Live blog: A good bike ride spoiled; Zwift art; a fifth of Aussie drivers admit experiencing cyclist road rage + more

20 thoughts on “Live blog: A good bike ride spoiled; Zwift art; a fifth of Aussie drivers admit experiencing cyclist road rage + more”

1. From the videos we see from

   From the videos we see from Oz, this isn’t going to surprise anyone, but the Guardian article doesn’t mention what the authorities are doing to correct this overt bias by drivers and makes it pretty clear that they are doing the sum of the square of sfa.

   This isn’t just a problem in Oz, and as is evidenced every day in newspaper and web comments, the utter ignorance of drivers about road law is astounding, and must lead to questions about whether our current system of licencing is appropriate.  If so many drivers are unaware of the law and put vulnerable road users at risk, the system isn’t working.  Do we need regular re-testing, especially focussing on behaviour towards vulnerable road users?

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2. From the Guardian (my

   From the Guardian (my emphasis):

   In the past 12 months, Australia experienced an 80% increase in cyclist deaths.  Distraction, especially from texting and smartphone use, a lack of driving experience and a lack of awareness of cyclists have been identified as key factors.  One study found driver distraction accounted for one in four accidents.

   — The Guardian

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   • brooksby wrote:

     From the Guardian (my emphasis):

     In the past 12 months, Australia experienced an 80% increase in cyclist deaths.  Distraction, especially from texting and smartphone use, a lack of driving experience and a lack of awareness of cyclists have been identified as key factors.  One study found driver distraction accounted for one in four accidents.

     — brooksby

     — The Guardian

     I’m trying not to mention helmets, but I’m weakening fast.

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     • [/quote]
       [/quote]

       I’m trying not to mention helmets, but I’m weakening fast.

       [/quote]

       In the conext that helmets are not the issue here I hope.

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       • Supersam wrote:

         I’m trying not to mention helmets, but I’m weakening fast.

         — Supersam

         In the conext that helmets are not the issue here I hope.

         I think its just very worrying that Australia mandated helmets to increase cyclists’ safety, and yet numbers of cyclist deaths are still increasing so drastically.  Its almost as if wearing a helmet doesn’t have a very great effect on KSI statistics…   ( )

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         • brooksby wrote:

           I’m trying not to mention helmets, but I’m weakening fast.

           — brooksby

           In the conext that helmets are not the issue here I hope.

           — Supersam

           I think its just very worrying that Australia mandated helmets to increase cyclists’ safety, and yet numbers of cyclist deaths are still increasing so drastically.  Its almost as if wearing a helmet doesn’t have a very great effect on KSI statistics…   ( )

           Given the drops in cycling since the mid 80s and going further back to the early 50s when cycling was ridiculously safe in Australia http://www.cycle-helmets.com/cycling-1985-2011.html# they have fallen massively, and yet their government is even more ignorant of the issues than ours which is going some!

           There are now calls for a 5 year test period for adults to cycle sans helmet but stupidly only off road, those 17 and under will still be forced to wear IF and that’s a big if the proposed changes get approval.

         • BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

           I’m trying not to mention helmets, but I’m weakening fast.

           — BehindTheBikesheds

           In the conext that helmets are not the issue here I hope.

           — brooksby

           I think its just very worrying that Australia mandated helmets to increase cyclists’ safety, and yet numbers of cyclist deaths are still increasing so drastically.  Its almost as if wearing a helmet doesn’t have a very great effect on KSI statistics…   ( )

           — Supersam

           Given the drops in cycling since the mid 80s and going further back to the early 50s when cycling was ridiculously safe in Australia http://www.cycle-helmets.com/cycling-1985-2011.html# they have fallen massively, and yet their government is even more ignorant of the issues than ours which is going some!

           There are now calls for a 5 year test period for adults to cycle sans helmet but stupidly only off road, those 17 and under will still be forced to wear IF and that’s a big if the proposed changes get approval.

            

           you do realise the issue is more complex than a did they or didnt they wear a helmet question???  

