International Cycling Safety Community, Safety Conference - BRISBANE 2019

[human909]

I hope the international visitors are prepared for a shock.

I find it a little ironic that it is being hosted by CARRS-Q. CARRS-Q has been long busy trying justify MHLs with frequent releases showing how successful MHLs in Australia have been.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/nation ... 4ztwl.html

There is hope that the arrival of hundreds of international visitors with an interest in safer cycling will spur enthusiasm for the completion of Brisbane’s cycling projects.

The Queensland capital has been chosen by the International Cycling Safety Community to host the safety conference from November 18 to 20 next year.

Bicycle Queensland chief executive Anne Savage said the conference would generate enthusiasm for the completion of major cycling projects in Brisbane.
Bicycle Queensland chief executive Anne Savage said the conference would generate enthusiasm for the completion of major cycling projects in Brisbane.

Photo: Michael O'Reilly
Starting in 2012 in the Netherlands, the conference has also been held in Sweden, Germany, Italy and the US, with the 2018 conference to be held in Spain in October.

Next year would be the first time the conference will be held in the southern hemisphere.

Bicycle Queensland chief executive Anne Savage said the conference would bring together world-leading experts to share information and knowledge on cycling safety and drive new development in community cycling at the local, national and international levels.

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“The conference will showcase some of the very best bikeways in Australia, including the Veloway 1 and Bicentennial Bikeway,” she said.

“It will also generate new enthusiasm for the completion of major projects such as the final stages of the North Brisbane Bikeway, proving once again the value that cycling contributes to our community.”

The conference will be held at Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q) at the Queensland University of Technology’s Gardens Point campus.

Carrs-Q director Narelle Haworth said Brisbane's climate, accessibility and safety provided an ideal host location.

The event will provide the opportunity to demonstrate Brisbane’s commitment to safe, active living for all residents," she said.

[human909]

This is the sort of 'research' that is produced. All very comprehensive and rigorous and gets to the conclusion they want.

https://eprints.qut.edu.au/41798/1/Monograph_5.pdf

It is reasonably clear that it discouraged people from cycling twenty years ago when it was frst introduced. Having been in place for that length of time in Queensland and throughout most of Australia, there is little evidence that it continues to discourage cycling. There is little evidence that there is a large body of people who would take up cycling if the legislation was changed.

So they accept that damage was done. Then that refuse to believe that that damage could at all be reversed. And then use that to justify keeping MHL.

[fat and old]

Surely this International Cycling Safety Community conference looks at things other than MHL's?

Edit: I've had a look at last years program. some fascinating stuff there. Who would have thought there were over 500 cyclist deaths in Japan in 2016?

[Thoglette]

there is little evidence that it continues to discourage cycling.

So they accept that damage was done. Then that refuse to believe that that damage could at all be reversed. And then use that to justify keeping MHL.

True. To be fair, there was "little evidence" (as opposed to simple correlation) as no research had been done (on the east coast of Australia). A decade later, that's no longer true, with at least three surveys (RAC 2016, Heart Foundation 2011 and BA 2017) showing a statistically significant effect.

However, that doesn't stop the claim (e.g. Prof. Rosenfeld, Senate Estimates Committee, Monday, 16 November 2015, p30, Prof. Ivers p34, ibid ).

[human909]

True. To be fair, there was "little evidence" (as opposed to simple correlation) as no research had been done (on the east coast of Australia).

You are being tenuously fair. I'm less inclined to be fair. Sure their claim that there is "little evidence" might have been factually true. But hey it is easy to claim there is little evidence if you don't look for it.

I could equally claim there is "little evidence" to support that a bull in a china shop is actually a issue. In fact there is "little evidence" that bulls don't make excellent employees of china shops.

[AUbicycles]

Any info or even guesses about the types of participants that this conference seeks to attract?

Is is about town planners or is it a cycling advocacy thing. Any specific alliances (e.g organisers / speakers / attendees all subscribe to a particular organisation) and any intended outcomes.

The promotional intro suggests that for Qld, hosting this is a showcasing opportunity... but is that the goal or such an intended positive side-effect?

[Thoglette]

Meanwhile, back among the HGV traffic....

Cycling groups in Brisbane believe road safety at 'crisis point' and call for major changes

Bicycle advocacy groups in Brisbane are demanding reforms to heavy vehicle laws and an audit of statewide cycling infrastructure policy to keep riders safe.

The call follows the death last week of a 37-year-old cyclist who was hit by a truck in the inner-northwest suburb of Albion.

The rider was dragged several metres before the truck was able to stop.

"We're at a crisis point," Anne Savage from Bicycle Queensland told ABC Radio Brisbane.

"We are tracking 40 per cent above for road fatalities, that's for pedestrians, passengers, drivers and bike riders.