Thread: Cyclists.

Wind resistance prevents me getting up to that speed.
You must be lean and streamlined and pedal like crazy?

Originally Posted by bee utey

There are a number of ways of reducing cyclist fatalities overall. One of them is improving driver behaviour, probably a long term government led project. Another is to remove yourself from busy traffic streams. That BTW is the method I most use as the former seems a little difficult to achieve by myself. However I won't stop using main roads where no other routes exist, because I don't tend to spend long times on them. It's simply that if I have a destination I will use the most convenient route all round whilst keeping the risks in mind. I've logged some 50,000km+ of accident free cycling over 20 years, I must be doing something right. Just I don't want a total ban on main road cycling just to appease the bike hater motorists, that won't do anything to improve the situation.

I also find riding the same route regularly helps especially as a commuter. You see the same drivers everyday and they get used to you being there and adjust their driving accordingly to allow for the fact that they expect to see you. This reduces the risk for everyone.

I notice if I ride my commute route at a different time of the day with drivers that aren't used to seeing me the risk increases.

Originally Posted by Andrew D

Riding is a great hobby/sport. Beats tapping away on a computer.

Covered just over 1100 km from the 23/12 to the 18/1 while on holidays and about 10 km was climbing. Speeds varied from 5 km/hr up to 86.8 km/hr.

86.8 km/hr on the new Toowoomba Range. This was moving.

Gee that's moving. I've done high 70's a few times and found that plenty fast enough.

I took the young fella for a few rides on a great cycle path on the south coast over the holidays, from where we stay it's a combination of footpath, road, bike lane and crossing a railway line to get to the cycle/walk path, which apart from some car-park crossings is car free - great for him to concentrate on riding (and checking his speed on his speedometer).

On the footpath, most pedestrians are considerate and share it willingly (it's legal for those under 14 and the adults with them to use the footpath), only one was reluctant to keep their dog out of the way, to some folks I guess dogs are people too, another subject.

On the road, thanks to everyone for giving us room, everyone except one old lady who was hugging the left boundary line of the lane, while we were waiting to cross the main rd (80kmh zone) maybe she didn't see us standing alongside our bikes with bright clothes just off the road, but her non-attentiveness was the only incident that raised my heart beat.

Also on the road, waiting at a T-junction in the back streets (50kmh), there was a gap but another cyclist (adult) was approaching our intersection so we waited for him, but he decided to turn left and not cross in front of us WITHOUT indicating, and yes he saw us waiting for him, good example mate, cheers. This caused the gap to shorten from the next vehicle approaching, but still do-able, but half way across the first lane the little bloke slipped off his pedal or something and stalled it causing the approaching driver to slow, thanks to that guy for his attentiveness and cautionary patience, again good driver interaction.

Back on the bike-path I saw a lycra clad racer approaching in my MIRROR, as he got close I turned my head to tell him the young fella ahead usually keeps left but just give him a ring on your BELL mate and he'll stay out of your way. This bloke said "Um I don't have a BELL". This guy had at least $2k of bike and probably $250 sunglasses, all the lycra costume, but couldn't afford the LEGAL requirement of a BELL for say $5-10?

There you have it. My experience teaching children to cycle safely on roads, bike-lanes and paths. It's not the motorists that are the concern as I see it (exception being the one elderly lady - a risk to all road users).

In my experience, the majority of cyclists are not demonstrating awareness, are not aware of the rules, are not courteous (yes I cycle, defensively). It's frustrating answering the questions - Dad, why didn't he/she use their bell? Why didn't that bike keep left? etc. Some cyclists obviously don't think they should be responsible, and blame ALL motorists for EVERY incident. Ignorance is bliss apparently.

Motorists will have to leave a one metre gap when passing cyclists under proposed new South Australian laws

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seems unenforceable to me.

Originally Posted by Eevo

Motorists will have to leave a one metre gap when passing cyclists under proposed new South Australian laws

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seems unenforceable to me.

Things like this wouldn't need to be brought in if **some** motorists didn't insist on only leaving a 5cm gap when overtaking even when there is plenty of room on the road to leave more and the cyclists being passed are riding single file.

Most motorists do the right thing but laws are generally brought in to cater to the lowest common denominator which then get enforced on everyone.

Whilst it might not be enforceable, if there is a incident and the motorist didn't leave a metre then I guess they're going to be automatically found to have been breaking the law when it comes to assigning liability.

Imagine if cyclists and motor cyclists had to lead a 250 mm gap when passing vehicles, esp between vehicles.

Originally Posted by RHS58

You must be lean and streamlined and pedal like crazy?

I'm pretty lean and don't carry much in reserve. Didn't require much pedal action. Almost nil. Gravity was doing most of the work. If Murphy's Creek Road didn't have as many tight bends it would be higher than 86. I might also be cactus.

Originally Posted by loneranger

Gee that's moving. I've done high 70's a few times and found that plenty fast enough.

You'll try anything once when you spend 3 weeks with the in-laws.

(brand new road, nice asphalt, not much traffic at 4:50 am & wide shoulders)

Regards
Andrew

Originally Posted by Eevo

Motorists will have to leave a one metre gap when passing cyclists under proposed new South Australian laws

seems unenforceable to me.

I believe this is already in action in Vic and soon if not now in Qld.

The hire car we used over the break also had a sticker on it advertising this requirement (had vic plates on the car, holidays were in Qld).

No less enforceable than people using mobile phones while driving.

Regards
Andrew