Conference hears plan to crack down on speeding cyclists

[FXST01]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-news/road-safety-international-conference-hears-plan-to-crack-down-on-speeding-cyclists/story-fnb5f12x-1226609928398

CYCLISTS would be fined for exceeding 10km/h speed limits on shared pathways under a plan to crack down on unsafe riding practices.

Shared cycle paths should be renamed "pedestrian priority zones", widened and cameras installed to catch speeding cyclists, Australian Pedestrian Council chairman Harold Scruby told the fourth Road Safety International Conference in Sydney.

Mr Scruby said "80 to 90 per cent of people don't want cyclists" where pedestrians walk.

"These shared paths should be 10km/h regulated ... and should be insured so that if they (cyclists) hit someone they have some protection," he said.

Inspector Phil Brooks, from the traffic and highway command, refused to say whether NSW police would consider turning their radars on speeding cyclists, pointing out there had been a significant drop in the number of accidents between riders and walkers.

"Since the (CBD motorcycle response) team commenced operations on August 1, 2012, serious injury and fatal crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists have dropped from 340 incidents down to 274 compared to the same period 12 months earlier," he said.

But advocates of similar programs said enforced speed limits on shared footpaths had led to a decrease in aggression between walkers and riders.

On Pyrmont Bridge, a council ranger is regularly present to flag speeding cyclists down with a baton in order to protect pedestrians.

"We have a 10km/h limit on the bridge," a spokesman for the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority said.

"If cyclists are going a bit quick, our rangers tell them to slow down and take care to protect pedestrians.

"We've come to a good agreement with both groups who use the bridge. I think we've got the balance right."

Last year, The Sunday Telegraph witnessed cyclists riding on the shared footpath of the Anzac Bridge at more than 40km/h, with one hitting 47km/h.

Mr Scruby said excessive speeds combined with narrow paths, such as the Spit Bridge's 1.2m-wide shared path, put cyclists and pedestrians at risk.

"It's not even safe for cyclists," Mr Scruby said. "Imagine if you clipped the metal railings with your pedal."

The term "shared paths" should be changed to "pedestrian priority zones" to ensure cyclists were aware they had to give way to pedestrians, he said.

"Cyclists are required to give way to pedestrians, even if that means coming to a complete stop, but I don't think many cyclists are aware of that."

[munga]

i'm guessing mr scruby doesn't ride a bike.

[skull]

10km/h ? I run faster then that.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

[jcjordan]

Um guys check the date, looks like you got fooled

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk HD

[warthog1]

Google Harold Scruby. It's not April fools with that turkey's past form

[il padrone]

Speeding cyclists.





Like we sure see lots of cyclists exceeding the speed limit

Mind you, it'll be those same worried pedestrians who are out there, breaking the speed limits, squeezing red lights and crossing double lines on the road.

[jasonc]

say for a second it is a real article. police are only authorised to use radar guns on roads. not shared paths.

[trailgumby]

Those railings must be low... clipping them with your pedal? :lol"

[foo on patrol]

"Cyclists are required to give way to pedestrians, even if that means coming to a complete stop, but I don't think many cyclists are aware of that."

I guess many pedestrians don't know it's illegal to jay-walk neither. idiot!

Foo

[find_bruce]

Arold screwloose says something clueless, colour me surprised

[Mulger bill]

Poor 'Arold, must be feeling neglected so he fires the fax machine up.

Won't somebody PLEASE take him for a ride? Doesn't have to be a bike...

[lump_a_charcoal]

Won't somebody PLEASE take him for a long drive?

Fikst.

[TimW]

say for a second it is a real article. police are only authorised to use radar guns on roads. not shared paths.

You sure about that??

Not the case in NSW

[il padrone]

I'm not aware of any legally-enforceable shared path speed limit. Here in Victoria it is my understanding that speed limits only apply on roads

Despite some shopping centre car-parks having this ludicrous sign which no-one obeys:

[lump_a_charcoal]

AFAIK, speed limits in NSW can only be enforced by police if they are 40kph or greater.

Also, how can you know what speed you are going with no speedo?

Seems the UCI also want in on it.

http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/ro ... gram-limit

[TimW]

I thought if it was a road or road related area, then the laws of the road apply. This might mean paths along the side of a road maybe, not distinctly separate paths away from roads itself.

[TimW]

speed limits in NSW can only be enforced by police if they are 40kph or greater

be interested to see where the legislation applying to that one is.

[Ross]

Hello people, check the date of the article...

[jasonc]

say for a second it is a real article. police are only authorised to use radar guns on roads. not shared paths.

You sure about that??

Not the case in NSW

got a mate in the traffic squad who says so

[TimW]

say for a second it is a real article. police are only authorised to use radar guns on roads. not shared paths.

You sure about that??

Not the case in NSW

got a mate in the traffic squad who says so

must be right then if a mate told you

edit spelling mistake(Me)

[il padrone]

Seems the UCI also want in on it.

http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/ro ... gram-limit

Now that one truly is an April Fool's joke

designed in the top secret UCI Skunk Works Project buried in a mountain outside Aigle, Switzerland

[coyote]

Not being a local but been in Sydney last week and walked over the the bridge every day during the week. Yes, I did see rangers on the bridge, but not once did I see them try to slow down any cyclist. Also saw police on bicycle's riding across the bridge turning around at the city end and heading back the other way. They took no notice of any of the cyclist who over took them at a speed that had to be more then the 10 kph. The question i would ask is why they do not mark lanes on the bridge, one going each way for cyclist, yes they would have to enforce it to start with so people learn what to do. At the moment it is like dodgen cars at a show with walkers and cyclist all mixed together going every which way.

[ColinOldnCranky]

10km/h ? I run faster then that.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

I average 12kph on paths. And I ride a samll ungeared unicycle!

But don't take Harald Scruby seriously. Few other people do.

[ColinOldnCranky]

Um guys check the date, looks like you got fooled

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk HD

Probably not - You don't appear to be aware of Harald Scruby. Spelt T.W.A.T.

Harald Scruby trots this stuff out every day of the year. This proposal of his is not new. [url]http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/rsc/pedestrian_safety/hearings/Pedestrian_Council_of_Australia.pdf
[/url]

He did present a paper "The road is too dangerous to share" in a panel session on a panel on "Vulnerable road users" at the conference. Presumably he raised it again there.

Although why it took three weeks for this article to appear is curious. Perhaps it is only on April Fools day that any serious journalist will bother to listen to him.

[clydesmcdale]

I ride the Goodwill Bridge in Brisbane almost every day on my commute and never see anyone do 10km/h as is sign posted. Tried staying under 10 myself the other day, almost fell off trying to stay upright and kept getting overtaken by joggers.