         • nigerian prince wrote:

           I’m trying not to mention helmets, but I’m weakening fast.

           — nigerian prince

           In the conext that helmets are not the issue here I hope.

           — BehindTheBikesheds

           I think its just very worrying that Australia mandated helmets to increase cyclists’ safety, and yet numbers of cyclist deaths are still increasing so drastically.  Its almost as if wearing a helmet doesn’t have a very great effect on KSI statistics…   ( )

           — brooksby

           Given the drops in cycling since the mid 80s and going further back to the early 50s when cycling was ridiculously safe in Australia http://www.cycle-helmets.com/cycling-1985-2011.html# they have fallen massively, and yet their government is even more ignorant of the issues than ours which is going some!

           There are now calls for a 5 year test period for adults to cycle sans helmet but stupidly only off road, those 17 and under will still be forced to wear IF and that’s a big if the proposed changes get approval.

           — Supersam

            

           you do realise the issue is more complex than a did they or didnt they wear a helmet question???  

           You do understand that we know that.

           You do understand that saying “there might be other issues” doesn’t change the point that such a massive increase in cyclist deaths in a country which mandated cycle helmets ostensibly to improve cyclist safety is a bit concerning…

         • brooksby wrote:

           I’m trying not to mention helmets, but I’m weakening fast.

           — brooksby

           In the conext that helmets are not the issue here I hope.

           — nigerian prince

           I think its just very worrying that Australia mandated helmets to increase cyclists’ safety, and yet numbers of cyclist deaths are still increasing so drastically.  Its almost as if wearing a helmet doesn’t have a very great effect on KSI statistics…   ( )

           — BehindTheBikesheds

           Given the drops in cycling since the mid 80s and going further back to the early 50s when cycling was ridiculously safe in Australia http://www.cycle-helmets.com/cycling-1985-2011.html# they have fallen massively, and yet their government is even more ignorant of the issues than ours which is going some!

           There are now calls for a 5 year test period for adults to cycle sans helmet but stupidly only off road, those 17 and under will still be forced to wear IF and that’s a big if the proposed changes get approval.

           — brooksby

            

           you do realise the issue is more complex than a did they or didnt they wear a helmet question???  

           — Supersam

           You do understand that we know that.

           You do understand that saying “there might be other issues” doesn’t change the point that such a massive increase in cyclist deaths in a country which mandated cycle helmets ostensibly to improve cyclist safety is a bit concerning…

           It’s an anti-BTBS sockpuppet, created by someone who’s already anonymous on an Internet forum. And, despite their username, I haven’t seen any offers to inherit millions yet. Just rude.

         • davel wrote:

           I’m trying not to mention helmets, but I’m weakening fast.

           — davel

           In the conext that helmets are not the issue here I hope.

           — brooksby

           I think its just very worrying that Australia mandated helmets to increase cyclists’ safety, and yet numbers of cyclist deaths are still increasing so drastically.  Its almost as if wearing a helmet doesn’t have a very great effect on KSI statistics…   ( )

           — nigerian prince

           Given the drops in cycling since the mid 80s and going further back to the early 50s when cycling was ridiculously safe in Australia http://www.cycle-helmets.com/cycling-1985-2011.html# they have fallen massively, and yet their government is even more ignorant of the issues than ours which is going some!

           There are now calls for a 5 year test period for adults to cycle sans helmet but stupidly only off road, those 17 and under will still be forced to wear IF and that’s a big if the proposed changes get approval.

           — BehindTheBikesheds

            

           you do realise the issue is more complex than a did they or didnt they wear a helmet question???  

           — brooksby

           You do understand that we know that.

           You do understand that saying “there might be other issues” doesn’t change the point that such a massive increase in cyclist deaths in a country which mandated cycle helmets ostensibly to improve cyclist safety is a bit concerning…

           — Supersam

           It’s an anti-BTBS sockpuppet, created by someone who’s already anonymous on an Internet forum. And, despite their username, I haven’t seen any offers to inherit millions yet. Just rude.

