Australia and New Zealand · Public discussion

Ride while you can!

cluster blaster · 2005-12-06T00:19:49+00:00

I've posted this also under the thread about Sydney Harbour Bridge "Secutity Upgrade"..... Seems we're up for some anti-bike campain. Check this out (from Sydney Morning Herald): "Now, almost no one rides bikes on roads in the western suburbs. According to a Westlink spokesman, there are not even any estimated usage figures for the new bike path. Very wise, that - but it makes you wonder just why building an unwanted 40-kilometre strip of concrete to be lit at night by coal-powered electricity should be considered environmentally beneficial. The Westlink spokesman refused to disclose how much the cycleway had added to the cost of the project - or to the toll that will be charged to road users. Fortunately the State Government is less enthusiastic about spending its money on bike infrastructure and has recently halved such expenditure. But more needs to be done. A public campaign encouraging people not to ride bikes in traffic would be a responsible start." The whole article can be found here: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/12/02/1133422105845.html I see more and more cyclist/commuters on roads every month and I have a feeling that someone is scared that cycling could become mainstream and that's a biiig no no!

Started by cluster blaster · 6 December 2005 · Last activity 7 December 2005 · 6 posts · 1,752 views

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01 / Original postRide while you can!cluster blaster · 6 Dec 2005 02 / This pagePosts 1–6Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #6cfsmtb · 7 Dec 2005

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Original section: Australia and New Zealand
Published: 6 December 2005
Last activity: 7 December 2005
Original author: cluster blaster
Posts: 6
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 1,752
Views / 30 days: 0

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Original post
cluster blaster
Archived post

6 December 2005, 00:19 UTC #1

I've posted this also under the thread about Sydney Harbour Bridge "Secutity Upgrade".....
Seems we're up for some anti-bike campain. Check this out (from Sydney Morning Herald):
"Now, almost no one rides bikes on roads in the western suburbs. According to a Westlink spokesman, there are not even any estimated usage figures for the new bike path. Very wise, that - but it makes you wonder just why building an unwanted 40-kilometre strip of concrete to be lit at night by coal-powered electricity should be considered environmentally beneficial. The Westlink spokesman refused to disclose how much the cycleway had added to the cost of the project - or to the toll that will be charged to road users.
Fortunately the State Government is less enthusiastic about spending its money on bike infrastructure and has recently halved such expenditure. But more needs to be done. A public campaign encouraging people not to ride bikes in traffic would be a responsible start."
The whole article can be found here:
smh.com.au1133422105845.html
I see more and more cyclist/commuters on roads every month and I have a feeling that someone is scared that cycling could become mainstream and that's a biiig no no!

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MPCRUSHER
Archived post

6 December 2005, 00:46 UTC #2

How angry does this tripe make you?
No one rides bikes in western sydney. Oh my god just shoot me now please.
The reason people avoid riding their bikes is the simple fact that the roads dont allow you to ride with any real degree of safety. Improving the safety factor in the form of a shoulder to ride on would increase the number of people willing to ride their bikes. Where there are shoulders to ride on, there is rarely a problem with traffic slowing down and getting frustrated with cyclists.
People like this [censored] make me sick. Selfish [censored].
I know of many places where you risk your life every time you go out. Where trucks pass you within an inch of disaster. only to look to the left of the white painted line and see 3 or 4 metres of shoulder full of pot holes and garbage and glass and strewn gravel that could be paved and provide huge relief for cars and cyclists alike.
The local councils have a lot to answer for I believe.
God Im angry. man.....

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cluster blaster
Archived post

6 December 2005, 04:49 UTC #3

MPCRUSHER said:
How angry does this tripe make you?
No one rides bikes in western sydney. Oh my god just shoot me now please.
The reason people avoid riding their bikes is the simple fact that the roads dont allow you to ride with any real degree of safety. Improving the safety factor in the form of a shoulder to ride on would increase the number of people willing to ride their bikes. Where there are shoulders to ride on, there is rarely a problem with traffic slowing down and getting frustrated with cyclists.
People like this [censored] make me sick. Selfish [censored].
I know of many places where you risk your life every time you go out. Where trucks pass you within an inch of disaster. only to look to the left of the white painted line and see 3 or 4 metres of shoulder full of pot holes and garbage and glass and strewn gravel that could be paved and provide huge relief for cars and cyclists alike.
The local councils have a lot to answer for I believe.
God Im angry. man.....

Agree, I'm not happy either. I too live and ride in western sydney.. and so do others!!
Maybe he should have just written that we get rid off all the weaker and slower for good and that only those with a true 4x4 pancer will be allowed to ride in the middle of “his” lane.
“Only veclies 3 tons and over allowed” would have been a better title for the article….

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biker jk
Archived post

6 December 2005, 21:16 UTC #4

cluster blaster said:
Agree, I'm not happy either. I too live and ride in western sydney.. and so do others!!
Maybe he should have just written that we get rid off all the weaker and slower for good and that only those with a true 4x4 pancer will be allowed to ride in the middle of “his” lane.
“Only veclies 3 tons and over allowed” would have been a better title for the article….

Thankfully there was a barrage of letters to the editor from cyclists published in the SMH.
Local councils and the state government in NSW are just not interested in improving cycle paths or cycle lines on roads. We need to keep writing letters, phoning, campaigning, etc. not just complaining.
I have been phoning Strathfield Council regarding the terrible state of the cycle path along Powells Creek for months and they say it will likely be fixed by Xmas. Let's see.

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artemidorus
Archived post

6 December 2005, 22:28 UTC #5

This topic has been discussed on aus.bicycle, although mainly by Melburnians:
http://www.cyclingforums.com/t303258-off-yer-bike---for-the-sake-of-all-of-us-on-the-roads.html
This writer is someone employed by the Herald to stir, a la Miranda Devine. I wouldn't take him too seriously.

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cfsmtb
Archived post

7 December 2005, 00:22 UTC #6

artemidorus said:
This topic has been discussed on aus.bicycle, although mainly by Melburnians:
http://www.cyclingforums.com/t303258-off-yer-bike---for-the-sake-of-all-of-us-on-the-roads.html
Nah, if you know aus.bicycle, when reading the thread you realise it's a fairly even split btw Sydneysiders & Vics. With a good representation from QLD & WA for good measure.

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