A message from SAPOL - Road safety is everybody's responsibility
Cycling SA has forwarded a message from SAPOL this morning pleading with cyclists to obey the road rules, especially when riding two abreast, after an increase in complaints.
Maybe familiarise yourself with the road rules and riding in bike lanes. Only on the weekend did I ride with someone who misunderstood about how we could ride when there was a bike lane.
Dear (CSA) members,
South Australia Police (SAPOL) have written to Cycling SA seeking our assistance in spreading the message that "Road safety is everybody's responsibility." SAPOL's request is in response to weekly complaints they receive alleging poor riding behaviour of cyclists.Cycling SA calls on all cyclists (whether members of ours or not) and motorists to share the road, be patient with each other and obey the road rules.
We do not want this to become a nonsense cyclists versus motorists debate because to do so achieves nothing and takes the focus off the real message that road safety is everybody's responsibility. Cycling SA is very keen to engage with government, motoring bodies and other agencies in promoting road safety.
We urge all cyclists and motorists to do their bit to contribute to road safety by obeying the road rules. We also urge all cyclists and motorists to exercise common-sense and courtesy towards each other.
"ROAD SAFETY IS EVERYBODY'S RESPONSIBILITY."Gary Simpson, Thursday, 22 March 2012
Other links for info on riding two abreast: - http://www.sa.cycling.org.au/site/cycling/sa/downloads/SAPOL%20remi...
and from DPTI http://www.sa.gov.au/upload/franchise/Transport,%20travel%20and%20m...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike W on -
I don't disagree with any of that, we are our own worst enemy most of the time based on some of the antics I see while driving.
All of this is great, one of the main issues I see is where there are bike lanes they seem to serve as parking areas for vehicles.
I my post last night I highlighted eight illegally parked cars on two different roads in less than a two hour period and it seems to be ok as it is a regular occurrence.
I believe that its actually more dangerous to have to duck in and out of bike lanes than staying in the left lane where people make allowances for you.Can we have the bike lanes for bikes and then we can start to deal with clowns later.
My previous post on the observation is here
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Permalink Reply by Darren on -
In the last few days I've seen more cyclists running red lights than I care to remember. On Saturday I went off at some clown at the top of Norton who had stopped to chat with his mates with his bike perpendicular to the road. I've also noticed quite a few riding without lights at dusk. Its been a long summer - are we getting a bit lazy?
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Permalink Reply by Virginia Riches on -
I have to say having read that, I can understand why there is so much confusion (not the brouchure, but the other document). It's very confusing to read and could be easily confused. Why don't they just say something like:
"Cyclists/motorcylists may ride no more than two abreast on marked roads (both multilane or single lane). The exception to this is when passing or if permitted to do so under another law of this jurisdiction."
I'm hoping my interpretation was correct, but if not it just illustrates the point that it's difficult to understand.
I've heard that ignorance of the law is no excuse however making laws so difficult to understand really doesn't help anybody.
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Permalink Reply by Iordan Kostadinov on -
yeah i agree. laws seem to be written specifically to confuse.
are you allowed to ride two abreast if there is a bike lane?
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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on -
ABC 891 have a police officer on the afternoon programme regularly and as it happens somebody asked him exactly the same question today. You can ride two abreast in a bike lane if the lane is wide enough, you can't ride abreast if one is in the lane and the other is in the traffic lane. Please don't get all pedantic with me and say "bikes are traffic".
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Permalink Reply by Iordan Kostadinov on
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double standards there for sure
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Permalink Reply by Alasdair McLellan on -
How is that a double standard? Cars aren't allowed to drive two abreast in a car lane if the second car pokes into the bike lane.
Bike lanes exist to separate bicycles from motorised traffic. It's not more complicated than that.
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Permalink Reply by Angus Fry on -
Thanks for the summary Clive - I think I understand the rules now.
Despite reading both links above, I was none the wiser...
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Permalink Reply by Gus K on -
I didn't hear him speak about this today?
Clive, I don't think you are correct? I'm not sure about this:
You can ride two abreast in a bike lane if the lane is wide enough, you can't ride abreast if one is in the lane and the other is in the traffic lane.
You can't ride two abreast if there is a bike lane (of 1.2m wide etc). You can ride two abreast if there is no bike lane but not more than 1.5m apart.
So to put it in practical terms. You cannot ride two abreast up Magill Rd to the Tower Hotel but you can ride from the Tower Hotel to Norton summit side by side.
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Permalink Reply by Matt Brennan on -
my hearing of it was - if there is no bike lane - 2 abreast if safe to do so.
If there is a bike lane you can ride 2 abreast provided both riders are within the bike lane.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on
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I think thats what I said.
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Permalink Reply by Gus K on
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Well, yes, but most bike lanes are 1.2m wide. If there is a really wide shoulder with a bike lane stamped on it then sure but I see that as a rarity and not where the complaints have come from. I am thinking Greenhill Rd, Anzac Hwy, Portrush, Port, Prospect, Henley, Torrens, Military, Lwr NE and the CBD etc.
© 2013 Created by Gus K.
