Cyclists take a hit
Fri 07 April 2006
Nicole Richardson, Journalism
Cyclists have been constantly dealing with abuse from drivers throwing objects at them and driving them off the road.
International triathlete Paul Fuge is one cyclist in particular who has faced many obstacles while riding, even being run off the road by a bus driver while training with another cyclist.
“On November 11, [2005]…we got abused by a bus driver and he almost ran us into the gutter coming home…we went to the police station and reported that.
“The same bus with the same rego had a chop at us three weeks ago,” he said.
British Olympian Andrew Johns finds a lack of respect for cyclists in Australia.
“I think the road rage is quite bad in Australia,” he said.
“I think it stems from lack of education. I would say a massive percentage, well over 90, probably 99 per cent of the Australian population doesn’t know the road rules with respect to bicycles. And that’s a massive problem…it’s ignorance,” Mr Johns said.
Road rules specific to cyclists indicate how many are allowed to ride side by side as well as other laws in relation to motor vehicles. As a serious cyclist, Mr Fuge is very aware of his rights on the road.
“You’re allowed to be 1½ metres apart, two abreast and stay as far possible to the left. You’re also allowed to have a rider come around and overtake and be three abreast while he’s overtaking...that’s legal."
Mr Fuge said that under the road rules a cyclist must be as responsible as a car driver.
Johns’ experience in Australia and living in Switzerland gives him two perspectives.
“We get quite a unique perspective of it because we live in Switzerland and very close to the French border. It’s a cycling mentality over there. Just about everyone rides.
“In Australia there’s no cycling mentality…once you’re a bike rider, you’re very empathetic towards other bike riders,” Mr Johns said.
Long Course world champion, Lisbeth Kristensen has trained in Australia and internationally and said more people rode bikes overseas and had more respect for cyclists.
“Everyone in Denmark is brought up on a bike,” she said.
Kristensen said everyone had respect to cyclists because whether you rode a bike or not, you knew someone who did.
Mr Fuge said although there were a lot of incidents where motorists were attacking cyclists, both verbally and physically, there were also a few cyclists who abused the law and were in the wrong.
Image(s) designed by n/a
Enter comments about this article
Submitted Comments
Cycling is an interesting pastime that has many merits.
Holly