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JoeD
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http://www.freepressleader.com.au/article/2006/10/10/5890_fpv_news.html
Vicious cycle on our roads
Emily Andersen
10Oct06
Trent Lowe is back home preparing for the Herald Sun Tour.
CYCLISTS in the Dandenong Ranges are being verbally abused and narrowly
missed by aggressive drivers, a leading cyclist claims.
Mooroolbark's Trent Lowe, who rides professionally for Discovery Channel
overseas, said motorists were becoming more aggressive towards cyclists on
the road.
``I've noticed that every time I come home and ride around the Dandenongs,
Marysville and Warburton area, that the roads are getting more and more
busy,'' Lowe said.
``Drivers here, in comparison to those in Europe, are fairly aggressive.
``It's like they've got no time when they're trying to get past you.
``I'd like to see people slow down.''
Lowe was home last week to prepare for the Herald Sun Tour and was taken
aback by the treatment he received on the road. ``I pulled up at the traffic
lights in Mooroolbark and a car pulled up behind me and the passenger
started abusing me, saying `why don't you take up the whole road'.''
He said it was not uncommon for cars, travelling at speeds of up to 100km/h,
to miss him by inches.
``Cars will be coming in the other direction and overtake another car at
100km/h,'' Lowe said.
``They come within inches of me and they don't realise how dangerous it
is.''
Lowe needed surgery on a broken collarbone after he was hit by a car three
years ago.
Sen-Sgt Doug Berglund, of Belgrave police, pleaded for tolerance between
motorists and cyclists on the road this summer.
``Motorists should plan when to overtake and give the cyclist reasonable
distance,'' Sen-Sgt Berglund said.
Sgt Alan Fincher of Monbulk police said conflict between cyclists and
motorists in the Dandenong Ranges was not uncommon because of the narrow and
winding roads.
Lowe's comments follow a collision between a car and a Rowville cyclist in
Kallista on Friday, September 29.
Vicious cycle on our roads
Emily Andersen
10Oct06
Trent Lowe is back home preparing for the Herald Sun Tour.
CYCLISTS in the Dandenong Ranges are being verbally abused and narrowly
missed by aggressive drivers, a leading cyclist claims.
Mooroolbark's Trent Lowe, who rides professionally for Discovery Channel
overseas, said motorists were becoming more aggressive towards cyclists on
the road.
``I've noticed that every time I come home and ride around the Dandenongs,
Marysville and Warburton area, that the roads are getting more and more
busy,'' Lowe said.
``Drivers here, in comparison to those in Europe, are fairly aggressive.
``It's like they've got no time when they're trying to get past you.
``I'd like to see people slow down.''
Lowe was home last week to prepare for the Herald Sun Tour and was taken
aback by the treatment he received on the road. ``I pulled up at the traffic
lights in Mooroolbark and a car pulled up behind me and the passenger
started abusing me, saying `why don't you take up the whole road'.''
He said it was not uncommon for cars, travelling at speeds of up to 100km/h,
to miss him by inches.
``Cars will be coming in the other direction and overtake another car at
100km/h,'' Lowe said.
``They come within inches of me and they don't realise how dangerous it
is.''
Lowe needed surgery on a broken collarbone after he was hit by a car three
years ago.
Sen-Sgt Doug Berglund, of Belgrave police, pleaded for tolerance between
motorists and cyclists on the road this summer.
``Motorists should plan when to overtake and give the cyclist reasonable
distance,'' Sen-Sgt Berglund said.
Sgt Alan Fincher of Monbulk police said conflict between cyclists and
motorists in the Dandenong Ranges was not uncommon because of the narrow and
winding roads.
Lowe's comments follow a collision between a car and a Rowville cyclist in
Kallista on Friday, September 29.