[Pil-pc-oceania] Bike Moves

Sat Mar 29 10:55:53 EST 2008

Good points, Kerry.

On 29/3/08 1:18 AM, "Kerry Dawborn" <kj.dawborn at bigpond.com> wrote:

> Russ, Dan and All,
> I think we in Australia really need to re-visit the helmet law thing -
> they may be safer (I don't know this for sure), but if they discourage
> people from cycling then there are fewer bicycles on the road, which
> itself makes cycling more dangerous... I wonder whether a more sensible
> policy approach would be what I have heard they have in some places in
> Europe - laws that put the onus on car drivers to drive safely - i think
> they are legally liable if they hit a bike no matter whose fault it
> actually was, or something like that.

Don't know about this idea. I have seen cyclists riding like crazy with
little obvious consideration for their own safety. Making car drivers liable
for accidents that they do not cause flouts Australian law - in which you
are innocent until proven guilty - and is quite unfair because it penalises
the innocent. European countries are not based on British law, as is
Australia, so they can get away with this sort of stuff.

Cyclists also choose to disregard regulations and so are guilty of
endangering themselves and others just as are car driveers at times. Here,
where I live in Manly, there is a scenic walkway used by recreational
walkers and those walking to town or to catch the ferry. There are 'no
bicycles' signs but you see cyclists treating the walkway as a cycleway. The
path is not wide enough for that and because of its heavy foot traffic there
is considerable risk of conflict. Here we have a conflict - cycle traffic is
not compatible with foot traffic here because of the speed that cyclists
travel at and because of the potential for conflict with children and aged
people who can't get out of their way fast enough.

Elsewhere I the city, there are combined cycle and footways but the speed
differential between the two modes of movement leads to bicycles being stuck
behind people walking more than two abreast - which people do to converse
when out walking with friends and family - and people having to get out of
the way of the faster bicycles.

> This may seem unfair, but if we think about it, it's the cars that are the
> weapons on wheels, not the push -bikes. Anyone handling any other dangerous
> piece of equipment is expected to take responsibility, and given the massive
> damage-doing difference between cars and bikes, I don't see why cars should be
> different.

My point above is that buicycles sometimes qualify as weapons on wheels and
their riders are no strangers to road rage.

> Would probably help too, if we had more bikes and other human-powered vehicles
> out here, designed for ordinary commuting and day-to-day living activities
> such as doing the shopping or taking the kids to school. It would help to
> normalise cycling and have it seen less as a sporting/recreational activity
> and more as an integrated part of every day life.

The numbers of cyclists has increased in Sydney and what they need are
dedicated cycleways. This I discovered when I rode a cycle.

> I think the things that hamper our wide embracing of human-powered
> transport for those kinds of trips where it is practical and do-able,
> like helmet laws, road design, and insurance and other problems that
> prevent us from taking up the bike share idea and other such good
> things, really have to be rethought - we in Australia need a new 'world
> view' when it comes to personal transportation...

Helmet laws - why not deregulate and let people take personal resposibility
for their non-use?

One reason is that helmets were one of those 'moral outrages' that appear
from time to time and governments found advantage in being seen to act.

Thanks.

...Russ Grayson

> cheers,
> 
> Kerry
> 
> 
> 
> RussGrayson wrote:
>> Hi Dan...
>> I understand that municipal shared bicycle schemes have been considered in
>> Australia but that issues regarding helmet laws and insurance made it too
>> hard.
>> 
>> ...Russ
>> 
>> 
>> On 17/3/08 4:11 PM, "Dan Rossi" <electroteque at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>>   
>>> This is good its moving closer locally. Where is Apollo Bay btw Fern ?
>>> 
>>> The first thing I saw about progressive bicycle networks was in
>>> Toronto canada, which does bike share programs during the summer, it
>>> also does courier modifications like the Oregon place below aswell as
>>> bike mechanic workshops and local bike film documentary nights. I
>>> would like to know if such things are moving up to Sydney, I heard
>>> about a small bike share program in Fairfield , and cheeky monkey do
>>> lots of bike mods for transportation in sydney but not sure if its on
>>> the same scale or has a similar project like the Apollo Bay one.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 17/03/2008, at 3:05 PM, Kerry Dawborn wrote:
>>> 
>>>     
>>>> Good on you for that Fern - I look forward to hearing how it develops!
>>>> 
>>>> A site that you and other interested bike people (and others?) might
>>>> find as inspiring as I do if you haven't already seen it, is the
>>>> Center
>>>> for Appropriate Transport, in Eugene, Oregon - http://www.catoregon.org/
>>>> . They run a cycle-based delivery business, run workshops and teach
>>>> kids
>>>> and others about bike design and building etc, and other great stuff.
>>>> The guy who started it is Jan Vander Tuin - if you can find things
>>>> he's
>>>> written (I think it was him) on bike bike-building in Italy (done in
>>>> little workshops everywhere by bike artisans rather than big
>>>> companies)
>>>> and other great stuff, you'll maybe like me, start to see the cycle
>>>> industry and transportation opportunities quite differently and with a
>>>> lot of optimism and inspiration....
>>>> 
>>>> cheers!
>>>> 
>>>> Kerry
>>>> 
>>>> permaculture at apollobay.org.au wrote:
>>>>       
>>>>> This is what I'm putting in my local newssheet... hope my local
>>>>> community
>>>>> takes it up... hope every community takes it up... feel free to
>>>>> spread the
>>>>> idea
>>>>> love
>>>>> Fern
>>>>> 
>>>>> THE CYCLING REMOVALISTS
>>>>> RAISING FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS
>>>>> 
>>>>> Are you into lowering your and your community¹s carbon footprint,
>>>>> helping
>>>>> others out, being helped out, raising funds for community projects,
>>>>> and
>>>>> having fun?
>>>>> Then be a part of the Apollo Bay Bike Moves!
>>>>> 
>>>>> What¹s needed for the first community fundraising bike move:
>>>>> - Someone who is needing to move house in Apollo Bay (preferably
>>>>> someone on
>>>>> low income and with not many possessions)
>>>>> - Those with bicycles, panniers and bike trailers who are into
>>>>> helping
>>>>> someone move house.
>>>>> - A nominated community project to raise funds for (this would
>>>>> change with
>>>>> each bike move)
>>>>> What would also be good:
>>>>> - A workshop and space for cyclists to make trailers etc.
>>>>> - Those who would like to sponsor or contribute funds to the
>>>>> nominated
>>>>> community project that the Bike Move is raising funds for.
>>>>> This idea has sprouted from permaculture networked cyclists in
>>>>> Melbourne
>>>>> moving house by bike.  If you¹re interested in making this happen
>>>>> down
>>>>> here, give Fern a call on: 5237 6131 (after Easter)
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
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>>>>> 
>>>>> 
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