Two cyclists in Sydney, New South Wales – the Australian state that brought in big increases in penalties for law-breaking riders on 1 March – have reportedly been fined A$425 (£225) apiece after police spotted them trackstanding at traffic lights.
Trackstanding in itself is not an offence, with the Twitter feed of campaign group Australian Cyclists instead suggesting that the pair were booked for “dangerous cycling” – although quite who they might have been endangering is unclear.
We’re informed 2 cyclists were booked today $425 for “track standing” waiting for signal @ Centennial Pk, Sydney. Are we feeling safer yet?
— Australian Cyclists (@icycleivote) March 9, 2016
Some people commenting on that post wondered whether the trackstanding riders might have gone beyond the ‘Stop’ line, with running a red traffic light an offence that also attracts a fine of A$425.
Ahead of the new laws being introduced, Professor Chris Rissel of Sydney University, who has published widely on cycling-related issues, warned that New South Wales stood to become “the worst state in the world in terms of how we treat cyclists – if we’re not already.”
> New South Wales set to be “worst state in world” for cyclists
Just days before the new laws came into effect last week, 450 cyclists were fined on one day for a variety of offences.
> Police penalties for 450 cyclists in one day
New South Wales transport minister Duncan Gay however insists that the laws, which include higher fines for cyclists who flout the compulsory helmet law, are in the interests of making bike riders safer.

9 thoughts on “Sydney cyclists reportedly fined £225 – for trackstanding”
Meanwhile, also in Sydney,
Meanwhile, also in Sydney, New South Wales…
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/peak-hour-in-sydney-is-getting-worse–and-longer-data-shows-20160310-gnftvd.html
Just one correction. Duncan
Just one correction. Duncan Gay is the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight. There is a separate Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, which adds to the lack of joined up thinking and roads-biased policies in NSW.
It’s $100 if they catch you
It’s $100 if they catch you without a bell!
Duncan Gay is a member for a country seat. For the UK readers imagine if they put an MP whose electorate is in the Lakes District in charge of London roads. Insanity.
mike_ibcyclist wrote:
I didn’t realise it mattered: MPs regularly become ministers with no regard to where they live or who they represent. And the minister for, say, welfare will regularly get reshuffled and become minister for transport or defence or something, which requires different knowledge and different skills. Ultimately it’s all just bureaucracy and paper shuffling and spin, isn’t it?
mike_ibcyclist wrote:
Or indeed a Chancellor of the Exchequer with no understanding of economics, or a Health Minister with a previously voiced intent to privatise the NHS, or….you get my drift….
Methinks we need a re-run of
Methinks we need a re-run of Yes Minister on the TV here in UK to remind people of the real workings within the cogs of the Civil Service and the relationship with Government officials 😉
psling wrote:
You might be right, but I don’t think Yes Minister had the same level of downright evil intent shown by this government.
I wish my cops had enough
I wish my cops had enough time (or I had enough of them) to be so draconian! If I did they still wouldn’t be doing such nonsense things.
The only danger I can see a
The only danger I can see a track standing cyclist being is if he falls off onto someone else. Or if he injured himself without affecting anyone else, but all cyclists fall off occasionally, as do pedestrians sometimes fall over!
It just smacks of ignorance and cyclist hating.