to have something written into relevant standards.
- jet-ski
- Posts: 1404
- Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:51 pm
- Location: Perth WA
- Contact:
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby jet-ski » Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:55 pm
- Mulger bill
- Super Mod
- Posts: 29060
- Joined: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:41 pm
- Location: Sunbury Vic
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby Mulger bill » Sat Jan 01, 2011 6:31 pm
Shaun
London Boy 29/12/2011
- trailgumby
- Posts: 15469
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:30 pm
- Location: Northern Beaches, Sydney
- Contact:
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby trailgumby » Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:05 pm
The biggest thing that will help cycling safety is for the price of fuel to reach Euopean levels - it will cull cars and boost the rate of cycling uptake.
I'd also like ot see the import duty discount for 4WD's removed. Genuine farmers (those who have primary production income in their tax returns) can then be given a rebate so as to restore the original purpose of the discount.
-
- Posts: 690
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:49 pm
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby russellgarrard » Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:14 pm
The kicker? The qld government sells BSO's at no profit, same with helmets and provides a free helmet every year. Though...the cost of the helmet can be paid through to your local bicycle shop if you want something a bit better.
---------------
Still following? Basically, pay cyclist's 8c for every 10KM's they travel, 80c for every 100KM's, $8.00 for every 1000KM's, $80.00 for every 10000KM's. Maybe even look at increasing it to something along the lines of 20c. Why? If people work out they get paid to ride to work, the shops etc, they are suddenly using bike paths at alot less cost to the government than roads, they start saving money on healthcare etc.
-
- Posts: 1494
- Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:10 pm
- Contact:
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby high_tea » Sat Jan 01, 2011 10:29 pm
Sorry, I don't follow. We have fuel excise now. What are you suggesting should be reinstated?trailgumby wrote:Reinstate fuel excise / tax / duty indexing.
The biggest thing that will help cycling safety is for the price of fuel to reach Euopean levels - it will cull cars and boost the rate of cycling uptake.
I agree with the basic premise, mind you. It's got some implications for certain people that I'm not wild about; I wonder if congestion charging is a fairer way of making motoring more expensive.
I also think that periodic driving retests would be a good thing and one that might have a similar effect.
- The Womble
- Posts: 3395
- Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 6:46 pm
- Location: Brisbane QLD
- Contact:
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby The Womble » Sat Jan 01, 2011 10:39 pm
Retest all drivers every 5 years. More than 1 recorded offence and you get retested every 2 years.
ANNND all L platers to log 50 hrs on a bicycle before their P's test
-
- Posts: 5131
- Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:41 pm
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby rkelsen » Sat Jan 01, 2011 10:55 pm
Making it harder to 'earn' a license in the first place would be a good starting point. Then, as Womble mentioned, mandatory retesting and renewal every five years.
- Comedian
- Posts: 9166
- Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2010 7:35 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby Comedian » Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:35 pm
He is ok now - albeit he has lost an eye. It's very sad. He was touch and go for a while. Every time i go past temporary fencing I flinch.
- Quinns Rocks Roadie
- Posts: 360
- Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:57 pm
- Location: Perth, Quinns Rocks. 150m from the beach.
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby Quinns Rocks Roadie » Sun Jan 02, 2011 12:25 am
I dont know the regs on barriers, worth finding out.
Star pickets must have a plastic protective top cap fitted at all times in a work site situation, and I assume public places also.
Eric.
- Comedian
- Posts: 9166
- Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2010 7:35 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby Comedian » Sun Jan 02, 2011 12:36 am
Maybe they sould have caps but often they don'tQuinns Rocks Roadie wrote:Interesting point, traffic cones placed out at night must have a reflective band afaik, and plastic bollards come standard with reflective bands.
I dont know the regs on barriers, worth finding out.
Star pickets must have a plastic protective top cap fitted at all times in a work site situation, and I assume public places also.
Eric.
- ColinOldnCranky
- Posts: 6734
- Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:58 pm
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby ColinOldnCranky » Sun Jan 02, 2011 12:53 am
I reckon that, instead of too easily giving offenders extraordinary licenses to get to and from work, the courts should instead tell them to get a bike. I'd even be happy if my tax dollars went to a court owned fleet of bikes and required accessories.The Womble wrote:...ANNND all L platers to log 50 hrs on a bicycle before their P's test
- jules21
- Posts: 10555
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:14 pm
- Location: deep in the pain cave
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby jules21 » Mon Jan 03, 2011 10:56 am
+ 1, although this is not a simple measure. reforming road pricing is a major task that will incur the wrath of a large proportion of the motoring public, requiring a lot of political courage, as sir humphrey appleby used to say whenever he wanted to dissuade the PM from doing somethingtrailgumby wrote: Reinstate fuel excise / tax / duty indexing.
The biggest thing that will help cycling safety is for the price of fuel to reach Euopean levels - it will cull cars and boost the rate of cycling uptake.
it doesn't need to be by fuel excise. arguably a better way is to charge by road usage, such as is already done on toll roads (usually with the desired effect!). but either way, i agree, it is a key measure in encouraging a more sustainable transport system. the problem is, when people (motorists) are getting something at a discount, they are unlikely to agree to pay the full cost.
tariffs are so low now that it makes little difference anymore - the days of 4wds getting big tariff discounts are long gone. sales of big 4wds have dropped dramatically in recent years, due to fuel price hikes.trailgumby wrote: I'd also like ot see the import duty discount for 4WD's removed. Genuine farmers (those who have primary production income in their tax returns) can then be given a rebate so as to restore the original purpose of the discount.