            

           honestly I’ve had it with the vitriol on this site. It’s a sad place, for sad middle aged men shouting into the digital abyss. Fucking losers, the lot of you. 

         • nigerian prince wrote:

           honestly I’ve had it with the vitriol on this site. It’s a sad place, for sad middle aged men shouting into the digital abyss. Fucking losers, the lot of you.

           — nigerian prince

           You think this site is full of vitriol? Don’t ever venture to the comments section of the Mail Online then especially with that user name (then again it might blow their minds – on one hand Nigerian = non white immigrant, on the other Prince = Royalty)

         • nigerian prince wrote:

           honestly I’ve had it with the vitriol on this site. It’s a sad place, for sad middle aged men shouting into the digital abyss. Fucking losers, the lot of you. 

           — nigerian prince

           you do realise you’re now shouting into the digital abyss?

            

         • nigerian prince wrote:

           honestly I’ve had it with the vitriol on this site. It’s a sad place, for sad middle aged men shouting into the digital abyss. Fucking losers, the lot of you. 

           — nigerian prince

           I love a good flounce, but that was average.

            

         • nigerian prince wrote:

           honestly I’ve had it with the vitriol on this site. It’s a sad place, for sad middle aged men shouting into the digital abyss. Fucking losers, the lot of you. 

           — nigerian prince

           Goodbye and thank you for going.

     • burtthebike wrote:

       From the Guardian (my emphasis):

       In the past 12 months, Australia experienced an 80% increase in cyclist deaths.  Distraction, especially from texting and smartphone use, a lack of driving experience and a lack of awareness of cyclists have been identified as key factors.  One study found driver distraction accounted for one in four accidents.

       — burtthebike

       — brooksby

       I’m trying not to mention helmets, but I’m weakening fast.

       — The Guardian

       Just think how much worse it would be if they hadn’t mandated helmets?

       (Sorry, but not sorry)

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     • burtthebike wrote:

       From the Guardian (my emphasis):

       In the past 12 months, Australia experienced an 80% increase in cyclist deaths.  Distraction, especially from texting and smartphone use, a lack of driving experience and a lack of awareness of cyclists have been identified as key factors.  One study found driver distraction accounted for one in four accidents.

       — burtthebike

       — brooksby

       I’m trying not to mention helmets, but I’m weakening fast.

       — The Guardian

       I thought I’d leave that can of worms well alone…

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   • brooksby wrote:

     From the Guardian (my emphasis):

     One study found driver distraction accounted for one in four accidents.

     — brooksby

     — The Guardian

      

      

     So one in four accidents led to a prosecution, or at least some sort of trial, of driving without due care and attention?

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3. moved to Aus’ 5 years ago and

   moved to Aus’ 5 years ago and my experience is some drivers really go out of their way to inform cyclists how much they hate them in a very threatening way – as well as attitude and distraction drugs and driving are a real problem and feature in many serious collisions  – driving is an absolute right  and  driving at or a few km/hr above the speed limit is essential …if looking at urban cycling like to quote this study – experienced cycle commuters in Canberra review of video of daily commutes …from the summary:

   “No collision events were recorded. A total of 91 potentially unsafe cyclist-interactions were identified. In the majority of events (93.4%), the behaviour of the driver led to the event. The most common event type was left turn (37.3%) which involved a driver turning left across the path of the cyclist, drivers turning across cyclists’ path from the adjacent direction (32.9%). Unexpectedly opened vehicle doors accounted for 17.6% of cyclist-driver interactions. In the majority of all events, a crash was avoided due to the evasive actions taken by cyclists.”

   Bold added by me – original is large pdf here:

   https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/217306/muarc322.pdf

   like to think that very very slowly police are realising Aus’ is way out of step but maybe I’m too hopeful 

    

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4. Chilled out pup! 

   Chilled out pup! 

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5. I was just about to send you
   I was just about to send you my account number, Alanis…

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