QLD Minimum Safe Passing Distance e-petition

[The 2nd Womble]

...

[ozzymac]

FCS... 1.5 metres. 1 metre is NEVER enough for Qld cyclists! http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/polls/q ... .html#poll" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Some of the comments being left on that site are just so frustrating... Always the same sort of moron motorists posting the same old bogan comments.


Cheers

Sent from my GT-P5110 using Tapatalk 2

[Ken Ho]

I'm not sure if I'm dreaming, but I think a combination of the publicity given to the Pollett/Roneberg tragedies and the petition, as well as teh backlash against the silly Twitter woman, but on my ride today, I had a totally different feeling about how motorists were treating me. I didn't get elbow shaved once on a route that frequently scares the blazes out of me.
Pretty much every car moved over to at least teh centre line, if not the other lane, givinng me at least 2 metres.
A few slowed to avoid overtaking until it was safe, and I got a few waves back in return for the grateful waves I gave people. I only had one car not deviate from his course, as he passed at a little under a metre. I even saw one Cruiser ute push over to the centre line, pushing the on-coming car onto their shoulder, instead of me onto mine.
Maybe I am dreaming, maybe it was just a different time of day, but I hope not.
In any case, I want to express my gratitude again to David for his efforts recently and to everyone else who signed the petition.
If I only get one relaxed, safe feeling rider out of it, I'm grateful for that, but I really got the feeling that things might be changing for the better, at least for a little while.

[Pax]

Rode past Richard's ghost bike on a ride with Samford Vellos today. Sad sight.

[The 2nd Womble]

I'm not sure if I'm dreaming, but I think a combination of the publicity given to the Pollett/Roneberg tragedies and the petition, as well as teh backlash against the silly Twitter woman, but on my ride today, I had a totally different feeling about how motorists were treating me. I didn't get elbow shaved once on a route that frequently scares the blazes out of me.
Pretty much every car moved over to at least teh centre line, if not the other lane, givinng me at least 2 metres.
A few slowed to avoid overtaking until it was safe, and I got a few waves back in return for the grateful waves I gave people. I only had one car not deviate from his course, as he passed at a little under a metre. I even saw one Cruiser ute push over to the centre line, pushing the on-coming car onto their shoulder, instead of me onto mine.
Maybe I am dreaming, maybe it was just a different time of day, but I hope not.
In any case, I want to express my gratitude again to David for his efforts recently and to everyone else who signed the petition.
If I only get one relaxed, safe feeling rider out of it, I'm grateful for that, but I really got the feeling that things might be changing for the better, at least for a little while.

I hope it continues Ken. I appreciate the kind words, but everyone who's signed is as responsible for your ride today as I am. Bruce Flegg even more so. I have a meeting with him on Wednesday arvo and will thank him personally on behalf of all of us so far.

[The 2nd Womble]

Just so as to help the numbers along a bit and inspire everyone - not quite sure how yet - this is Bruce the Jackelope. Bruce is our newly acquired SCA mascot. You'll be seeing a lot more of this guy. He should be winging his way over from Sydney on Monday.

If anyone knows where to get hold of a black and yellow scarf, let me know.

[Rhubarb]

If anyone knows where to get hold of a black and yellow scarf, let me know.

Think Richmond AFL team ....

[trailgumby]

[quote="Brisbane Times""]Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the petition would be considered, but there were currently no plans to change rules regarding overtaking cyclists.
“Any petition lodged will be considered, however a fixed distance raises a number of issues such as making it illegal for cyclists to move slowly and closely past queued vehicles,” he said.[/quote]
Do they have lead pipes affecting the drinking water in Parliament House up there? Is this guy intellectually impaired?

How exactly does enacting a minimum distance for motor vehicles passing cyclists stop cyclists from passing motor vehicles at a closer distance?

Sounds like he's setting up a straw man argument so that cyclists will say "Oh Noes! We don't want to lose that!" and will back off.

Tosser.

[Rhubarb]

Minimum passing distance laws exist in 27 countries around the world. All of the objections put up are just bogus.

[high_tea]

[quote="Brisbane Times""]Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the petition would be considered, but there were currently no plans to change rules regarding overtaking cyclists.
“Any petition lodged will be considered, however a fixed distance raises a number of issues such as making it illegal for cyclists to move slowly and closely past queued vehicles,” he said.

Do they have lead pipes affecting the drinking water in Parliament House up there? Is this guy intellectually impaired?

How exactly does enacting a minimum distance for motor vehicles passing cyclists stop cyclists from passing motor vehicles at a closer distance?

Sounds like he's setting up a straw man argument so that cyclists will say "Oh Noes! We don't want to lose that!" and will back off.

Tosser. [/quote]
I think his argument is even more bogus than that. The argument seems to be "a badly drafted minimum passing distance law would be a Bad Thing". Sure, I guess so. The answer is to draft it properly. Which is the legislature's job, not the petitioners' job. I can accept that it's not trivial, but it's not exactly hard either. It's a ridiculous objection. It's not quite as ridiculous as "But it's an ARR, we can't just go changing it" (which was one of the objections the last time this got petitioned for, but it's pretty close.

[The 2nd Womble]

The Jackelope is NOT a Richmond supporter!

