High visibility?

Emergency workers and HiVis clothing – our perception of safety may be dangerously flawed!

The research results demonstrated that unlike earlier research, road workers were often detected only at short distances, sometimes as low as 25 to 45 meters (27-49 yards). The road workers were also found to be less than conspicuous, even when wearing high-visibility clothing. The workers that were interviewed for the study were also likely to greatly over-estimate their personal levels of conspicuity.

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History is written by the victors

Monica Dux in The Age says it's time to take the 'cross' out of pedestrian crossings:

When the automobile first started monopolising streets, it was widely regarded as an invasion. There was fear and hostility – much of it well justified, given that pedestrians were being run over by these infernal contraptions. Yet despite this initial resistance, cars won the war comprehensively. And the history of the conflict was written by the victors, so that we now regard the annexation of our streets as natural, unquestioningly accepting that the road does not belong to people, but to vehicles.

Credit where it's due

"Every time you see a cyclist go by you should thank them really, it's someone else who's not driving" –John Merritt, CEO, VicRoads.

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Leyonhjelm vs Super Nanny

The debate over mandatory bicycle helmet laws is still stirring passions at the Leyonhjelm nanny state inquiry:

"I thought the Sydney lock-out laws would be the big one," Senator Leyonhjelm said. "I didn't think we would get swamped by the helmets."

It's great to see that our elected representatives are so in touch with community sentiment.

See also: Bid to scrap helmet laws for cyclists.

South Australia's cyclopocalypse

I'm really quite sick of the frantic self-stimulatory click-baiting that's playing out in South Australia, but here goes. New minimum passing laws have the whole state of South Australia in turmoil—it's cyclopocalypse, apparently.

Apparently minimum overtaking distance laws started in the ACT today—without the same media hyperventilation (so far…)

Survey says…

Not to be outdone, the Victorian Government is having a 'cycling strategy consultation'. Yep, it's another survey—Help us update Victoria’s cycling strategy.

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Hey, bike industry—when are you going to stop with the sexist bullshit?

This sort of stuff is getting very, very old and tedious:

"Garrulous cycle haters"

In The Guardian, Scorchers v cycle haters: how Victorian cyclists were also vilified in the press:

Before researching this topic I didn’t imagine the animosity that can surround modern-day debates concerning cycling would have existed on comparable levels back then. After all, this was a period before motor vehicles could also be found on Britain’s roads. Moreover, the invention of the modern day safety bicycle in 1885 quickly came to represent, for millions of people, their first personal means of long-distance transportation. Surely this was a cause of universal pride and celebration?

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…and skater hate too?

Another group that comes in for a bit of general hating is skaters. I don't skate (never really mastered it) but I completely respect those who have the skill. Where I see enthusiasts dedicating time to practising and improving their skills, other people see teenage kids hanging around making trouble and damaging property. With that in mind, Dear teenage boy at the skate park...

Not accidents

Bike commuting could be better

In written evidence to UK Parliament Transport Committee's Road traffic law enforcement inquiry, Mary Manning says:

For any non-cyclist, it might be difficult to appreciate the abuse cyclists can be subjected to, but it is real.

And later:

The police would no doubt point to statistics relating to death and serious injury experienced by cyclists and no doubt they would suggest that the rates in the UK are relatively low…but it is insulting to measure cyclist safety purely by how many have died or been seriously injured! It is the everyday hostility – the close passes, the horns honked, the aggressive overtakes – experienced by so many cyclists, and routinely dismissed by the police, which are a more accurate depiction of the experience of cycling in the UK.

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Bike commuting is already great

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Distraction

One third of Australians use phones while driving:

More than a third of Australians have admitted using their mobile phones while driving, and even those using hands-free kits are at serious risk of distraction, potentially putting their lives – and others' – at risk, according to local and overseas research.

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Yes, even hands-free devices are dangerously distracting:

The research shows that drivers can remain unwittingly distracted for up to 27 seconds after they disconnect from a call—even when they’re using the car’s own voice-command system. This means a driver driver traveling at a paltry 25 mph will cover the length of three football fields before their attention is fully restored.

This should be obvious to anyone who has even turned down the car stereo so they can concentrate on navigation.

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AusPost launches "behave like a civilised human being" campaign

Australia Post Safety Campaign:

This October we're launching a safety campaign to raise awareness about the danger of reversing cars - to our posties, and to the wider community.

So, this is what we've become—we need a campaign to tell people how to behave like civilised human beings.

Filthy habit

Are cars the new tobacco?

Private cars cause significant health harm. The impacts include physical inactivity, obesity, death and injury from crashes, cardio-respiratory disease from air pollution, noise, community severance and climate change. The car lobby resists measures that would restrict car use, using tactics similar to the tobacco industry. Decisions about location and design of neighbourhoods have created environments that reinforce and reflect car dependence. Car ownership and use has greatly increased in recent decades and there is little public support for measures that would reduce this.

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"Where did you get your license?"

ABC News reported WA driving assessor Greg Briotti admits receiving cash for licenses in corruption probe:

A private driving assessor has admitted to WA's Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) he received cash payments for falsifying motorbike and truck licence tests.

Wow. Like that's going to end well.

This opens up a whole new line of abuse: "Where did you get your license, a cornflakes packet Dowerin?"

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Smarter than car

Worldwide Cycling Atlas—Smarter than car:

Silently flowing through the streets and lanes of China’s cities, an ephemeral army of cyclists pedal their bicycles and tricycles to earn a living.

Sign here

Cootamundra Herald reports on an interesting new bicycle safety warning sign:

The solar-powered warning signs are similar to those in place around school zones. Rather than running during set hours though, they are activated by a cyclist who hits the trigger as they ride past.

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Juvenile pranks

Well, this sort of pranks-for-hidden-cameras shtick isn't really my thing. But then who doesn't love to see a bike thief get the treatment?

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