Be Careful in Bendigo

bluemoon2 · Senior Member

Be Careful in Bendigo

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Nice City, Bendigo, but busy - we got a bit lost walking around it even. Traffic everywhere - no way would I ride a bike there - well, these days, no way I would ride a bike anywhere. But the woman sounds like a bigot and a bully!

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Karma................the drivers time will come !!!!!!

Sarge9 · Senior Member

Bendigo is my town, I am sorry your visit was not as it should be.... I hope the whole experience is/was better than one ignorant bus driver....

sarge.

brickies · Guru

Walking is safer and see more .

bluemoon2 · Senior Member

Thanks for your feedback guys ! I just hope as a SCHOOL BUS DRIVER she is more patient.

Desert Dweller · Guru

Sounds like you were a couple of nuisance bike riders getting in the way of worker day traffic. Bendigo is a designated rural city. On a work day you were probably being a damn pest. As the poster has said above you'll see a lot more walking & not hold up traffic. Enjoy riding your bikes in a more relaxed area.

dazren · Guru

Well we have one side of the story !! hmm

Bunyip · Member

Desert Dweller wrote:
Sounds like you were a couple of nuisance bike riders getting in the way of worker day traffic. Bendigo is a designated rural city. On a work day you were probably being a damn pest. As the poster has said above you'll see a lot more walking & not hold up traffic. Enjoy riding your bikes in a more relaxed area.

Dazren wrote:

Well we have one side of the story !! hmm

You sound like a fun pair to catch up with and have a pleasant drink with!

-- Edited by Bunyip on Wednesday 24th of February 2016 07:24:16 AM

Cupie · Guru

As I see it, push bike riders have exactly the same rights as all other road users.

They are entitled to use any roadway at any time (except where not legal to do so .. Freeways?) without being subject to intimidation from other road users, on a workday or any other time.

I rarely ride my bike on roadways, preferring quiet bikeways.

dazren · Guru

Bunyip wrote, --- You sound like a fun pair to catch up with and have a pleasant drink with!

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Only, if one listens to all sides of a story, !! and then forms an opinion smile

bluemoon2 · Senior Member

Bunyip, if we want to travel and use our bikes to sight see or go in to the city , we have full rights to do so. We are always careful to obey laws and respect others on the road or on a footpath where allowed.
Didn't you read my post clearly ? I stated that Bendigo is not all that suitable to ride on the deteriorating paths so we are forced to ride on the roads. We are senior and do not zig zag, ride abreast, speed or to take risks consequently causing unsafe practices on the road. Many drivers are polite and where we can we give way more times than not. Do you ride ?? Or maybe you are one of the drivers we curse !! Also we don't pump out pollution when shopping or sightseeing. I think Bendigo is quite difficult to see on foot because of its size and attractions spread out. Also there is a parking meter every metre in the city.
All we wanted, was a apology from a arrogant and aggressive driver.

-- Edited by bluemoon2 on Tuesday 23rd of February 2016 08:47:23 PM

bluemoon2 · Senior Member

There are not many bikeways in Bendigo but cater mainly for cross country or mountain bikes. Regardless it does not deter our fondness of Bendigo.
Guru, maybe the brochures should advise bike riders they can only ride between 10pm and 6am !!

bluemoon2 · Senior Member

So sorry Guru, meant to aim at Bunyip not yourself.

bluemoon2 · Senior Member

Ohhh, Bunyip, would not want to drink with you !!

GEODIA · Member

I lived in Bendigo for the best part of 25 years, and regularly rode with my children. Just follow the creek, from Golden Square to Lake Weerona, and then on to White Hills and Epsom. Excellent bike track and mostly away from the main roads.

adreamer · Senior Member

I'm often told to 'get on my bike'!! lol

adreamer

Helen

adreamer · Senior Member

The world has changed!! No one walks on the right side of the footpath, no one give up their seat on the bus for old ladies or young mothers, no one know who their neighbours are anymore, no one is allowed to ride their bikes to school, and if the do,not sure that they will still be there when school gets out.

Oh, how the world has changed!

Anyway why do people keep telling me to 'GET ON MY BIKE'?? I don't understand.

03_Troopy · Guru

Bluemoon2, you'd have been better off reporting it to the local police station. I know I would have.

Crustie · Member

I can see both sides, No need for the horn "the driver must of been stressed"
Some drivers just hate bike riders, Some bike riders just hate drivers!!

bluemoon2 · Senior Member

We drive a 40ft motorhome coach and tow a car on a trailer. We are here for a nice visit I would not and never have been so discourteous to any pedestrian, bike rider or fellow driver. It takes a bit to pull up my rig, but many times I insist on giving way.

-- Edited by bluemoon2 on Tuesday 23rd of February 2016 10:28:59 PM

greyhoundtom · Senior Member

Fairdinkum I find it difficult to believe the general negative attitude that has been shown towards cyclist in this topic.

For a starter like it or not cyclists have exactly the same rights to be on the road as motor vehicles, and yes they are "traffic". On top of that how would it be viewed if it was your son or daughter, or even one of your grandkids riding a bike that was treated in that manner by a bus driver?

Unfortunately the world is full of bullies that will pick on others simply because they are bigger, stronger, or happen to be in charge of two tons of lethal steel that makes them feel powerful, or in this a case a bloody big bus.

