Rant: Cyclists, Oz Bureaucracy ....
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="560904" data-time="1456448529"><p>when I was in paris as a pedestrian it was almost like taking your life in your hands crossing the road, little green man or not!</p></blockquote><br>Probably from all the Frenchmen trying to re-enact C'Ã
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<p>NSW Cyclists have to behave</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.businessinsider.com.au/you-have-to-carry-id-to-ride-a-bike-in-nsw-from-today-2016-2'>http://www.businessinsider.com.au/you-have-to-carry-id-to-ride-a-bike-in-nsw-from-today-2016-2</a></p> -
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That looks outrightly punitive to me........ I'm trying to work what could motivate it:</span></span><br>
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<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cyclist-bashing to get votes?</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cutting the number of cyclists, eventually?</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reduce pressure to remove roadside car parks outside retailers and elsewhere?</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reduced pressure for expensive infrastructure changes. May allow an extra lane sometimes?</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">leaves the roads free for cars?</span><br><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reduce stress and delays when trucks meet cyclists, especially from accidents?</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Green and lefty parties offer more to cyclists, so righty parties benefit from suppressing cycling?</span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NSW is legendary for corruption, maybe there was a bribe from retailers, truckers, ratepayer's groups or something.</span></span></p> -
<p>Or is it just "we have to do something about cycle safety"</p>
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<p>and then "see we are doing something"</p>
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<p>like the shark drum lines in WA it is "accomplishment theatre" without having any real effect</p>
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<p>what will be next? yellow stars on arms perhaps?</p> -
<p>bit more information here mate.</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://m.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11594102'>http://m.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11594102</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="561702" data-time="1456789440"><p><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:14px;">NSW is legendary for corruption, maybe there was a bribe from retailers, truckers, ratepayer's groups or something.</span></span></span></p></blockquote> <br>No, just the Roads Minister is a utter fuckstick.<br><br>So glad I don't live in NSW
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<p>Driving to work in the mornings I really don't think the major issue between cyclists and motorists is dickheads, though there are plenty of them around, but that there is just not enough room on the roads for both. You can't have cyclist riding 20kmph sharing a road with vehicles that travel 50kmph. It just doesn't work and is the perfect environment for conflict. If I am stuck behind a cyclist then I feel obliged to pass him as I am clogging up traffic behind me, but it is nearly impossible to do so at a safe distance. So I pass as carefully as I can, and no doubt the cyclist thinks "that arsehole nearly knocked me off my bike!".</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="561707" data-time="1456790880">
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<p>Just read NZH article.</p>
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<p>Doesn't seem unfair though, does it?</p>
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<p>Just to take one example. Running a red light should be same penalty no matter what the vehicle??</p>
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<p>I guess if you run a red light in a car you run the risk of not only killing yourself, but other innocent people. Whereas on a bike it's just yourself. But I agree that the penalties should be the same, as they are there to keep everyone safe including the person at fault.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="561710" data-time="1456792022">
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<p>I guess if you run a red light in a car you run the risk of not only killing yourself, but other innocent people. Whereas on a bike it's just yourself. But I agree that the penalties should be the same, as they are there to keep everyone safe including the person at fault.</p>
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<p>I will naturally swerve to avoid hitting a bike running a red light which may lead to crashing into someone else and killing them</p> -
<p>Most of those seem fair enough, but the ID thing is very odd. I don't have a bike, but what if I'm (God forbid) holidaying somewhere in NSW and want to take a bike ride with the family. Do I have to have a bloody ID for that?</p>
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<p>I feel sorry for responsible cyclists who are made to suffer for the cock head behaviour of others. But, unfortunately that applies pretty much everywhere in society, particularly for motorists.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="561710" data-time="1456792022">
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<p>I guess if you run a red light in a car you run the risk of not only killing yourself, but other innocent people. Whereas on a bike it's just yourself. </p>
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<p>The person who may hit you has to live with it as well. Not their fault but they'll still feel some responsibility.</p> -
<p>So if the issue is bringing the fines into line with drivers, then what about fining pedestrians up to the same level?</p>
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<p>By Hooroo's logic, shouldn't the fine for walking a red light be the same as that of a motor vehicle running a red light? And they should all have to carry ID</p> -
<p>On the roads? That's not my logic at all.</p>
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<p>If pedestrians used the road rather than sidewalk for the main then yes. But they don't, they have foot paths.</p>
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<p>It's basicall lining up those on like systems. In this case 'The Road'</p> -
<p>I was referring to Jaywalkers at red lights, are they not on the road?</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="561711" data-time="1456792273">
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<p>I will naturally swerve to avoid hitting a bike running a red light which may lead to crashing into someone else and killing them</p>
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<p>OK, so when will car drivers be brought into line with truck drivers? After all they are all road users</p>
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<p>BAC limit of 0.02</p>
<p>Log books and compulsory rest breaks</p>
<p>Weigh bridges and Roadside checks</p>
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<p>I just think the whole thing is silly. I'd like to see some stats on crashes caused by cyclists running red lights, and also fatalities related to these crashes. </p>
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<p>A quick google search doesn't show many examples of this</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="561725" data-time="1456795106">
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<p>I just think the whole thing is silly.</p>
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<p>Now I am being obtuse as I can't see the silly side? What is silly?</p>
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<p>Cyclists should be able to ignore road rules without consequence? What determines the appropriate fine?</p>
