Macarthur Bicycle Users Group / Macarthur Bushwalkers

Cycling Advocacy - Attitudes & Education - Campbelltown NSW Australia

Link to: MacBUG Cycling Test of Campbelltown "Cycleway"
Link to: Advocacy, bicycle safe roads, Macarthur,Cambelltown Council

"Bicycle use constructs community and a sense of belonging, whereas cars tend to be a means of social differentiation."

-- Enrique Penalosa, former Mayor of Bogota, Australian Cyclist July / Aug 08

Driver Attitudes / Abusive Behaviour / Bicycle Safety

In the last few months we have been busy writing to Campbelltown Council and politicians at both State and Federal levels. In part because of the coming election but also because of the massive amount of abuse that MacBUG members receive from motorists as they ride solo. The following are recent examples on one section of Appin and Menangle Rds.
  1. Woman driving with a car full of children drove close and blew the horn. As she pulled clear the children were gesturing and jeering
  2. Heavy vehicles blowing their air horns as they draw level
  3. Many incidents of car windows being lowered and abusive language being used. Also occurs on Menangle Rd too
  4. Busways bus driver harasses cyclist by driving within 30 cm, blowing horn and pulling on front of cyclists. Complaint made to local police
  5. Interline Bus heading to Ingleburn station. The Bus tried to beat cyclist to the roundabout, oversteered, then had to stop. He was stuck in the roundabout and needed to reverse.
  6. Empty / full drink cans thrown at cyclists
  7. Cars veering from right lane towards cyclist in intimidatory manner then veering back into their lane. This happened as a pedestrian too
  8. Heavy vehicle making a turn deliberately uses size of vehicle to intimidate and forces passages across cyclist line of travel. Menangle R turning into Macarthur Square complex
  9. In addition we have two bicycles damaged, one by a car that didn't stop. One member of the group reversed into by a driver using a mobile phone. She took of when told she had hit someone. Finally a cyclist killed by a truck at Inglebutn

The impression one gains is that some drivers don't think cyclists should use the roads, they are a nuisance, too slow, don't pay rego charges etc. They don't realise that using bicycles reduces pollution, eases parking issues, we don't break up the roads, it's a cheaper way to travel. Increases fitness, used for weight loss, diabetes and a whole host of other benefits. The bike is far cheaper to purchase and maintain than any car

I have not experienced intimidation in the Southern Highlands and very little in Camden. Rides around Sydney both on and off cycleways is are almost free of intimidation and abusive behaviour.

Appin Rd is a location where almost every journey from Campbelltown to my home in Bradbury will subject me to abuse, this appears to be a local issue. We see letters in the Australian Cyclist dealing with similar abuse. Even a discussion this morning with a friend in Oregon produced the comment "He experiences it in Pheonix Arizona but not in Oregon".

Driver / Cyclist Education

Obviously there is a major glitch in the system with many motorists not being aware that cyclists can legally ride on the road, can ride in pairs, can go through red lights if the lights don't change for the cyclists. Cyclists can move to the front of a queue of vehicles providing vehicles aren't turning left.

Many cyclists don't indicate their intentions to the driver by hand signals and certainly do not comply with the Road Rules. Even on MacBUG rides it is noticeable that the Ride Leader and Sweep indicate but some riders don't unless it is brought to their attention. Bright, highly visible clothing is a must. We are smaller and less noticeable than a motor vehicle, all the more reason to follow the Road Rules and do what drivers should expect us to do.

I guess we need to get our own act together before criticising others and adopt safer practices.

Communicating Safety Issues to the Relevant Authorities

Every cyclist has some bad moments with motorists. We discuss it amongst ourselves but never pass it on to organisations like council, police, RTA etc.

This means that Macarthur Bicycle Users Group members and cyclists in general will continue to experience abuse and intimidation creating unsafe roads / cycling conditions because those organisations are not aware that it is happening.

I am therefore suggesting that we should report these incidents to a central point to be forwarded to the relevent authority whoever that may be. More serious incidents like the recent Busways and Peters collision incidents should be reported to the police. I am willing act as that central point and contact council for comment and advice.

