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news
Sydney Harbour from the air (copyright Rodney Haywood)Police penalties for 450 cyclists in one day as New South Wales prepares for mammoth cycling fines
Hundreds of Australian cyclists have been penalised for crimes including not having a bell, as New South Wales Police prepare to enforce some of the world’s harshest penalties for cycle infringements from next week.
More than 450 cyclists received penalties in a one-day action by police. 210 were cyclists fined for not wearing helmets, 80 for riding on the footpath, and 103 for disobeying traffic control lights, including by not dismounting at pedestrian crossings.
A further 64 cautions were issued for minor infringements like not carrying a bell.
More than 200 motorists were also targeted and the new laws will also require drivers to give cyclists at least one metre of space when overtaking.
Currently, cycling fines are set at $71 (£36) but from Monday will more than quadruple to $319 (£163) for not wearing a helmet and $425 (£218) for not stopping at a pedestrian crossing.
Cyclists without ID will be fined around £50.
The fine for motorists who close pass will be £163, plus two licence points. If passing at more than 60 kmph, the space required increases to 1.5 metres.
Craig Richards of Bicycle Network, asked in a statement: “Is this just the latest attack on cyclists from a government who appear to be running an anti-bike agenda?”
We reported last week how Transport for NSW says that huge increases in fines for cyclists who break the law and a requirement they carry ID will improve the safety of people on bikes. But an academic who regularly publishes on cycling issues says the legislation means New South Wales will probably “become the worst state in the world in terms of how we treat cyclists.”
A spokeswoman for Transport for NSW said: "The rapid growth of cycling in Sydney” – the number of daily trips in Sydney has doubled in the last decade – “is not expected to change with the NSW government's new measures.
"In fact, the changes will encourage more cyclists who may have previously felt unsafe with drivers on the road who were flouting the law, putting innocent road users at risk.
"New and seasoned bicycle riders can now have increased confidence in sharing the road safely with motorists and pedestrians."
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21 comments
Are they really trying to force cyclists into cars or public transport?
I suppose you could always pop on a helmet
Fit a little bell to your handlebars
Not cycle on the footpaths
Walk like a pedestrian on a pedestrian crossing
Obey the traffic lights
Fuck me! I think some of you should take a break from the keyboard and actually exercise some more. Maybe you'll chill out a bit.
Sheesh
What is happening in NSW is a political fight against people cycling, the State Transport minister seems to hate anyone who isn't driving a car and this has been shown with removal of cycle facilities on CBD roads that were moving more people on bicycles than in cars.
It may also be a tourism effort for people to visit the most backward city in the world, wow if you don't have a bell you get 2 years in prison etc.
If its dismounting whilst crossing then I should bloody well hope so. Its a matter of manners I'd its mixed use age.
Presumably there are some sort of performance indicators tied to the approach?
"These measures will be considered a success if cycling miles incease by X% per year and road cycling injuries decrease by Y% per year"?
Otherwise how could we tell if they were well thought out and implimented?
Dismount at pedestrian crossings is as it sounds, i.e where you're using one as well as pedestrians. You're allowed to ride across if there's a bike ride across symbol. They appear where, for example, cycle lanes go from one side to another.
Surely that's the same as here in the UK - you are expected to become a pedestrian unless there is an explicit "cycles allowed " sign?
Yes. I was just helping out with what was confusing people
I think the way it works is that you can cycle across a pedestrian crossing (it is part of the road after all), but you don't have priority in the way pedestrians do.
In Bedford's awful new turboroundabout they actually made the pedestrian crossings wider to allow for bikes, without appearing bothered about their treatment under the law.
Can any of our Autralian commenters confirm whether NSW drivers are also required to carry ID at all times?
Thanks for the response. The reason I asked is that we have numerous repeats of Highway Patrol Australia, or whatever it's called, over here in the Uk and I never see or hear anything about a fine for failure to produce a Driving Licence so I presumed that it was not mandatory for drivers to carry their Driving Licence with them. If it's mandatory then all good and well, if it's optional, like the UK where we have to produce document within 2 weeks if not with you when stopped, then the cyclist ID law is discrimination and therefore illegal.
Discriminatory in what way? Because it's not something UK drivers are required to do?
No it would be discriminatory if cyclists are required to carry ID and drivers are not.
Where? In Australia both are, aren't they?
That's what I was trying to establish and then gave my reasons for asking. OK now.
What else. I can sort of see an objection if you have stand to one side rather than be astride. Stopping surely, with a foot down, out to be as compulsory for cyclists as cars. I wonder what the definition of dismount is?
"dismounting at pedestrian crossings" what does that even mean? Are you supposed to get off your bike and stand in the middle of the road at a red light?
One would assume they mean at what we would call a Zebra crossing travelling from Pavement to Pavement not whilst riding on the road.
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Walking to school with a 5 year old we nearly got taken out by some Hi-Viz wearing commuter dick head who left the pavement to ride over the Zebra crossing we were on then onto the other pavement and off in his own wankery way.
Shitney. The place is full of Australians. Kind of says it all really; rascist, sexist bogans.
Ahem!
I have the misfortune to cycle around Sydney.
Have to say, for me, it is the worst city I have ever ridden a bike in. Drivers need no comment, the level of aggression and impatience is off the chart, rarely a day goes by without some form of abuse being thrown or a car swerving towards you. The police are actively out to get cyclists as evidenced by the above. Fines for bells? Really? When a bell can protect me against that SUV I'll be happy to use it. The lack of infrastructure is beyond belief and the NSW gov and Transport NSW appear to be actively trying to get people off bikes and into cars or public transport.
I like Sydney as a city, but will be glad to ride again properly once I leave.