[The 2nd Womble]

[quote="Brisbane Times""]Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the petition would be considered, but there were currently no plans to change rules regarding overtaking cyclists.
“Any petition lodged will be considered, however a fixed distance raises a number of issues such as making it illegal for cyclists to move slowly and closely past queued vehicles,” he said.

Do they have lead pipes affecting the drinking water in Parliament House up there? Is this guy intellectually impaired?

How exactly does enacting a minimum distance for motor vehicles passing cyclists stop cyclists from passing motor vehicles at a closer distance?

Sounds like he's setting up a straw man argument so that cyclists will say "Oh Noes! We don't want to lose that!" and will back off.

Tosser. [/quote]
That's Part 1. Part 2 is "Show us some pie charts and parabolic graphy stuff which shows that this law works", knowing that there are none and that safe passing distances are a part of the greater picture. That those politicians have introduced such measures as this and Strict Liability because morally it is the right thing to do because a human life is so precious, is beyond them. Our politicians. - and in particular this current Qld government - only plan for maybe one to two terms in office. We have the least forward thinking public servants in the western world.
The new Thirty Year plan for our state is focusing on the states roads in the long term, but ONLY to ensure that our mines can be serviced effectively, and that our Q Fleet Chaufer driven cars can ferry the Ministers home as quickly as possible from. The airport or the office (Bruce Flegg excepted).

[Pax]

Minimum passing distance laws exist in 27 countries around the world. All of the objections put up are just bogus.

Interesting...I wonder if there is any correlation to lower cycling fatalities per capita in relevant circumstances (ie vehicles passing cyclists)??

Maybe there is a part answer to your statement below in this Womble?? Not sure how to search for such evidence...sounds like the kind of research that you might hope a cycling advocacy group like BQ, or AGF might invest in.

"Show us some pie charts and parabolic graphy stuff which shows that this law works", knowing that there are none and that safe passing distances are a part of the greater picture. That those politicians have introduced such measures as this and Strict Liability because morally it is the right thing to do because a human life is so precious, is beyond them. Our politicians. - and in particular this current Qld government - only plan for maybe one to two terms in office. We have the least forward thinking public servants in the western world.
The new Thirty Year plan for our state is focusing on the states roads in the long term, but ONLY to ensure that our mines can be serviced effectively, and that our Q Fleet Chaufer driven cars can ferry the Ministers home as quickly as possible from. The airport or the office (Bruce Flegg excepted).

[The 2nd Womble]

BQ show absolutely no interest in road safety at all Pax. Don't even get them started in passing distances, they'll just point you towards the nearest shared pathway.

[trailgumby]

[quote="Brisbane Times""]Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the petition would be considered, but there were currently no plans to change rules regarding overtaking cyclists.
“Any petition lodged will be considered, however a fixed distance raises a number of issues such as making it illegal for cyclists to move slowly and closely past queued vehicles,” he said.

Do they have lead pipes affecting the drinking water in Parliament House up there? Is this guy intellectually impaired?

How exactly does enacting a minimum distance for motor vehicles passing cyclists stop cyclists from passing motor vehicles at a closer distance?

Sounds like he's setting up a straw man argument so that cyclists will say "Oh Noes! We don't want to lose that!" and will back off.

Tosser.

That's Part 1. Part 2 is "Show us some pie charts and parabolic graphy stuff which shows that this law works", knowing that there are none and that safe passing distances are a part of the greater picture. That those politicians have introduced such measures as this and Strict Liability because morally it is the right thing to do because a human life is so precious, is beyond them. Our politicians. - and in particular this current Qld government - only plan for maybe one to two terms in office. We have the least forward thinking public servants in the western world.
The new Thirty Year plan for our state is focusing on the states roads in the long term, but ONLY to ensure that our mines can be serviced effectively, and that our Q Fleet Chaufer driven cars can ferry the Ministers home as quickly as possible from. The airport or the office (Bruce Flegg excepted).[/quote]
So the answer is yes.

You need to warn Bruce Flegg take his own water.

[oxonabike]

Not sure where to put this, but here is an unexpectedly positive story from the historically anti cycling Cairns Post. 12 Tour coaches with the 1.5 safe passing distance signs emblazoned on the back.

[The 2nd Womble]

Not sure where to put this, but here is an unexpectedly positive story from the historically anti cycling Cairns Post. 12 Tour coaches with the 1.5 safe passing distance signs emblazoned on the back.

Where have you been Boof?! The CP has had a cycling safety campaign running in Cairns for 2 weeks. It's been massive so far

[The 2nd Womble]

On another note... @7pm tonight:

[The 2nd Womble]

Crap. 5000 signatures! BOOM!!!

[winstonw]

please explain womble2

[The 2nd Womble]

Explain what?

[Lukeyboy]

Holy crap

[Mulger bill]

Keep at it Dave, don't let up until you've got over 9000

Shaun

[The 2nd Womble]

Keep at it Dave, don't let up until you've got over 9000

Shaun

Thanks MB.
So as to bump things along, expect to see a fair few of these on the counter at your local café or bike shop over the next few weeks.

[darkelf921]

Keep at it Dave, don't let up until you've got over 9000

Shaun

Thanks MB.
So as to bump things along, expect to see a fair few of these on the counter at your local café or bike shop over the next few weeks.

If you could send me the electronic copy, I'll print them out and ask my LBS to place them on their counter as well.