Closing the freeway, who's smart idea was that?
That was the comment my business partner made to me today, he lives in the hills and whilst not affected by the closure couldn't see the point of it. I'm inclined to agree with him. We strive week in and week out to co-exist on the roads with motorists, but when we (or Bike SA) want a special bike ride, they close off the road, Highway 1 no less, to the vast majority of the travelling public. How to win friends and influence people. How many motorists were inconvenienced yesterday, and what will their ongoing opinion of cyclists be, as a result?
I discussed the Amy's Gran Fondo ride with my g/f over the weekend as I might do that this year (call me a hypocrite) and her reaction was "What if you are an overseas tourist and that day you planned to drive the GOR and can't because it's closed for a bunch of wannabe Cadel's" (subtlety is not her strong suit).
If we want to be taken seriously as legitimate road users, maybe we just need to "suck it up" and ride with the cars.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rob W on -
The F-111s don't go very fast 6 feet under, incase you missed the news article about them being scrapped. Riding behind a taxiing P-3 Orion would be good headwind training.
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Permalink Reply by Peter Hill on -
,,a 24 hour ride on the Terminal travellator...
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Permalink Reply by Don (Who's lost?) Nairn on -
perhaps there an be a downhill in the stairs of one of the tall multistory car parks in town.
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Permalink Reply by Rob W on
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The Travellator in relay format, sounds like a good fundraiser for charity.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Fraser on -
Other States of Australia close roads for bike rides with out all this fuss. Eastlink in Melbourne is closed for a morning once a year to allow for a family fun ride. Westgate bridge had lane closures for the Superrun for about ten years. The Great Train Race has road closures in the Dandenong Ranges and the event is thirty years old. It is about time South Australian road users of all varieties learn to share the road with other users rather than believe they own the road. We have some of the most discourteous and inconsiderate road users in the whole of Australia living in Adelaide.
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Permalink Reply by Frank on
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There is just No pleasing people!
Road gets closed and thats it, those that don't like it, Tough.
I am not a mass participation rider cause too many week end heros out but for those that do, enjoy it.
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Permalink Reply by Sean Carnie on -
Agree, move on next topic.....
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Permalink Reply by Not an electronic mouse on -
Doddsy - I disagree with your comment "Its not Cyclist v Motorist, Its motorists v incompetent motorists."
It is in fact "reasonable road user vs idiot road user" be they a cyclist or a motorist.
+1 for the "don't poke the bear" comment.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Brisco on -
Here's an idea.
Cyclists use the Old Mt Barker Road - and every motorist using the freeway while they're riding, has to donate $20 to The Smith Family.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Brisco on
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Your business partner has some strange views on liberty....
Either he is a liberal (I can do what like, as long as it doesnt affect you) or a libertarian (I can do what I like, and if it affects you - hard cheese, because a person's right to do whatever they wish, must always prevail.)
If he argues, his right to use the freeway when he wants for business, trumps my idle wishes as a recreational cyclist - that's a libertarian argument. I argue back, as a vulnerable road user - my right for safety - to hog a whole road lane, go slow, dent his car if he passes too close - trumps his idle wishes to get there a minute faster! :)
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Hey I vote liberal, always will!
I struggle to get a handle on the crippling labor ideals!
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Permalink Reply by Mike Brisco on
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Come to think of it, the Freeway is closed virtually every day ... to pedestrians, cyclists, and skateboarders .
Who perhaps make up a surprisingly high percentage, of the SA population....
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