AAARRRRGGGGG, Keith don't get me started as well on bicycle's but each to their own regarding transport I suppose. Unfortunately they aren't "motor vehicles" as defined by the act, as motor vehicle" means a vehicle built to be propelled by a motor that forms part of the vehicle they are as you said just a vehicle a bicycle" means a vehicle with one or more wheels that is built to be propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears (whether or not it has an auxiliary motor), and (a) includes a pedicab, penny-farthing, scooter, tricycle and unicycle,
So the buggers get away with ALL the associated cost's and we have to keep dodging the blighters Victoria does have some funny legislation but if involved in an accident here in NSW, party's do have to exchange details and there are quite a few infringements that can be given to bike riders here, as I have handed out many over the years I would imagine, it would have to be the same south of the Boarder????
Gee I can't wait till January when I have to travel to Vic to catch the spirit, might have to take the back roads OH wait probably have mountain bikes to dodge !!!!
Good write up keep safe, Oh and sorry for the technical stuff we might have some peddle power lovers amongst us
-- Edited by copper1 on Saturday 26th of October 2013 06:16:37 PM
Keith19837 said
07:00 PM Oct 26, 2013
I'm probably getting less tolerant in my advancing years; perhaps a little too Victor Meldrewish. However I'm getting rather 'cheesed off' with the bicycle lobby groups. Here in Victoria, more and more bicycle lanes are being 'installed' on our roads. Dedicated bicycle traffic lights are being installed in and around Melbourne City and other major centres. New laws are being drafted to give bicycles freer passage on roadways. Now although all this sounds great for cyclists; where is the 'quid pro quo?' Bicycles are vehicles as defined under current (and past) legislation yet they are getting a 'free ride' so to speak. Cyclists enjoy the use of our roads without cost. They don't pay any registration costs, no Collision Injury levies, no licensing fees. The new laws, bicycle lanes and other considerations are completed without cost to the cyclist. The cyclist is also covered by Compulsory Third Party Insurance, all at no cost. The cyclists does not have any identifying number plates and doesn't even have to give his or her name or address to a motorist when involved in a collision. The motorist has to pay registration, Compulsory Third Party Injury Insurance, Licensing fees, display number plates and give his or her details to ANY OTHER vehicle when involved in a collision. Despite no fees for the cyclist; the cost of registering a car is going up, the cost of a driver's licence is going up. Basically speaking, the motorist is bearing the costs of the increasing use and numbers of bicycles on our roads. The cyclist has the benefits of fees paid by motorised vehicles and the benefits of dedicated lane, lights and laws which are also paid for by motorists. I'm thinking it's about time that we looked at the example of other countries. Whilst living in the West Indies, I was obliged to pay a small fee for my bike being on the road. This also applied in Holland and other European countries whilst I lived there. More and more, we are being told by governments that we are in a 'user pays' society; yet a significant part of our road users aren't paying for the infrastructure that they use AND are getting extra benefits that are paid for by others. In my experience, cyclists rarely give turn signals (yet are obliged to do so by law), almost never give stopping/slowing signals (also required by law), don't give divergence signals, no mudguards, bells/warning instruments and a long list of other roadworthy requirements required by law. Now don't get me wrong. I appreciate that cyclists cause almost no pollution and take up less road space and that there are motorist who fail to obey road rules; but the fact that the motorist is now losing part of the road width to bike lanes, extra traffic control signs and signals are being added, all at cost to others is the final straw. O.K. I feel better now, I've calmed down and am breathing more easily. The steam has stopped coming from my ears and my face has returned to a more normal colour.
For what it's worth.
herbie said
08:39 PM Oct 26, 2013
I am hearing you !!! but is it no different than free camping some one has to end up paying for some one else's enjoyment.
Keith19837 said
08:52 PM Oct 26, 2013
I see your point, I'm just cheesed off. Wrote to my MP about this and see if he'll deign to reply.
GaryKelly said
11:11 PM Oct 26, 2013
One could ask how long it would take a constant stream of bicycles to wear out a roadway. Hehe. Infrastructure for bicycles is nowhere near as expensive as it is for automobiles, and no doubt will last a lot longer. It's also the poor man's transport. Mine's worth less than $200. However, I think giving bicycles equal road rights is silly, not to mention downright dangerous. I've ridden bikes since I was a kid and have always been a defensive rider even if a car has the right of way. I'm also a motorist so I understand how annoying cyclists can be when they demand their rights.
