http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/pu ... 6738618261
Push for bicycle registration scheme finds powerful backer in Christine Forster, sister to PM Tony Abbott
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THE push for a bicycle registration scheme has found a powerful backer, with the sister of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, an avid cyclist, calling on Liberal counterparts in state government to make it law. City of Sydney councillor Christine Forster has written to Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian and Roads Minister Duncan Gay, arguing insuring bikes would provide a safety net for third parties in the event of accidents with other road users and pedestrians"I am proposing a system under which a one-off registration and third party insurance fee is paid at the point of sale for each adult-sized bicycle in NSW. Such insurance schemes already exist and are offered for a relatively small fee by organisations such as Cycling NSW," Ms Forster said."Increasing numbers of cyclists are using our roads, raising the likelihood of accidents between bikes and cars and bikes and pedestrians. Just as we licence and insure cars, I believe we should now be investigating a way to insure bicycles." Switzerland has a mandatory bicycle registration system that provides third party insurance over-age for riders until 2012, when it was replaced with personal liability insurance that covers against damage in an accident involving a bicycle. - See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/pu ... 9KaJ5.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The City of Honolulu in Hawaii registers bikes at $15 each when they are bought.The Queensland government is investigating the potential benefits and impacts of bicycle registration, as well as penalties for cyclists.Under its Long Term Transport Master Plan, the state government wants to double the number of bicycle trips in metropolitan Sydney by 2016, as well as proposing to build a network of bike lanes in the CBD. - See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/pu ... 9KaJ5.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Ms Forster said it was important to look at third party insurance connected with bicycles, particularly given the number of shared paths being established where pedestrians and cyclists are forced to mix in confined quarter."This in turn, increases the likelihood of incidents happening," she said.Ms Forster argued that NSW cyclists were lightly regulated, with the largest fine $67 for reckless riding."In Victoria a cyclist can be fined $67,000 and jailed for five years if they leave the scene of an accident (such as a hit and run)," she said. - See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/pu ... 9KaJ5.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A spokesman for Mr Gay and Ms Berejiklian said they would respond "in due course".A spokeswoman for Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the RMS had previously examined the issue but the costs and difficulties would outweigh any benefits: "The Roads Minister had said the RMS looked into the feasibility of registering bike riders and found it would be ineffective. - See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/pu ... 9KaJ5.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
