Planner dubs cyclists "Silent Killers" and demands speed limit
This article on The Age is a perfect example for anecdotal evidence resulting in a knee-yerk reaction and statement. Common sense seems to go out of the window completely.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by MARK FERGUSON (SPARTACUS) on -
The problem was the cyclists ran a red light, not it's speed!
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Permalink Reply by Pascalo on -
I would argue that the problem is the knee jerk reaction of the person that nearly got hit by a cyclist and then comes out with a blanket statement like "cyclists are silent killers".
The call for a speed limit clearly comes from the sentiment that __something__ has to be done, and rather than just holding that thought until common sense kicks back in one blurts out "speed limit".
Laws, Regulations and stricter processes are a funny thing, they don't always bring you closer to what you're trying to achieve. The removal of clear signage in order to calm down traffic, as done in the netherlands and germany recently, is a good example that illustrates that the signs didn't help at all. Yet, they were probably put up with the intention to prevent accidents and make traffic safer.
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Permalink Reply by MARK FERGUSON (SPARTACUS) on
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True!
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Permalink Reply by Roger ... on -
problem could be fixed if cyclists had to affix noise making card t...
seriously though, riding at speed through stationary traffic is dangerous. 20kph is pretty low but in areas like the Central Market and Grenfell St there is a lot of foot traffic ... of course in those places a police car or a lumpy copper on a police issue MTB is hardly going to catch a "motivated" offender
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Permalink Reply by Roger ... on
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For me tinted windscreens are the silent killer.
Before tinted windscreens became the norm you could see the driver was looking or not looking at you.
You see if the driver was talking on their phone and possibly not 100% concentrating.
Looking in the wing mirror you could see faces and if there was a potential to be car doored from parked cars.
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Permalink Reply by Dahondude on -
Funny how the Age publish heavily pro commuter cycling articles one month and then this unenforcable idea the next. Vic Police clearly have better things to do than speed gunning commuters on Swanston St...or maybe they dont given the time and money they spend chasing cyclists without bells.
And there was me thinking cars http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Australia_road_toll_graph.svgy
and drownings
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/2f762f95845417aeca25706c008...!OpenDocument
were the real silent killers - equivalent to FOUR jumbo jets full of people dying every year.
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Permalink Reply by Pascalo on
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I don't really think the age are in line with this guy's agenda. It's a pretty balanced article?
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Permalink Reply by Frank on
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No such thing as tinted windscreens!
Tinted glass on side or rear sure but forward facing glass is to code which is zero tint!
I think real problem is that most drivers are mainly taught by aunt nelly and uncle Fred who quite frankly probably should have training themselves!
We take getting a DL as the norm where as it should be a respected privelage!
It should also entale a much stricter more advanced training IMHO!
People are trained to look for cars, bikes just don't compute in their perception of what are potential hazards!
Apart from that, accidents happen!
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Permalink Reply by Roger ... on
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You have lost me. I don't understand why if the windscreens in Australia are not tinted, why can't we see into the vehicle. IMHO older cars have much clearer glass and I feel safer riding where I can see what's happening everywhere.
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Permalink Reply by Lucas Pittaway on -
I have trouble seeing in because I'm looking in from behind at a tinted window with a near flat angle.
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It's science and smoky mirrors.
Like there is no such thing as one way glass, it's done with light.
For example, if outside is dark and a room inside is lit, you can see in but not out!
If a car has tinted windows( side) and both it's dark outside(night) and car has no interior lights on, you can't see in but turn on a interior light and u can and it's than hard to see out!
If you ever see any interrogation, you will find the viewing windows are tinted but the room where interrogation takes place is well lit and viewing room is not, making it possible to see only one way! Turn lights on really bright and you be able to see the other way!
Hope that made kind of sense!
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