Bicycle Network Victoria: Ride On magazine

Leftie in the right

Apr-May 2011

Due to a recent office relocation I am now a rider of the Main Yarra Trail (MYT). I ride against the peak hour race to the city.

Going from riding on the road to the MYT has opened my eyes to the political leanings of the inbound. There are not a lot of left leaning riders on the trail. Not even many centre-left riders.

Call me old fashioned, but giving way and slowing down are not optional, however when you lean to the right, it's all about you. So if you hear random mumblings from a cyclist heading the other way, it's probably me venting my frustrations at having to avoid head-on collisions.

In short, keep left, share the MYT and be safe out there.

Corey Innes, Maidstone, VIC

Calling for action

June 2010

Most days that I am out I will see a rider, on the road with cars, happily texting or talking. Riders will complain about car drivers using phones but it is even more dangerous for a rider to be using one while cycling.

I would hate to be the car driver that hits a rider who falls into the path of my car because they did not see the pothole or bump. Not to mention the annoyance to other riders as you wonder why the bike in front is slowing down and wobbling about.

Marianne Watt, North Melbourne, VIC

Seeing red

June 2010

As a regular commuting rider, it infuriates me to see riders running red lights – I would observe this happening at least 2-3 times per 5km trip. This kind of behaviour casts all riders in a bad light and only gives drivers the opportunity to 'bike bash'.

Can Bicycle Network Victoria please raise this as an issue among the membership and encourage members to do the right thing – even if it's frustrating to stop at a pedestrian crossing or whatever. Imagine the outrage from riders if cars just ignored red lights because they couldn't be bothered waiting.

This behaviour gives riders a bad name and only encourages calls for bike registration and such like. Stopping at red lights is the law and riders need to respect that.

Zoe Furman, North Carlton, VIC

A ringing endorsement

June 2010

I have just taken up riding again at the age of 68 after a long absence. Riding along the Eastern Freeway trail, I find that younger riders pass me at a great pace and say “passing” as they reach my rear wheel. This often gives me quite a fright, as my hearing is not acute as it once was.

Is it un-cool to have a bell on your bike to warn those ahead of your impending pass?
I think that many younger riders need to use a bell to warn of their approach.

Michael Flynn, Balwyn North, VIC

Don't know, don't care

May 2009

I am a cyclist, motorcyclist and driver. While driving in Panton Hill recently, I was disappointed to see two cyclists riding two abreast waving cars around them on a stretch of road that has double lines. Clearly the cyclists didn't know or didn't care that it is illegal and, more importantly, dangerous to overtake on double lines, which are painted on sections of road which have limited visibility of oncoming traffic and where overtaking presents a serious risk of a head-on collision. It seemed inflammatory to be waved to do something clearly illegal and dangerous, though it was probably ignorance on the part of the cyclists.

While drivers have a long way to go in providing a safe environment for cyclists, it would help if all cyclists demonstrated knowledge of and adherence to the road rules. However, it seems obvious that only cyclists who have taken a licence test for a car or motorcycle have had any opportunity for training in the road rules. What is the solution to this situation?

Anita Coia

Melbourne VIC

Cyclist ruins holiday

3 April 2009

Recently my wife and I, both members of Bicycle Network Victoria and keen cyclists, were holidaying in New Zealand, and enjoying a quiet stroll in the Queenstown botanical gardens when my wife was collided with from behind quite violently by a cyclist riding at speed. My wife and the cyclist both ended up on the ground with my wife in severe pain. Rather than being apologetic, the cyclist was quite abusive to the effect that she had called out twice warning of her approach; the path was a walking path and not a shared one. The following day at the local hospital it was found that my wife had badly fractured her elbow necessitating a week in the Invercargill Hospital and replacement of her elbow with a prosthetic one. Please cyclists, be aware of pedestrians and don’t expect them to get out of your way, you must give way to them. I hate to think of the consequences of this accident if the victim had been a small child. A holiday ruined by carelessness.

Ray L Martin

Creswick VIC

Giving us a bad name

2 June 2008

As cycling becomes more popular one often comes across cyclists without helmets and/or without lights at night. There are also those who jump red lights or go up a one way the wrong way.

These are the ones that give the rest of us cyclists a bad name amongst other road users. BV needs to increase its efforts to make these cyclists aware of their obligations to themselves and more importantly to the general community. This could be in the form of increased road warning signs, bill board ads etc and alerting the police to ticket these cyclists.

Ian Brenner

Elwood VIC

Too many cyclists

26 May 2008

I used to read the letters section of Ride On back when I first became a member of Bike Vic and think to myself "what a bunch of (predominantly) grumpy old men."

I now seem to have become one of them. Bike Vic's remit of more people cycling more often accompanied by a steep climb in petrol prices has destroyed my cold morning cycling solitude. I don't mind this, except every other "new" rider has a bike with no lights, taco shaped wheels, and either no or an unserviceable helmet. I am also increasingly sick of seeing people jumping red lights. How can I expect motorists to treat me with respect when increasing numbers of other cyclists believe that road rules are only optional for them.

Bike Vic, please stop encouraging people to ride their bikes and return me to the old days when I took my life into my own hands, on my own!

Stuart Lawrie

West Melbourne VIC

Do the right thing

13 March 08

I am dismayed at the small number of cyclists I see who still disobey traffic lights (in particular at pedestrian crossings). When will these idiots understand that to get the respect of the motoring public (and the general public), cyclists MUST be SEEN to be DOING THE RIGHT THING? You wouldn’t drive through a red light, so why ride through one? We should all try to be a ‘good cycling ambassador’ by obeying the road rules and extending the courtesies to others that we expect to be extended to us.

Don Robertson

Glen Iris VIC

Give way to pedestrians

25 Feb 08

I wish to express my disappointment at the number of cyclists who do not dismount when travelling through the pedestrian tunnel at the Rushall St Railway Station in North Fitzroy. At least 80% of cyclists do not dismount, yet the signs are clearly marked. This tunnel has 2 blind corners, and it is not enough to ring the bell and barrel on around the corner. Polite requests to dismount are often met with rude replies and the arrogance of many riders is tiresome. I have been told that an elderly lady was injured prior to Christmas, after which Connex had a crackdown that lasted all of 2 days. Please be considerate and dismount. We have enough problems with our public image without annoying and injuring pedestrians and it only adds approximately 30 seconds to the journey.

Peter Revill

Alphington VIC