Didn't take long

[mechanic]

Article in todays Cairns Post:-
Cairns and Far North cops are going to " blitz every corner " to enforce new cycle rules.
Be nice to see them blitz every corner to catch some of the local thieves instead of sitting in a car watching traffic.

[5.8]

Here we go, another Cop/Government bashing thread

[DBourne]

Seems like you have quite a bit of hate towards cyclists mate. Just relax, it'll be ok.

[2011G6E]

It'll be OK...as long as you aren't in a hurry to get anywhere...but then again cyclists have always smugly said "cars are in too much of a rush..."

From the Transport Dep'ts own Q&A fact sheet...amongst many other hidden gems they aren't advertising...

Q10: Does a cyclist need to observe the minimum
distance when passing motorists?
A: Cyclists are expected to keep a safe distance when passing
other traffic.
However, the minimum passing distance applies to motorists
passing a cyclist, not cyclists passing motorists. This is because
of the greater risk faced by cyclists when motorists pass them
too closely. Cyclists do not pose the same risk to motorists.

So it's up to YOU to keep out of THEIR way. The laws now remind them that they are entitled to as much of the lane as they wish.

And this one takes the cake...

Q11: What if I’ve stopped and a cyclist pulls up beside
me within the minimum passing distance?
A: If you have stopped, for example at traffic lights or in a line of
traffic, and a cyclist stops beside you within the minimum passing
distance, you have not committed an offence. When the traffic
starts moving let the cyclist ride ahead, and only overtake the
cyclist when you can safely leave the minimum passing distance.

Nice.No more "take off as soon as the light is green"...not if there's a cyclist sitting near you a anyway.


Here's a thought, just a suggestion...how about they treat cyclists like we all, I am sure, treated our own kids when they started riding on the road?
Say to them firmly and surely: "Make sure you keep well out of the way of traffic, don't expect them to swerve around you when you can so easily pull over and stop or get out of the way"....?

[blackf6]

Radio advertisements are stating that the 1 meter rule is in force only over 60km/hr.

[TheSneakiness]

Cyclists will be treated the same as I have always treated them.

With contempt.

Now I'm not saying that applies to all, however the majority ruin it for the minority.

[Grunter]

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by teak81

Radio advertisements are stating that the 1 meter rule is in force only over 60km/hr.

Now that's really interesting.
The .pdf you can download from the Transport Department with all the details and Q&A's on it says the following:

Minimum passing distance for motorists
From 7 April 2014, by law, motorists must stay wider of the
rider by giving:
• a minimum of 1 metre when passing cyclists in a 60km/h
or less speed zone; and
• 1.5 metres where the speed limit is over 60km/h.
From this date motorists can cross centre lines (including
double unbroken centre lines), straddle lane-lines and drive
on painted islands to pass cyclists, provided the driver has a
clear view of any approaching traffic and it is safe to do so.

Seems pretty clear to me. It's everywhere, at all speeds.

...and reading those last few lines, I'll put my bollocks on the line here and bet that there is a simply staggering increase in sideswipes and car to car crashes from now on...people will be watching Mr I Now Own The Road on his pushbike, glancing between the traffic ahead and the bike beside them to try and judge a meter or a meter and a half, and something is going to go drastically wrong with even the best drivers. Absolutely guarantee it.

[Grunter]

The brake pedal is your friend.

Funny how when driving a car and amongst cyclists, that I get raged up thinking what grief is he/she going to cause me.
Yet, when I'm riding a bike and amongst drivers, I get raged up thinking what grief is he/she going to cause me. So confusing.

Thing to try to help work out why there may need to be a little more care around bike riders (no matter what stupid crap they are doing). Grab a bike and have your friend ride it over a car (preferably a old one) while your inside, and see what injury occurs. Now drive that car over the bike....

[jpblue1000]

Nothing to add...but in before the lock!

Rage away boys!

JP

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by jpblue1000

Nothing to add...but in before the lock!

Rage away boys!

JP

Nothing wrong with making people more cyclist aware, but it goes both ways. The way you don't do it is to hand a hugely disproportionate amount of the power in the relationship to the road user who is moving very slowly and can get out of the traffic with ease. It's fine and dandy that cyclists will now face the exact same penalties as car drivers...however, there's that elephant in the room no one wants to acknowledge..."how do you identify a particular cyclist who has done something dangerous and illegal in traffic?".

[RANGEREST]

Read in the paper today that one officer has said the rule is rubbish "what are we going to do run around with a measuring tape after the riders?"

IMO it's going to be a bit hard to police.
Also, what happens when a cyclist rides to the front at traffic lights and the cars are less than a meter away?,
as they all leave the lights together do the cars have to wait till the cyclists have moved over to the gutter?
It's gonna be a testing time for the coppers.

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by velvet

Also, what happens when a cyclist rides to the front at traffic lights and the cars are less than a meter away?,
as they all leave the lights together do the cars have to wait till the cyclists have moved over to the gutter?
It's gonna be a testing time for the coppers.

Simple, and answered succinctly in the Q&A section on the Transport Dep't site:

11. What if I’ve stopped and a cyclist pulls up beside
me within the minimum passing distance?
A: If you have stopped, for example at traffic lights or in a line of
traffic, and a cyclist stops beside you within the minimum passing
distance, you have not committed an offence. When the traffic
starts moving let the cyclist ride ahead, and only overtake the
cyclist when you can safely leave the minimum passing distance.

See, just kick back and relax when the light goes green...you ain't going nowhere until the cyclist decides to move first. Bet they don't advertise little touches in the new laws like that...

[GasoLane]

Before we all get into Cyclist/Police/Car Driver bashing mode, how many here have actually seen 'Police Blitz' the rule, or spoken to someone to someone who has been fined for not complying with it.

From experience I've found that Blitz's published in the print media are often just before a long weekend, and that there are usually less Police on the roads than usual.

[mechanic]

I had no wish to rehash a previous post.
I was just a bit pi--ed off that the cops have seen fit to " swarm " [ their word not mine ] all over this new rule while we in Cairns are unable to walk the streets at night for fear of assault by gangs.
All of a sudden the cops have found some enthusiasm to do something while we sit here wondering why they don't pay some attention to the local crime rate.
It was just a rant that maybe I shouldn't have posted.

[Auslandau]

Lets leave it at that then.

We know where bike threads end up. Cars and bike riders both think they are the ones hard done by and in the right but we do know that it takes 2 to tangle.