There is no doubt in my mind that road rage, and don't mistake the fact, this was a road rage incident, is far too often exhibited towards cyclists who happen to be the most vulnerable road users on our roads.

......... and yes I am one of those lycra wearing cyclist that rides a road bike and insists on claiming his right to be on the road as traffic.

Cupie · Guru

greyhoundtom wrote:
Fairdinkum I find it difficult to believe the general negative attitude that has been shown towards cyclist in this topic.

For a starter like it or not cyclists have exactly the same rights to be on the road as motor vehicles, and yes they are "traffic". On top of that how would it be viewed if it was your son or daughter, or even one of your grandkids riding a bike that was treated in that manner by a bus driver?

Unfortunately the world is full of bullies that will pick on others simply because they are bigger, stronger, or happen to be in charge of two tons of lethal steel that makes them feel powerful, or in this a case a bloody big bus.

There is no doubt in my mind that road rage, and don't mistake the fact, this was a road rage incident, is far too often exhibited towards cyclists who happen to be the most vulnerable road users on our roads.

......... and yes I am one of those lycra wearing cyclist that rides a road bike and insists on claiming his right to be on the road as traffic.

Agree 100%.

I have some lycra too but never wear it. Not a pretty sight!

We see the lack of consideration for others throughout our society these days ... even, would you believe it, on this forum. But then (in response to adreamer) I have no trouble with people (school kids & young ones of all ethnic backgrounds) getting up to offer me their seat on crowded buses. A bit embarrassing actually, but I smile and accept. I must look like a decrepit old fart these days.

Mind you, I don't recon that I could handle a bus load of school kids, even in beautiful Bendigo, without becoming stressed, as perhaps the bus driver was.

Hendo · Guru

What a mob of old farts!!!

bluemoon2 · Senior Member

The driver was actually a young woman ....who should not stress so much and the bus was empty. I managed to contact the owners who didn't give a hoot!!! All I wanted was maybe a apology...Anyway I wish her well and pray she does not hurt some one in the future. When we talked to her, my wife said, "you almost hit me and my husband! Her reply was ,...Would you like to be run over next time !!!.... Thankyou all for your input and concern.....Happy travels.
PS: am going to put a large sticker on her bus saying ...BEWARE....I HONK VERY LOUD FOR CYCLISTS...up close.

-- Edited by bluemoon2 on Wednesday 24th of February 2016 10:08:18 AM

-- Edited by bluemoon2 on Wednesday 24th of February 2016 10:09:14 AM

goldfinger · Senior Member

Hendo, we must all be mellowing on GN's.... normally, in recent times, each thread will develop into a poooo fight well before the 25th post. Our tolerance levels would seem to be improving?.....
My granddaughter and myself ride our folding bikes in Bendigo most weekends....

I can fully appreciate Bluemoons' comments and concur that whilst Bendigo is one of the most desirable city's in which to live in Victoria, their drivers are something else....Bendigo is a "busy" city 7 days/week with most drivers pushing the speed limits, and lane changing laws, to their limits and over...every driver seems to feel more busy than the next driver and this translates to a general lack of consideration for others.....I know this could be applied to most Towns however Bendigo is so busy expanding/building/renovating, creating land divisions, creating stuff so they can all buy more stuff.... that I believe its only the visitors now that get to smell the flowers and see what this City really offers..which is much.
I personally rarely ever see any speed limit enforcement by cameras or Police...and this is part of Bendigo's speed problems/lack of consideration/driver frustrations....

On the plus side I can be out in the Whipstick/Goldfields in about 15 minutes from Bendigo..to perfect quiet, solitude, with roos, wallaby's,echidnas and not a non- flying Galah in sight...Beautiful City...should be a must on all travel itinerary's....

Trust you and your wife enjoy your stay BlueMoon.....Hoo Roo

-- Edited by goldfinger on Wednesday 24th of February 2016 10:24:03 AM

-- Edited by goldfinger on Wednesday 24th of February 2016 10:25:30 AM

rtv47 · Veteran Member

I have been riding between San remo and Cowes of and on for the last 3 weeks . Bus's are the least tolerate , as close as 1/2 a Mtr ! Scary !!

Cloak · Guru

I once rode a bicycle.

Hylife · Guru

Once we rode horses everywhere. Then technology lept forward when someone invented a cycle. This was about the time that that if you went too fast you had to have a pilot person walk ahead waving a red lantern and blowing a warning whistle.

Times have changed.

I make no comment on the merits of riding a bicyle or the fact that currently bicyles DO have identicle rights on our roads as motorvehicles and that bus driver could and should have been booked for dangerous driving, but we've banned horses from suburban streets, I think it high time we banned bicylces from roads too. Riding at 30kph on a 60kph road is just plain dangerous to everyone concerned. Cyclists are classified as vulnerable road users with good reason

Bruce and Bev · Guru

keep riding your bikes bluemoon !! Rightly or wrongly, you do have a right to use roads unless they are specifically banned, like motorways.

I find its the groups of cycle club ones in groups of up to 30 in one clump that get me going. These ones seem to think they can ride 3-4 abreast and move out sideways in front of traffic coming up from behind - then to add insult to injury they all go into the nearest Dome or McCafe, jam the bloody place up and take all the seating so they can each have a coffee - no breakfast for me again :)

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.