Cycling in Brisbane Australia
Coxy's daily rant
Might as well have my own thread :P
The positive: somehow I managed to beat my best time into work by 2 minutes...I guess I was lucky with stops (or lack thereof).
The negative: Again, Sylvan Road. The intersection with Croydon St. Huge big group waiting at the lights, which isn't unusual. But as the lights changed and we'd all just made it across the intersection, a guy on what looked like a mountain bike (green t-shirt for those of you playing at home) decides to swing out wide of the group and pass everyone - swerving in front of a car who not surprisingly blew his horn. Cyclist turned around, gave the driver a death stare and a gesture. FFS mate, you were in the wrong. It's people like that who antagonise drivers and worsen the cyclist-motorist rivalry.
Disappointing to see.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by DamianM on -
OK, time for Damian's rant.
Because I run these sites, I tend to keep my views on a certain contentious topic to myself in the interests of impartiality.
This morning pissed me off though, jumped off a city cat at riverside at 9 and needed to get up to George st quicklyish. So I jumped on a citycycle, it's what it's for, and why I paid a membership. I didn't have a particular accessory nor did I want to reuse their skanky ones.
Didn't get any hassles from drivers, peds, buses, was enjoying myself. Until heading up Adelaide st and a trio of taser equipped velocops passed me the other direction. I noticed them glance at me but they didn't say anything. I turned into King George Square and by the time I'd gotten to the lights all three had turned around and chased me down.
I didn't have any fight or smartarse in me this morning, so I was submissive and they let me check the bike back in and let me go without a fine.
But, I agree with everyone on the success of CityCycle, it's ridiculous that for three cops, there was nothing better to do than to turn around and pounce on a guy riding slowly across the city. It's like they are actively trying to kill the scheme. rant rant etc
I reckon I might write a letter or two.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Martin on -
You know *I* understand... sorry to hear about this. It's stressful and unpleasant to be pulled up for such a minor offence, but then I'm usually asking for it (doesn't make it less stressful though). My wife ONLY wears one to simply avoid the confrontation.
The police really have better things to do than police this particular law. I want a trial exemption for CityCycle. Let's just see what happens (and record data) and go from there.
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Permalink Reply by Shaun Moran on -
About time you had a rant Damian!
Agree with you/Paul - its absolutely ridiculous that they decided to chase you down for such a minor infringement. That's what gets my goat most about the MHL - its not that there is a law so much (there are lots of other stupid laws on the books) but that its enforced with a vengeance by Qld Police.
Maybe we should use the trashy current affair shows to our advantage by not fighting the law directly but by pointing out the huge waste of taxpayers money in police enforcing such a minor thing...
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Permalink Reply by Raymond on -
Because I run these sites, I tend to keep my views on a certain contentious topic to myself in the interests of impartiality.
I don't know how you manage to do it, but appreciate it all the same - just as I do for this little "rant" today! ;)
If it seems to "balance" things out any better (yes, it will never happen so long as bad laws remain); I actually rode slowly to work on just footpath yesterday with a CityCycle (sans helmet of dubious quality/fit; possibly not standards compliant, thus illegal anyway). After work I needed to get the train (and later, a nearly nauseating bus), hence my lack of carrying my own helmet with all the other stuff I had on the day.
The free moment was temporarily soured by a wisecrack in fluoro clothing sitting outside City Hall on Adelaide St with his mates with a half voiced question of "where's ya helmet". I could only come up with "where's your decency?" (pointing at temple gesturing think) but I doubt they expected a response anyway so I'll award myself the point.
It's so nice to go responsibly lidless once in a while - the "walking people", while perhaps identifying it as slightly odd, do seem to be less intimidated than usual; or maybe that's still from the fact I'm not a dropbar hero on the dreadful Bicentennial Drift.
Otherwise, I'm not convinced by blanket statements of support to "our good officers of the law", etc, etc. Certainly, there are good ones but when I see a bad one; I will call them out (privately, definitely behind their back). Somebody is responsible for prioritising the bad decisions to waste money on, and it's probably not just the politicians. Bad decisions must be held to account or at least questioned across all levels of authority.
