Police Blitz on Cyclists

[soc]

Details I received in an email today. I'm not a member of centenary bikeways, I just got forwarded the email.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Centenary Bikeways" <convenor@centenarybikeways.org>
Sent: Monday, March 16, 2009 5:43 PM
Subject: Police blitz on cyclists.


> Hi Everyone,
> I have had several calls from people warning of a police blitz on
> cyclists, so I popped in to Mt Ommaney police station on the way home.
>
> The officer I spoke to was very pleasant and confirmed the blitz,
> saying it was a directive from up top as a result of a recent death of a cyclist.
>
> So the following infringements are being targeted:
> Riding across a children or pedestrian crossing (ie one with zebra
> stripes) $60
> Riding across at traffic lights where there is no specific bicycle
> light (like the one at jindalee) $60 No bell, or horn or warning
> device $40 No helmet $100 No lights at night $40 No brakes $40
>
> Some others he mentioned:
> Failing to keep left $60
> Failing to give way to pedestrians (he said you have to give way,but
> that doesn't mean you cant give them a mouthful if they are blocking
> the path)
> $66
> Failing to keep left of an oncoming bike $60 Failure to ride in the
> dedicated bike lane if the road has one $60 At least one hand on the
> handlebar $40
>
> All other road rules must of course be obeyed such as stopping at stop
> signs & red traffic lights, giving way at give way signs etc. Be
> careful of red lights turning yellow - it seems they are becoming
> tougher on motorists or cyclists going through yellow lights.
>
> He also confirmed that in Queensland cyclists are allowed to ride on
> the footpath so long as you keep left and so long as you give way to
> pedestrians.
>
> Happy cycling,
> Robyn
>
>
> To view the Centenary Bikeways Website go to www.centenarybikeways.org

[sogood]

$40 for no bell?

[scratchman]

$40 for no bell?

or horn or warning device, you can yell can't you

[beauyboy]

All I can say is bring it on. I am sick of some cyclists going throught red lights and giving the rest of us a bad name.

Yes $40 fine for no bell.

I have to say I would be more worried about such a small fine for no brakes that needs a bigger fine.

Donald

[soc]

I have to say I would be more worried about such a small fine for no brakes that needs a bigger fine.

Donald

That one surprised me as well - damn dangerous, no brakes

+1 on the muppets running red lights...

[RepcoMonaco]

> Riding across a children or pedestrian crossing (ie one with zebra
> stripes) $60

So I'm allowed to ride on a footpath but need to dismount each time it crosses a road? Kinda weird...

Does riding with one foot unclipped count?

Actually, I think a cyclist is more dangerous to himself and people around him when walking in slippery cycling shoes on a slippery zebra paint then when riding across _slowly_

> Riding across at traffic lights where there is no specific bicycle
> light (like the one at jindalee) $60

Can anybody explain this?

[Zynster]

There is a crossing on Vulture street near South Bank where there is a separate bike crossing to the pedestrian one, which presumably means you can actually ride across. While we can legally ride on the footpath, we're not allowed to ride on crossings. Seems contradictory.

I do hope they nail some of the riders that run red lights. I see that a lot.

[benfer]

I got in trouble the other day for riding across the crossing at moggil rd on the centenary highway bike path. As did the 100 other cyclists that passed by there. I have yet to see someone dismount to cross and it seems like there warning didnt change anything.

[casual_cyclist]

$40 for no bell?

or horn or warning device, you can yell can't you

+1. sometimes a VERY LOUD oi! is the only way to get their attention.

[MustangSally187]

Has everyone overlooked the fact that there was a death of a CYCLIST and now they're punishing CYCLISTS ?

[x8pg2qr]

Has everyone overlooked the fact that there was a death of a CYCLIST and now they're punishing CYCLISTS ?

I don’t see how these are punishments.

[winona_rider]

what death are they talking about?
if it's the guy that died of a heart attack on the western freeway bikepath a few months back i would question their media strategy.

i am all for riding legal - except having to dismount to cross lights. i have seen cops on bikes many times ignore this rule.

and also the keep left rule. technically it is "keep left unless impractical to do so". So let them give me a ticket. I would LOVE to have my day in court.