Ontos45 said
01:14 AM Oct 27, 2013
What cheeses me off is now we have adds in Qld. saying to leave a metre between a vehicle and the bike rider. On the road, Scenic Highway, where I live, leaving a metre between rider and my 4x4 would put me in opposite lane. So I have to slow down to bike riders speed until safe to overtake. And what happened to bikes and single file?
The dog lady said
01:33 AM Oct 27, 2013
Ontos45 wrote:
What cheeses me off is now we have adds in Qld. saying to leave a metre between a vehicle and the bike rider. On the road, Scenic Highway, where I live, leaving a metre between rider and my 4x4 would put me in opposite lane. So I have to slow down to bike riders speed until safe to overtake. And what happened to bikes and single file?
I've been worried and aggravated by this problem long before the one metre business came up. Many of our roads are simply not wide enough to pass a bicycle without going out into the opposing lane. For years I travelled the Lowmead rd to work each day, often with my granddaughter in the back for a day at day-care. So what happens if I go over a crest at the perfectly legal speed of 100kph and find a bike in front of me and a truck coming the other way? Well I can tell you I'm not risking my little girl for any cyclist, so I guess they become a hood ornament. In Holland bikes were not allowed on high speed roads and I believe they shouldn't be here either.
Delta18 said
07:36 AM Oct 27, 2013
I got an idea, let's build cycle lanes so the bikes can do their thing without running the risk of being hit by a car!
Personally I reckon the more bikes and less cars the better.
Look on any road or freeway, thousands upon thousands of cars weighing 2 tonne or so carrying one person to & from work. Look on the cycleways, many many 25kg cycles carrying a 80kg person to & from work. Which is kinder to the planet? Which is more healthy for the commuter?
Cars are needed for distance travel but I reckon leave them out of cities & let cycles rule!
AAARRRRGGGGG, Keith don't get me started as well on bicycle's but each to their own regarding transport I suppose. Unfortunately they aren't "motor vehicles" as defined by the act, as motor vehicle" means a vehicle built to be propelled by a motor that forms part of the vehicle they are as you said just a vehicle a bicycle" means a vehicle with one or more wheels that is built to be propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears (whether or not it has an auxiliary motor), and (a) includes a pedicab, penny-farthing, scooter, tricycle and unicycle,
So the buggers get away with ALL the associated cost's and we have to keep dodging the blighters Victoria does have some funny legislation but if involved in an accident here in NSW, party's do have to exchange details and there are quite a few infringements that can be given to bike riders here, as I have handed out many over the years I would imagine, it would have to be the same south of the Boarder????
Gee I can't wait till January when I have to travel to Vic to catch the spirit, might have to take the back roads OH wait probably have mountain bikes to dodge !!!!
Good write up keep safe, Oh and sorry for the technical stuff we might have some peddle power lovers amongst us
-- Edited by copper1 on Saturday 26th of October 2013 06:16:37 PM
Unfortunately here in Vic, they don't have to exchange details with anyone. There is separate legislation empowering 'Plods' to demand name etc but they have to be I.D.'d first. We could rarely catch them and when we did, Dept Policy was only to issue T.I.N.s if they were the holder of a driver's licence (go figure!!). We started up a pushbike unit to combat recalcitrant cyclists but it was all but disbanded due to budget contraints. The few that were left went all over the state in a special bus but we had to request them up to 6 months ahead to get them in our area. We tried using found bikes from our property office and worked in plainclothes, but then we were told that we were technically illegally using a bicycle ((Summary Offences Act) because we didn't have the permission of the unknown owner. Some colleagues apparently found that a baton through the spokes would pull them up fairly quickly but that was also frowned upon for some reason or an other. Adult Cyclists are generally not a bad lot of people, it's just the fee issue that I have a problem with and the fact that we are losing more road space. If my math is correct a push bike puts the same weight per square inch of tyre on the road as a standard sedan. Anyhow I've settled down for another couple of months re this.
Gerty Dancer said
03:55 AM Oct 28, 2013
A couple of years ago my brother in law was killed while riding his bike in Victoria. He was a great bloke, rode carefully, it "just happened". Even though you may feel angry about bike riders, please take care.
Ontos45 said
03:36 PM Oct 28, 2013
I know, lets all turn Amish...back to horse and cart...least the horses by-product can be used on gardens.
Save the planet!!
