Before I start, let me state (again) that I'm not a Beach Road regular but I am definitely sympathetic to the idea that there should be weekend clearways along this premier cycling route. But something about Bicycle Victoria's latest campaign on the topic makes me uneasy:
The quest for weekend morning clearways on Beach Rd has re-ignited after a new survey revealed that cyclists are outnumbering cars three to one on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
[emphasis added]
The problem I perceive is that BV is effectively using the "might is right" argument (so beloved by petrol-powered dickheads who contribute to the comments pages on the newspaper websites), that is: there's more of us, so get out of the way.
You can't really have it both ways: everywhere else cyclists are outnumbered by cars and in spite of that we assert the legal right to claim our space on the road. But on Beach Rd, BV wants to negate the argument: there cyclists outnumber cars (7,478 to 2,563 in their most recent survey), so bikes should squeeze the cars out.
And presenting the argument that way makes it an "Us-vs-Them" argument. Of course, I'm oversimplifying but I don't think it's the right way to push the point. I realise that the comment "cyclists are outnumbering cars three to one" is novel enough that it's highly likely to be reported, but it could also be very easy to portray as hypocrisy.
I don't think the relative number of traffic movements is highly relevant. The fact of the matter is that 7,478 in four hours is a lot of bikes, regardless of how many cars are on the road at the time. We're talking an average of 30 bikes passing a given point per minute over a four hour period and that's a highly unusual mass of riders.
And the real problem is the number of parked cars in the leftmost lane (reducing the effective road space), not the number of cars actually in motion at the time.
So instead of talking about "outnumbering cars" (an adversarial kind of position) BV should be emphasising that both cyclists and motorists are inconvenienced by having parked cars on a stretch of road where there are 30 bicycle movements and 10 car movements per minute (a more inclusive kind of position).
And the numbers support the argument so well:
"We know that just one per cent of parking spaces are being utilised at 6am and only two per cent by 10am, so any inconvenience to motorists is infinitesimal if we had a clearway during those times.
Am I quibbling over nothing? Maybe. But if people start applying the "A outnumbers B" argument elsewhere, the outcomes will never be favourable for cyclists. BV really should avoid making its argument this way.
Well, this wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me. I agree entirely with the proposal, I'm just a bit worried about the emphasis BV has put on their recent survey data. I'm not sure that BV is necessarily a latecomer to the debate, but it's obviously not the only iron they have in the fire—in terms of both campaigns and events.
Yeah, I've been aware of what Marcel Lema is doing for a while now. I don't really know him but I met him last year and we had a long conversation. I think he'll get this through eventually.
Campaigns like this--and BV's farcical stance on bikes on trains from earlier this year--just add to my reasons as to why I did not bother renewing my BV membership.
This is a very good analysis, and definitely an argument that cyclists should never attempt.
so right. lets start a campaign to illustrate how much road space is 'wasted' by kerb side parked cars. That space is a cycle lane in waiting
BV are relative latecomers to Beach Road clearways stuff.
http://beachrdcyclist.com.au
more to this story than you think.
Comments
If cyclists traveled two abreast as required by the Road Laws there would be no problem with parked cars. It is only when they travel in large groups that THEY become the problem. Can you imagine the inconvenience to all if there was a Clearway on weekends... No Parking for residents, beach goers, Life Saving & Yacht clubs. Come on have some common sense ..No Clearways for Beach Road. More Info here > http://web.aanet.com.au/beach/hell%20ride.htm