Plus it's QLD bike week! I know what cops think: Let's give some newbie bike riders some tickets! Awsm!

[benfer]

they were actually just handing out warnings which I guess is pretty good considering they could have fined me theoretically

[uncle arthur]

Queensland Police do a blitz on cycling - funny how they rarely if ever do a blitz on idiot drivers who make cycling dangerous.

[Mulger bill]

$40 for no bell?

or horn or warning device, you can yell can't you

+1. sometimes a VERY LOUD oi! is the only way to get their attention.

+2 Bells just make 'em !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! 'emself or conversely go nuts. Air Zound's looking more and more of a good idea. Does the tank have to take up a bidon cage or can it go elsewhere?

Shaun

[Mulger bill]

No problems with a blitz on feral riders, as long as they go feral peds next.

Oddly enough, the last time VicPol did a blitz on feral peds in the Melb CBD, the Feral Hun howled it down as a waste of police resources. One page after demanding the death penalty (almost) for "Rogue Cyclists"

Shaun

[mikesbytes]

Failure to ride in the dedicated bike lane if the road has one $60

Some of the bike lanes in Sydney are dam dangerous

[ksteinhoff]

or horn or warning device, you can yell can't you :lol:

+1. sometimes a VERY LOUD oi! is the only way to get their attention.

+2 Bells just make 'em !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! 'emself or conversely go nuts. Air Zound's looking more and more of a good idea. Does the tank have to take up a bidon cage or can it go elsewhere?

Shaun

Now that my Surly LHT has three cages, I stick the air bottle there. Before that, I used Velcro straps to hold it on other the front of my rear rack (with an extension hose bought from an aquarium store) or to my steering tube.

[ksteinhoff]

or horn or warning device, you can yell can't you :lol:

+1. sometimes a VERY LOUD oi! is the only way to get their attention.

+2 Bells just make 'em !! BAN ME NOW FOR SWEARING !! 'emself or conversely go nuts. Air Zound's looking more and more of a good idea. Does the tank have to take up a bidon cage or can it go elsewhere?

Shaun

I just remembered that I had a picture of the way I had it mounted on the stem.

Ugly, but it worked.

[colafreak]

$40 for no bell?

or horn or warning device, you can yell can't you

Any idea whether cops will let that fly? I have visions of saying, why here's my bell, officer. And as I touch the top of the headset, yelling "OI!!!!"

Presumably, though, if there's a law you need a bell, yelling wouldn't be an excuse????

[Mulger bill]

Thanks Ken, I've got room under the stem.

IIRC, the law in Vic requires an "audible warning device" without actually specifying what, I'll stick with OY.

Shaun

[master6]

I find a referees whistle very effective.

[Matt_Matt]

Thanks Ken, I've got room under the stem.

IIRC, the law in Vic requires an "audible warning device" without actually specifying what, I'll stick with OY.

Shaun

It does call for a bell, horn, or similar warning device, in working order.

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonl ... art_15.pdf

[Davey]

What does this acheive?

Especially the keeping to the left all the time. I'll keep left but not if theres glass strewn all over the place. You'd get like 30 metres b4 getting a flat from smashed stubbies and tail lights.

And if they want all bikes to have a warning device why aren't they equipped by law? Probably cause they look crap.

Next it'll be a bliz on pedestrians, "Whoa buddy! just what do you think you're doing going down the right side of the escalator. I'm afraid I'm gonna have to take you in for that one."

If it doesn't hurt anyone why make more rules.

Everytime someone sais "there should be a law against that" and some idiot makes one a single tear rolls down my cheek.

lmao

[casual_cyclist]

No problems with a blitz on feral riders, as long as they go feral peds next.
Shaun

+1 I hate that sick feeling when a ped steps out in front of without looking which happens on shared paths and the road. If they don't respond to a loud oi! its usually because they are wearing an iPod.