Comments for Bicycle Transportation Alliance

Comment on PSP to Fremantle by CycleSnail

CycleSnail — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:26:10 +0000

Thanks, Giz, for asking all the right questions (even though we might not like the answers).

If people using bicycles to commute to work or for pleasure need to use the road for the foreseeable future, we need to think how we can make this road usage safe for vulnerable road users. The towards Zero strategy is based on the physical limits a human body can cope with in case of an “accident”. It is clearly shown that where unprotected road users are exposed to cars the safe speed is 30 kmh. At that speed 85% of people will not suffer permanent injuries when hit by a car.

If we are unable to provide a PSP to Fremantle the speed on the road that cyclists use should be 30 kmh.

Regards,

Heinrich Benz

Comment on Brisbane’s cycle hire scheme and bike helmets by Curt

Curt — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:06:30 +0000

Maybe Australia should introduce Compulsory helmet use while driving a car, I am sure studies would show that there would be fewer head injuries to occupants involved in car crashes if they wore a helmet. It would be right in line with Australias way of thinking and priorities, and you can conveniently store the helmet inside the car when not in use. What a great idea!

Comment on BTA comments on congested traffic by Andrew Priest

Andrew Priest — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:01:59 +0000

Dear Heinrich

A well written letter. Short and sharp. Congrats on getting it published. Hopefully it gets people thinking.

Regards
Andrew

Comment on 37 months by CycleSnail

CycleSnail — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 11:11:20 +0000

Thanks, Andrew, it is nice to work with and for people who believe that positiv change is possible.

Comment on 37 months by Andrew Priest

Andrew Priest — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:23:18 +0000

and a very good effort over those 37 months too. Thanks for your efforts and contributions to cycling in Perth.

Comment on $584.10 fine for not wearing a bicycle helmet! by Chris

Chris — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:08:24 +0000

Quick update – I just checked the figures and there’s been a tiny hike since June, Civic Compliance now say the base fine (helmets, bells etc) is $149. Still pretty unbelievable.

Comment on $584.10 fine for not wearing a bicycle helmet! by Chris

Chris — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:49:55 +0000

The tripling (or more, in some cases) of fines in Victoria happened on the quiet last November (2009) – Vic Police state that the changes were “widely publicised”, but in fact the press releases only detailed car & motorbike fines, ending with general mention of “changes also including bicyclists.” No period of grace was given. Fines were handed out by teams of “Bike Squad” police positioned along city routes from the first morning. There is now a $146 fine for FAILURE TO HAVE A BELL. I know this because I’ve been fined for it. Officer Brandi not only kept a straight face while administering it, he described it as a serious offence.
Getting a full list of the offences & fines is very difficult. Sections are available for download from a website of Victorian Legislation, but the rules are not all kept in one part of that site, do not mention the level of fines & all sections can only be read when downloaded as a pdf. Bike Squad officers are issued with a book detailing the fines, but this is not available to the public & they refuse to show it to the individual cyclist. Vic Police cite restrictive printing costs & the likelihood of revisions to the law as reasons for not producing a public copy.
Incidentally, my last helmet fine was, just like the bell, $146, so you might have been misinformed about the number of penalty units – or they’ve gone up again! Also, an officer recently advised me the Dangerous Riding charge is $6800 & the Careless charge is ten percent of that – $680. Nonetheless, it really does stink.
Lastly, Bicycle Victoria is funded by the state government. Without fail they support every revision to law here – every fine hike, every escalation of enforcement. After the fines of November, I saw that their website still advised of the old level of penalty – on calling them neither of the available staff were even aware of the change! When the site was revised it came with a ringing endorsement of these ludicrous fundraising measures. Sadly it seems like they’re total lackies & many Victorian cyclists have simply written them off.
This stuff really does spoil the simple pleasure of cycling. Makes me want to get back in a car!

Comment on Fixies beware! by Ian Baillie

Ian Baillie — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:36:23 +0000

Hi, I am now 71 yoa and when I started Cycling in Birmingham UK when I was 15 yoa we all used to ride bicycles with a fixed B/ W and a Front Brake , it was always considered to be SAFE even when we rode in Snow and Icee conditions .
The skill we learnt riding a fixed wheel stayed with us forever.
Some DESK unfocussed idiot needs to get out into the real world,
Cheers Ian