Register and license cyclists so those who 'flout road rules

[Ross]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslo ... 6617960025" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Register and license cyclists so those who 'flout road rules' can be penalised, says mayor by: emma page •From: Mosman Daily •April 11, 2013 9:31AM


North Sydney Council shelved plans to upgrade the St Leonards Park shared path after a cyclist shoved a pedestrian walking his dog. Picture: Dave Swift, Source: NewsLocal

•Read the Mosman Daily's report of a cyclist pushing a pedestrian to the ground in St Leonards Park
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslo ... 6596893793" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

CYCLISTS should stick to the roads, says North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson.
Further, all NSW cyclists should be licensed and registered so that those who speed or cycle aggressively can be penalised for flouting road rules.

"Commuter cyclists are capable of speeding faster than cars during peak times. Some travel at 30-40km/h if a pedestrian is hit by a bike at that speed, they could be killed," Cr Gibson said.

Her comments come after the council recently shelved plans to upgrade the St Leonards Park shared path, following an incident where an angry cyclist got off his bike and shoved a pedestrian walking his dog.

"A white line does nothing to stop toddlers or the elderly from accidentally straying into the path of a cyclists footpaths are made for feet, cyclists should stick to roads," Cr Gibson said.

A petition, signed by 80 residents, calling for St Leonards Park to be for pedestrian and leisure cycling activity only (no commuter cycling), was lodged with the council this month.

Neutral Bay resident Pamela Notley said cyclists should ride on a separate path around the edge of St Leonards Park.

"Some cyclists are extremely abusive. Pedestrians have a right to walk safely," she told Tuesday night's council meeting.

However, Bike North president Darryn Capes-Davis said it was unfair to force cyclists onto roads without designated bike lanes.

He also questioned a 10km/h speed limit, saying joggers could run faster and cyclists were less stable at slow speeds.

[rkelsen]

"A petition, signed by 80 residents, calling for St Leonards Park to be for pedestrian and leisure cycling activity only (no commuter cycling), was lodged with the council this month."

Seriously? What a pathetic situation. The commuter is most probably the only one actually using the path for a purpose.

Anyhow, this sort of thing wouldn't happen if people weren't so egocentric and conceited and knew how to share properly.

We need less of this kind of nanny-state bulldust and more common sense.

Life is hard enough. Why do some people insist on going around making it harder?

[Summernight]

I can't help but feel there is more to the story than just a dog and pedestrian straying into the path of a cyclist causing the cyclist to push the pedestrian. Maybe words were spoken? We will never know unless we were there (which I wasn't).

I think it is biting off your nose to spite your face to shelve a project that might alleviate these sorts of issues because of one incident.

[Bartek]

"A white line does nothing to stop toddlers or the elderly from accidentally straying into the path of a cyclists"

They should be reminded of the effectiveness of white lines as;

A white line does nothing to stop cyclists from accidentally straying into the path of a motor vehicles

and

A white line does nothing to stop motor vehicles from accidentally or purposely straying into the path of a cyclists

the three modes of transport need to be separated by kerbs as a minimum

[Kraeg]

I've had people in cars throw bottles at me when I've been cycling on the road shoulder... I hope Mayor Silly Gibson joins me in a call for no more road upgrades.

[familyguy]

Cyclists do ride on a separate path around the park...it's called Falcon Street. But it's a raceway and not for everybody.

No commuter cycling, huh? That's fine. If anyone asks, I'm just out for a leisurely ride when I'm in the park, despite the fact I've already ridden 15km from home, and may or may not ride another 3km to work. This path is the major link from the Falcon St interchange to North Sydney. Where will the people park their cars to unload the bikes when they go for a casual ride around the c.300m of path in the park?

Jim

[biker jk]

The Mayor is anti-cycling and all her arguments are irrational so you can't have a decent discussion about the topic with her. There was a far larger petition presented which called for commuter cyclist access to the park to be maintained. Cyclists in the municipality need to organise politically to put the heat on the Mayor and other councillors.

[zero]

"Commuter cyclists are capable of speeding faster than cars during peak times. Some travel at 30-40km/h if a pedestrian is hit by a bike at that speed, they could be killed," Cr Gibson said.

Honestly, If I was one of the relatives of the multiple pedestrians killed by motorists on the footpaths in NSW in the last 4 weeks, I'd be utterly furious with that comment. Given that a pedestrian was killed in Mosman by car in May in Mosman outside shops, on the very road that passes by St Leonards park, the breathtaking stupidity of the councillor really is on display.

I was in fact present in the park when the discussed incident occured. Along that path, at that time of day, there is a total traffic of commuter cyclists of about 25 an hour, and one of those 25s is a self entitled idiot. Riding a bicycle doesn't convert idiots into regular people. It just means they aren't running your children over in a 4wd right now.

[RomanTheCube]

I have ridden through that park a few times - Always at a snails pace however as I know there are people and dogs about. I prefer to do my riding at 40km/h but you have to pick your spots and those paths just aren't good for that.

That said, I only went through there because there were a lot more buses on the actual roads around that time and figured i'd rather deal with the angry looks than a bus!

[g-boaf]

You can easily do 10km/h - I reckon probably a speed limit of 8km/h would be better. That is a fast walking speed. But, I suggest that a speed limit of 8km/h be accompanied by a speed limit of 8km/h for pedestrians too. When I'm walking along slowly in my iPod world, oblivious to the surroundings, I should be able to meander about safely without the threat of being knocked over by these speeding runners.

[il padrone]

The eternal red-herring

[Percrime]

You can easily do 10km/h - I reckon probably a speed limit of 8km/h would be better. That is a fast walking speed. But, I suggest that a speed limit of 8km/h be accompanied by a speed limit of 8km/h for pedestrians too. When I'm walking along slowly in my iPod world, oblivious to the surroundings, I should be able to meander about safely without the threat of being knocked over by these speeding runners.

Blink.

[Mulger bill]

[pacra]

I think civil disobedience should be stamped out. All users of roads, tracks and footpaths should be registered and licensed.
Bikes, skateboards, wheelchairs, inline skates and even pedestrians should carry a registration to identify them when they flout the law. They should then be crushed by the heavy hand of authority.
Where I live it is common to see infants and children zigzagging down the footpath. I suspect that few of them are licenced while their parents smugly smile at their comtempt for authority.

[Xplora]

Another political career destined to go nowhere. 80 signatures... what about the thousands for cyclist friendly laws? Hmm?

There is absolutely no way that they have told the whole story about the cyclist attacking the ped. The only saving grace is that it's so obvious that it's biased, incompetent journalism that most people won't take it at face value. Most readers of the Tele won't care about people having a sook on the Northern Suburbs anyway heheheheh