Wer'e trying to find away to save cyclists Neil. The car is here to stay mate
Peter
Oxley said
04:52 PM Oct 28, 2013
ARRRRH, $WD, dont get me started.
Why is it they have to drive down the middle of the dirt road, flat out, expecting everyone else to drive off the road to give way to them, and the worse are the ones in convoys that think rules and common sense dont apply to them.
And the one that think because a track is marked on Google earth, that locked gates and signs stating Private Property dont apply to them, and then expect help after they ripped up my feed paddock or run over irrigation pipes.
And then there are the ones that cant park for crap at the supermarket, and backed into my car because their $wd is illegally raised so high, they couldn't see behind them, but their bull bar built from left over bits from the harbor Bridge protected their pride and joy.
And then there are the one that are cat owners, dog owners, parents, smokers..
The dog lady said
08:08 AM Oct 29, 2013
xley wrote:
Snip
And then there are the one that are cat owners, dog owners, parents, smokers..
Sorry John, I only just managed to view this. Loved the opening line.
Wombat 280 said
03:21 PM Oct 30, 2013
Don't mine the bike lane just wish the cyclist would stay in them not try to ride abreast of each other. Many won't ride in them as the vehicle surface stones build up in the bike lane, next they will want a street sweeper to clean their lane. The road rules in NSW lay out exactly what safety items are to be on a bike not many if any of these fitness cranks have anything in the way of safety items on their rigs . As for hand signals and staying in their lane forget that they seem to think it doesn't apply. Yes they should be made to have compulsory comprehensive insurance as should all vehicles using public roads
navynurse said
12:34 AM Nov 5, 2013
I was going to the beach the other day when I got caught behind a group of bikes. They were taking the whole lane (riding 3-4 abreast) so I settled down to wait for a passing op. Just as the road straightened & I was preparing to pass a Police car came up with the full disco going on the roof I pulled over to give way & so did the bikes The police go by & stop in front of the bikes Pulls them up & starts giving the riot act. I decided that this was a good time to leave.
Felt good though
Allan
We are the cyclists,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71JZgBLKMTs
AAARRRRGGGGG, Keith don't get me started as well on bicycle's but each to their own regarding transport I suppose. Unfortunately they aren't "motor vehicles" as defined by the act, as motor vehicle" means a vehicle built to be propelled by a motor that forms part of the vehicle they are as you said just a vehicle a bicycle" means a vehicle with one or more wheels that is built to be propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears (whether or not it has an auxiliary motor), and
(a) includes a pedicab, penny-farthing, scooter, tricycle and unicycle,
So the buggers get away with ALL the associated cost's and we have to keep dodging the blighters
Victoria does have some funny legislation but if involved in an accident here in NSW, party's do have to exchange details and there are quite a few infringements that can be given to bike riders here, as I have handed out many over the years I would imagine, it would have to be the same south of the Boarder????
Gee I can't wait till January when I have to travel to Vic to catch the spirit, might have to take the back roads OH wait probably have mountain bikes to dodge !!!!
Good write up keep safe, Oh and sorry for the technical stuff we might have some peddle power lovers amongst us
-- Edited by copper1 on Saturday 26th of October 2013 06:16:37 PM
I'm probably getting less tolerant in my advancing years; perhaps a little too Victor Meldrewish. However I'm getting rather 'cheesed off' with the bicycle lobby groups. Here in Victoria, more and more bicycle lanes are being 'installed' on our roads. Dedicated bicycle traffic lights are being installed in and around Melbourne City and other major centres. New laws are being drafted to give bicycles freer passage on roadways. Now although all this sounds great for cyclists; where is the 'quid pro quo?' Bicycles are vehicles as defined under current (and past) legislation yet they are getting a 'free ride' so to speak. Cyclists enjoy the use of our roads without cost. They don't pay any registration costs, no Collision Injury levies, no licensing fees. The new laws, bicycle lanes and other considerations are completed without cost to the cyclist. The cyclist is also covered by Compulsory Third Party Insurance, all at no cost. The cyclists does not have any identifying number plates and doesn't even have to give his or her name or address to a motorist when involved in a collision. The motorist has to pay registration, Compulsory Third Party Injury Insurance, Licensing fees, display number plates and give his or her details to ANY OTHER vehicle when involved in a collision. Despite no fees for the cyclist; the cost of registering a car is going up, the cost of a driver's licence is going up. Basically speaking, the motorist is bearing the costs of the increasing use and numbers of bicycles on our roads. The cyclist has the benefits of fees paid by motorised vehicles and the benefits of dedicated lane, lights and laws which are also paid for by motorists. I'm thinking it's about time that we looked at the example of other countries. Whilst living in the West Indies, I was obliged to pay a small fee for my bike being on the road. This also applied in Holland and other European countries whilst I lived there. More and more, we are being told by governments that we are in a 'user pays' society; yet a significant part of our road users aren't paying for the infrastructure that they use AND are getting extra benefits that are paid for by others. In my experience, cyclists rarely give turn signals (yet are obliged to do so by law), almost never give stopping/slowing signals (also required by law), don't give divergence signals, no mudguards, bells/warning instruments and a long list of other roadworthy requirements required by law. Now don't get me wrong. I appreciate that cyclists cause almost no pollution and take up less road space and that there are motorist who fail to obey road rules; but the fact that the motorist is now losing part of the road width to bike lanes, extra traffic control signs and signals are being added, all at cost to others is the final straw. O.K. I feel better now, I've calmed down and am breathing more easily. The steam has stopped coming from my ears and my face has returned to a more normal colour.