- sogood
- Posts: 17168
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:31 am
- Location: Sydney AU
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby sogood » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:14 am
It'll just help hyperinflate the economy and everyone will suffer. There are smarter and sensible ways to those objectives.rkelsen wrote:I'm not convinced that making motoring more expensive will achieve anything except to further anger motorists.
RK wrote:And that is Wikipedia - I can write my own definition.
-
- Posts: 690
- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:49 pm
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby russellgarrard » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:41 am
- jules21
- Posts: 10555
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:14 pm
- Location: deep in the pain cave
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby jules21 » Mon Jan 03, 2011 11:46 am
1. motorists' preference for driving over other transport modes, and
2. the cost of motoring remaining tolerable.
-
- Posts: 5131
- Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:41 pm
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby rkelsen » Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:48 pm
The problem with increasing the cost of motoring is that it will affect most of the population. So any government that increases the cost of motoring to 'intolerable' levels will decisively be thrown out. One side of Australian politics would never do this simply because it would be bad for business.jules21 wrote:2. the cost of motoring remaining tolerable.
- jules21
- Posts: 10555
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:14 pm
- Location: deep in the pain cave
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby jules21 » Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:45 pm
it doesn't need to be a general increase in the cost of motoring. london has a crude version of this - the inner city congestion charge, but there are better and more sophisticated options. the logic behind this is well accepted amongst experts - the Henry Tax Review recommended it and its definitely in the interests of cycling.
- jet-ski
- Posts: 1404
- Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:51 pm
- Location: Perth WA
- Contact:
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby jet-ski » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:00 pm
For WA it would be great if they built some more rail. It's like the Mandurah line was completed and government sat back and said 'yeah we've done all we need to for the next decade'.
Would love to see the Bayswater - Airport - High Wycombe line.... our fly-in-fly-out workers would love it and it might just help the parking issues at the airport...diverting road widening/extension funds to new rail would make a huge difference but would require significant political will.
Rail is great for cycling because it allows a back up plan for cyclists...
- Cinder
- Posts: 686
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 2:27 pm
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby Cinder » Mon Jan 03, 2011 4:06 pm
On a more serious note...
A change in the general public mentality towards other people?
On a more realistic note...
More cycling lanes that don't end at intersections (just where you really need them) would be nice. Or, when it is unavoidable, "bike boxes" at the front of the line and specific bike lights to give bikes a few seconds to clear the intersection and get back into their bike lane before the cars lights go green. Sure they exist somewhere here, but the need to exist more.
- Cinder
- Posts: 686
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 2:27 pm
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby Cinder » Mon Jan 03, 2011 4:08 pm
Gotta say, I'm kind of coming around to this idea, I used to be very much anti congestion tax, but now, I'm of the opinion that it may help. Not a lot, but it's something.jet-ski wrote:Some kind of congestion tax would be good but the inner city councils will object if they start losing parking revenue!
- The Womble
- Posts: 3395
- Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 6:46 pm
- Location: Brisbane QLD
- Contact:
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby The Womble » Mon Jan 03, 2011 5:53 pm
Can anyone find figure for Londons Cbd pre & post congestion tax?Cinder wrote:Gotta say, I'm kind of coming around to this idea, I used to be very much anti congestion tax, but now, I'm of the opinion that it may help. Not a lot, but it's something.jet-ski wrote:Some kind of congestion tax would be good but the inner city councils will object if they start losing parking revenue!
- CommuRider
- Posts: 5053
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2010 6:16 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby CommuRider » Mon Jan 03, 2011 5:59 pm
Congestion charges would only work in Sydney if to fill in the vacuum they actually improved the public transport infrastructure. Without the improvement in the latter, most people here would only see it as a gouging tax designed to fill in the coffers of govt without any appreciable improvement. Unlike London which has a very good public transport infrastructure and they have a more extensive tube and bus system, Sydney is leaning towards the LA design of a city.
Interesting graph from wiki in the increase of bike use as a result of the charge in London
Changes in the counts of bicycles at October 2008 compared to October 2001. Red dots show a reductions and blue dots increases.
The white boundary in the middle is where the congestion takes place. I guess there may be some people who aren't taking public transport are driving in just outside the boundary and cycling into the congestion charge zone.
-
- Posts: 5131
- Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:41 pm
Re: Simple things to make cycling better and safer
Postby rkelsen » Mon Jan 03, 2011 7:26 pm
Fair enough, but do you think they'll see it that way? I don't. I think they'll take it as an affront, or an erosion of their rights.jules21 wrote:the objective is to create incentives for those motorists who make poor decisions about their means of transport to make better ones.
Motorists tend to be very angry people. They probably do need to get out and breathe some fresh air to clear their heads, but this ain't gonna do it.
I love the suggestion of allocating revenue from speed cameras to cycling infrastructure.
Return to “Cycling Safety and Advocacy”
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Cycling Brands
- Cannondale
- Garmin
- Giant
- Shimano
- Trek
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+11:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.