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Permalink Reply by Maree on -
Wow, we are all having this same issue with CityCycle - and what a shame. It put me off my trip:
http://www.brisbanecyclist.com/profiles/blogs/oh-now-i-know-why-mhl...
DamianM: Congratulations on having the gumption to go it "nude"! Actually, the other morning I saw a mature-aged woman (late 50's), in a long skirt, on a CityCycle, WITHOUT A HELMET. I wanted to cheer her on and point her out to everyone as a wonderful example of who are cyclists out there.
PaulM: LOVE the idea of a trial exemption. Seriously, the people riding CityCycle are not the risk-taking type, which is the real reason for helmets. Riding along the footpath slowly is as dangerous as walking.
Shaun Moran: Yes, while I hate those silly current affairs shows (they are generally inflammatory and poorly researched), perhaps they could be used as an effective tool to highlight the damage that MHL has done to the cycling image and the massive reduction in the number of people that cycle. Perhaps proposing that adults make their own choice? Children to remain mandatory, as they have not developed the executive cognitive function to make an informed choice that will balance the level of risk.
Raymond: OMG, I love the term "Bicentennial Drift"! I have to say that I really dislike them - their arrogance, their lack of concern for people around them and finally, the fact that they are seriously damaging the image of cyclists in Brisbane. Take your "need for speed" to a velodrome or criterium dudes... and leave the rest of us in safety.
BTW, has anyone noticed that the CityCycles are being used a LOT more lately? I'm seeing stations empty of bikes, during the work day, quite often now.
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Permalink Reply by Paul Martin on
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I often ride very quickly along the Bicentennial Bikeway, near the old Drift restaurant, but I will always ensure my speed is such that I can stop within my vision - I will often be going as fast as 50km/h on the straight bits for its entire length (but not that fast past Drift). There is nothing wrong with cycling fast provided some thought is given to others around you and how they may perceive your actions. Sometimes it is perfectly fine; other times it is silly and dangerous.
If there is a busy section and I'm going fast I just slow right down and be patient. Many don't. What's bad is bad behaviour, not fast cycling.
As for ACA/Today Tonight - from my limited media experience, I wouldn't say a word to them. You'll be surprised how they can turn a story on its head to make you look like a goose.
As for CityCycle usage. Hard to know as no official statistics are being released. The latest figures only showed a moderate increase (still woeful) but that was a while ago now. I see plenty of people riding sans lids.
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Permalink Reply by Luke Turner on -
Hey Damian, sorry to hear about your brush the bike police.
If you do write some letters, include an email to Peter Matic (toowong.ward@ecn.net.au), who is a BCC councillor and chairman of the Public and Active transport committee - these are the guys who were responsible for introducing CityCycle.
I'm waiting to hear back from him about a helmet law exemption for CityCycle. I mentioned to him that now Fremantle, Adelaide and Sydney city councils are all now calling for relaxation of helmet laws and are talking to their respective state governments about it. The mayor of Fremantle was on the radio the other day saying they could have a trial going as early as this summer.
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Permalink Reply by Big Steve on -
Sorry to hear mate... it's such a shame. The HF youtube with "CRIMINALS" shot straight to mind.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Cox on -
Minor rant from this morning. Heading along Sylvan Road, in the bike lane, Lexus turning right from the opposite side of Sylvan Road from one of the side streets. Made the turn and veered into the bike lane so close that I felt the air against my right leg! Am AMAZED he didn't hit me.
Red lights at Croydon Street, I look ahead and who is half in the bike lane? Same Lexus! I rode up alongside, slowed right down and stared in at the driver and what looked like his wife in the passenger seat and just shook my head and moved on.
And then? Left turn lane into Land St, bikes in the bike lane, what does Mr Lexus do? Yep, he cuts the corner, forcing the bikes in front of me to slow down in a hurry (I saw him so slowed right down to see what idiotic thing he'd do this time).
How do arseholes like this get and maintain a driver's license?
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Permalink Reply by Mike Bentley on -
Hi Chris .. God knows how they get a licence?
BTW did anyone see the twit who parked his whole car on the Sylvan Road concrete bikepath near the Milton Road end outside of the carwash place last night? I think he had a flat tyre or something but he could have pulled over on a side street instead of blocking the whole bikepath.
Mike
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