Road Rage & Cyclists.. never a good mix

think cfsmtb covered this one in the thread:

http://www.cyclingforums.com/t129895.html

"coowoowoo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Its lengthy but worth the read for any one of us who have
to deal with this daily issue..

-----Original Message----- From:
[email hidden]
[]"][email hidden]] Sent: Thursday, 10
June 2004 1:58 PM

<email addresses removed>

Subject: Action - road rage an cyclists

Road rage against cyclists (or at the very least a
misunderstanding and lack of knowledge of the rights of
cyclists on roads), is an area of concern for anyone who
rides. Not only for the sake of safety, but also for the
sake of reducing the stress of riding, if all road users
were aware of cyclists, and their status as legitimate
road users.

The email below, initiated by Mark Higginbotham of the
Victorian Police Prosecutions Division, identifies an
opportunity for any road users, and in the above context
specifically cyclist, to confirm that this is an important
issue, and that some changes and actions are required.

Please read the email below, respond to Sand Cook
(Executive officer of the review), and indicate your
opinion on any safety issues related to cyclist,In
particular is the issue of minimum distances that vehicles
should have to adhere to when passing cyclists. Many of
you would have been in a situation of not only being hit,
but having the whit's scared out of you by a vehicle
passing too close. These close calls do not help to
encourage cycling, nor make it as pleasant an experience
that it could be.

Please send in any submission OR at the very least forward
this email to AT LEAST 3 other cyclists you know so that
they may have the chance to contribute, and get a few
stories off their chests.

Go for it, let the Govt know that it is an issue, and we
need some changes. Cheers,

Paul

Subject: From Mark Higginbotham

There is a parliamentary committee looking into law reform
that may reduce road rage. This is an opportunity to
improve the status of cyclists on Victorian roads. I
strongly suggest that you all make a submission, urgently,
to Sandy Cook, Executive Officer of the Drugs and Crime
Prevention Committee. There is a committee meeting being
held on the 21/6 and the discussion paper has already been
published.

The agenda of this committee will be more difficult to
expand very soon. Email: [email hidden]

I spoke with her this morning and she has had 5
submissions statewide. This will suggest to the government
that it is a non-issue and nothing will happen.

In most of the states of the US and in most of the
countries of Europe there are prescribed minimum distances
that must exist when a motor vehicle passes a bicycle.

My experience is that impatient drivers who resent the
presence of bicycles on roads take chances by forcing
their way past when there is insufficient space. Please
tap out an email and send it to Sandy. The committee wants
some sense of the measure of the problem of road rage and
also to design strategies to reduce it. At the very least
let her know, should you agree,that cyclists are commonly
the victims of road rage that is an expression of the lack
of status given to them by many motorists.

Forward this to anyone you think has something to add.
Mark S Higginbotham Leading Senior Constable Prosecutions
Division Research and Training Unit Level 2 456 Lonsdale
Street Melbourne 3000 Phone 86283280 Fax 96707563

- and indicate your opinion on any safety issues related
to cyclist,In particular is the issue of minimum
distances that vehicles should have to adhere to when
passing cyclists-

I had always understood the law to be that if a motorist
overtakes a

cyclist or motorbike that a distance of at least 1 meter
clearance is to be given.(i don't know the exact wording).
Anyway, as a cyclist myself, whether or not i'm driving my
car or bus, I always endeavour to give at least a metre
clearance as even then, there is not much room for errors.
The problem with today's society is that everyone leaves
things till the last minute because they beleive that the
modern motorcar can get them there on time with their very
powerful motors(lets face it, most 6 cyl cars like ford and
holden have the horsepower of the supercars of the 70's, not
to mention better brakes.tyres etc). Then there is a rush to
get to the office by 8.50am by trying to push your way into
the trafffic which i beleive is one of the main reasons for
the 4WD cars (bullies).