Thread: Cyclists.

MORE than 400 cyclists have been booked or cautioned for riding without a helmet in South Australia during a police crackdown on bike safety last month.

With the Tour Down Under race in town in January, police launched Operation Safe Cycling to put the spotlight on those getting around town on two wheels.

Police wrote up more than 800 fines or cautions during the operation, with a whopping 403 cyclists caught not wearing a helmet.

Other common offences included cyclists riding at night without lights (176 fines and cautions), cyclists disobeying a traffic control device (116), vehicles parking in bike lanes (78) and vehicles driving in bike lanes (8).

?A significant number of these detections relate directly to the issue of road safety,? Superintendent Anthony Fioravanti said.

?Cyclists not wearing helmets, driving without lights and disobeying traffic controls are putting themselves and other road users at risk.

?That is unacceptable to police and should be unacceptable to the wider community.?

More than 500 cyclists were injured in crashes in 2015, while four were killed.

Bike helmets, pretty much useless when cleaned up by a speeding car.

Interesting view point from the officer, so not wearing a helmet is a danger to other road user's safety; safe from what, a nasty dent in the bonnet?

Stats are great - 2015 SA road toll, 102 fatalities, so sounds like bikes are the minority (and how many of the bike injuries were inflicted by a motor vehicle.....)

Btw I wear a helmet because I cycle in traffic and don't trust the minority of drivers, but believe it should be free choice (what is more dangerous, cyclist with no helmet, or motorbiker without leathers??)

Simon

Originally Posted by Simon

Bike helmets, pretty much useless when cleaned up by a speeding car.

Interesting view point from the officer, so not wearing a helmet is a danger to other road user's safety; safe from what, a nasty dent in the bonnet?

Stats are great - 2015 SA road toll, 102 fatalities, so sounds like bikes are the minority (and how many of the bike injuries were inflicted by a motor vehicle.....)

Btw I wear a helmet because I cycle in traffic and don't trust the minority of drivers, but believe it should be free choice (what is more dangerous, cyclist with no helmet, or motorbiker without leathers??)

Simon

So, what are you saying, cyclists should wear leathers.
I'll go along with that.

A bunch of annoyed cycle tourists will vow to never come back to Oz after being fined for what is legal across most of the planet. A win-win for someone, I'm sure.

Might be popular around Taylor Square, but more likely of the horse riding chaps design

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

So, what are you saying, cyclists should wear leathers.
I'll go along with that.

for the tour down under they maxed about 90km/h
and averaged 50(?)

without proper protection, any crash or coming off the bike, will hurt.

That would be the tour riders presumably, rather than the public.

I've hit 83kph (down Mt Hotham), frankly its frightening and I don't know how they manage 100kph+ in the Tour de France.

Most recreational riders wont get anywhere near those speeds, especially on the flat.

yeah that the tour riders.
i max out about 50km/h, so i assume the public is simmilar