For what it's worth.
I am hearing you !!! but is it no different than free camping some one has to end up paying for some one else's enjoyment.
I see your point, I'm just cheesed off. Wrote to my MP about this and see if he'll deign to reply.
I've been worried and aggravated by this problem long before the one metre business came up. Many of our roads are simply not wide enough to pass a bicycle without going out into the opposing lane. For years I travelled the Lowmead rd to work each day, often with my granddaughter in the back for a day at day-care. So what happens if I go over a crest at the perfectly legal speed of 100kph and find a bike in front of me and a truck coming the other way? Well I can tell you I'm not risking my little girl for any cyclist, so I guess they become a hood ornament
. In Holland bikes were not allowed on high speed roads and I believe they shouldn't be here either.
I got an idea, let's build cycle lanes so the bikes can do their thing without running the risk of being hit by a car!
Personally I reckon the more bikes and less cars the better.
Look on any road or freeway, thousands upon thousands of cars weighing 2 tonne or so carrying one person to & from work. Look on the cycleways, many many 25kg cycles carrying a 80kg person to & from work. Which is kinder to the planet? Which is more healthy for the commuter?
Cars are needed for distance travel but I reckon leave them out of cities & let cycles rule!
Cheers Neil
We are the cyclists
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBFFrsvgu1Y
Unfortunately here in Vic, they don't have to exchange details with anyone. There is separate legislation empowering 'Plods' to demand name etc but they have to be I.D.'d first. We could rarely catch them and when we did, Dept Policy was only to issue T.I.N.s if they were the holder of a driver's licence (go figure!!). We started up a pushbike unit to combat recalcitrant cyclists but it was all but disbanded due to budget contraints. The few that were left went all over the state in a special bus but we had to request them up to 6 months ahead to get them in our area. We tried using found bikes from our property office and worked in plainclothes, but then we were told that we were technically illegally using a bicycle ((Summary Offences Act) because we didn't have the permission of the unknown owner. Some colleagues apparently found that a baton through the spokes would pull them up fairly quickly but that was also frowned upon for some reason or an other. Adult Cyclists are generally not a bad lot of people, it's just the fee issue that I have a problem with and the fact that we are losing more road space. If my math is correct a push bike puts the same weight per square inch of tyre on the road as a standard sedan. Anyhow I've settled down for another couple of months re this.
Save the planet!!
Wer'e trying to find away to save cyclists Neil. The car is here to stay mate
Peter
ARRRRH, $WD, dont get me started.
Why is it they have to drive down the middle of the dirt road, flat out, expecting everyone else to drive off the road to give way to them, and the worse are the ones in convoys that think rules and common sense dont apply to them.
And the one that think because a track is marked on Google earth, that locked gates and signs stating Private Property dont apply to them, and then expect help after they ripped up my feed paddock or run over irrigation pipes.
And then there are the ones that cant park for crap at the supermarket, and backed into my car because their $wd is illegally raised so high, they couldn't see behind them, but their bull bar built from left over bits from the harbor Bridge protected their pride and joy.
And then there are the one that are cat owners, dog owners, parents, smokers..
You missed grandparents and Vegetarians
Sorry John, only just finally managed to get a look at this. Loved the opening line.
Now, now.
Peter
Sorry John, I only just managed to view this. Loved the opening line.
Felt good though
Allan