Westside wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2020 12:25 pm
rev wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:20 pm
SBD wrote: ↑Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:06 pm
There is no "law to allow bikes on roads and not footpaths". There was recently a new law to permit bicycles to go slowly on footpaths, but before that, the laws were to allow cars to use roads that had previously been used by bicycles and horse-drawn vehicles.
The 1m rule is necessary only because too many drivers did not understand what a "safe distance" looked like. It wouldn't need to be codified if all drivers thought of themselves or their loved ones being the person on the bike they whiz past.
The roads, as they are, are not designed to be shared with bicycles. Comprehend?
A push bike that weighs a few kilos at most should not be on these roads with vehicles that weigh mostly over 1.5 tonnes.
There's no protection for a push bike rider, bike lanes or 10m rules even, if an accident happens. And accidents happen daily.
Since it wont change, the solution is to design roads that accommodate both. Painting lines on bitumen to keep idiot cyclists safe doesnt work because too many dont stay in the bike lane and think everyday is the peloton at the TDU. The Frome st bikeway was a step in the right direction.
Can you keep your bigoted comments out of this forum please? Share the road, it's really that simple. Roads are for everyone and everyone has their place. Roads have always been designed to be shared with all vehicles, it's just that some cyclists and some drivers don't know how to do so.
Our roads are piss poor as they are, they are not well designed.
And they are DEFINITELY not designed to accommodate bike lanes, and in most cases it's not safe to do so even though it's done. Do you disagree with any of this? If so, show me how I'm wrong instead of whining about your imaginary slight against you.
Do you disagree that our roads should have an improved design so that they accommodate motor vehicles and cyclists in their own dedicated lane that is physically separated from other road using vehicles that weigh hundreds of times more then your bike, and of course pedestrians?
In relation to the topic, and the comment by Nathan, since you apparently seem to not agree that painted white lines for bike lanes at the expense of lane width for other road users is not an adequate solution, tell me, at Torrens Road just after Chief street, where the chicken shop and the community school are on one side and the primary school on the other side, without widening the road, where do you think exactly a bike lane on either side will fit on that road?
How do you think you can fit a bike lane on that short stretch right there, when there is barely enough room for vehicles that are only separated in the middle of the road by a white line...?
So for you to say that road have always been designed for all road users in mind, no you're wrong.
For you to say that it's just a matter of sharing the road, no you're wrong.
Because the issues I'm raising are about SAFETY.
Yes there's idiot drivers who think they own the road just like there's pretentious wankers in lycra who think they don't have to stay in the bike lanes.
If I have an accident in my car, the car has many safety features to keep me as safe as possible. So does the other car involved.
What safety features does your bike have that will keep you as safe as possible and prevent your death in the event of an accident with a car?
What, do you think you're flashing lights and helmet are going to keep you safe and even alive in many cases?
The fact that you can very easily be killed or left permanently disabled in a wheel chair if you are involved in an accident on a road with a motor vehicle is enough reason why you shouldn't be sharing the same bitumen as motor vehicles separated only by white painted lines.
I'll give you an example that relates to safety and space.
Piloted aircraft and remotely piloted aircraft ie drones.
The law states that a drone operator must land their drone if there is a piloted aircraft in the area.
For safety reasons, the law does not allow both to be operated in the same air space.
Apply the same exact principle to push bikes, motor vehicles and roads.