Response from Kevin Rudd Kevin Rudd

Dear Ken
Thank you for your email. You have raised an important issue of concern.
I have forwarded you email to my colleague, Senator Kate Lundy, Shadow Minister for Local Government, Sport and Recreation and Health Promotion, for her response, as Kate has been doing some work on this matter.
Kind regards,
Kevin Rudd
Federal Labor Leader
Member for Griffith .

Letter to Kevin Rudd

Subject: Cycling, attitudes and the environment

Dear Mr. Rudd
My Name is Ken Hall and I am president of Macarthur Bicycle Users Group based in Campbelltown NSW.
As cyclists, the members of our group aim to enjoy good health, socialise, economise, reduce the use of petrol and help the environment.
Many of the riders are older people approaching retirement.
In some cases we have disposed of second cars, gone to smaller engined cars and reverted to bicycles in the main for our transport.
Having made these charges we find that shopping centres cannot offer secure storage for the bikes. There are no safe transportation routes to the shopping centres, railway stations, CBD or anywhere a cyclist would want to go.
We have railways charging for folding bike which fit in bags and were purchased for the very purpose of travel on public transport. Interesting that strollers don't have a travel charge yet take up more space.
The disappointments come when having made these changes we are met with total disinterest, apathy and lack of cooperation by the powers that be in the lower echelons of government.
The councils in my locality of Camden, Macarthur and Wollondilly although numbering many Labour politicians give lip service to cycling by having Bike Plans but not implementing them.
We have roads systems totally unsuited to cycling and councils quoting obsolete traffic management systems as cycleways supported by RTA NSW. At many intersections the cyclist is forced into the path of oncoming traffic jeopardising their lives.

We are regularly abused by motorists who do not seem to understand that cyclists have legal access to the roads and display hostility mainly to the solitary rider.
In the past we have had motorists try to intimidate us in the following ways:

  1. Throwing drink cans from passing cars, both full and empty
  2. Veer in their lane toward the cyclist
  3. Veer across two lanes trying to achieve the same results
  4. Drive alongside and hurl verbal abuse
  5. Heavy vehicles blowing air horns alongside
  6. Passing too close
  7. Literally stopping and attacking the cyclist

Last Friday I was harassed by a bus driver who drew close alongside me, blew his horn then swerved toward me just missing me. I have taken action and reported it to the police.
Cyclists in general feel that lack of education and understanding plays a big part. One would think that learner drivers would be taught how to get along with other road users instead of how to pass a test.

Both Labour and the Liberals appear to be supporting the cycling movement at this coming election.
Cycling in NSW enjoys the least support of any state yet has the largest population and is governed by a Labour Government which seems to react rather than be proactive and is notorious for breaking promises.
I have written to the Liberal, Labour and Greens for their proposed activities for Macarthur. Lee Rhiannon replied with a plan which looks good, she was the only one to reply.
Australia and NSW in particular are many years behind Europe and America in the thinking, evaluation and implementation of alternative transport systems which are proven to work.
The environment is high on most voters lists these days, it is No.1 on mine.
I ask you on behalf of MacBUG and because it will be published on the MacBUG International Web Site all other NSW BUG's, what you are going to do for cycling in NSW and Australia.

Comment
Interesting to note that the leader of the Federal Labour Party Mr Kevin Rudd can take time out to personally answer our Email yet some local MP's didn't respond at all. Pat Farmer didn't even acknowledge receipt of our emails.

One wonders how the community can be influenced into cycling in the future when there is nothing done in the way of protecting that same community from abusive behaviour by any organisation at any level. It seems highly unlikely that cycling organisations, councils and state governments are even aware that there is a problem with unrecorded accidents, abuse and violence towards cyclists.
One would think that these organisations would have have a moral and legal obligation to clean up these issues before encouraging the Australian public to use bicycles.

A recent trip to Canberra illistrated how a community can embrace cycling with many kilometrers of cycleway, shared pathways, signage, bicycle hire schemes, buses being fitted with bicycle carriers at the front and so on.
The whole community is aware of cycling and cyclists, intersections are clearly marked which creates a pleasant environment for the cyclists.
It is noticeable upon arrival in Canberra that there is something different happening because of the number of people on the roads using touring, mountain, racing and hybrid bikes.
Come on Campbelltown, Camden and NSW! Get your act together.

July 7, 2008 5:37 PM

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