Canberra riders/drivers

Pedestrian crossings seem to be optional (ignorable?) to most Canberra
drivers, and I quickly learned not to expect a car to stop. Apart from
that cycling was nice in Canberra.

"TimC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wow. There are a very large number of cycling commuters at ANU and
surrounds. There even appear to be cycling lawyers. I saw a few
people in the LCA conf rooms with helmets attached to their bags.

A few points to note: Helmets are still compulsory in the ACT, aren't
they? I estimate maybe 30% of riders wore them. And cycling on
footpaths. Very normal. Very fast.
--
TimC -- http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/staff/tconnors/
A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems.

unfortunately i have to go there for work quite a lot..
and yeah, there are a hell of a lot of commuters heading into/out of civic
in the mornings.
i noticed that a lot of the bike lanes were painted too..i think the only
one ive seen like that in melb is along the north end of burnley st for
about 25m near the ikea..

there's also bike rack things every 50m or so in civic, and i noticed last
week that each one had a few bikes locked to it..not junky old mtb's either,
i saw a couple of ocr1's, avanti roadies etc

TimC wrote:
<snip>

Quoted message said:

Oh, and the drivers still suck. I banged on the panel of one van -
turned around a corner at an intersection with a crossing at about 30
or 40km/h. I'm glad I didn't start walking, because they would not
have stopped in time. I reached out and banged on the panel, and it
stopped rather suddenly, backed back, and the driver started abusing
me. I just pointed to the crossing and said "crossing". Not even
yelled. I should have said "you might want to slow down next time",
just to make it more clear, because the driver said "but you weren't
even on it". No der! I'm glad I wasn't! There were about 3 peds on
my side of the road, and 7 on the other. A few wide open eyes, and
one guy who said "what an [censored]!" -- referring to them, not me 🙂

--
TimC -- http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/staff/tconnors/
A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems.

I think that happens everywhere. It happens at Uni of Qld, people speed
around campus at 50km/h (posted limit is 30km/h) and drive straight
through crossings. I've taken to stepping out to mirror distance - as a
pedestrian, if they hit me, I'll probably do okay out of any ensuing
legal battle. (Different situation obviously when I'm cycling.)

Tam

TimC said:

Wow. There are a very large number of cycling commuters at
ANU and surrounds. There even appear to be cycling lawyers.
I saw a few people in the LCA conf rooms with helmets attached
to their bags.

A few points to note: Helmets are still compulsory in the ACT,
aren't they? I estimate maybe 30% of riders wore them.

Compulsory everwhere in Australia. The federal government
forced the issue ages ago, by tying some funding to the passing
of helmet laws.

Quoted message said:

And cycling on footpaths. Very normal. Very fast.

All footpaths are bicycle paths in the ACT. Great isn't it?
The pedestrians tend to be more bicycle-savvy, and problems are
very rare. I did some riding on shared paths in Brisbane in
January, and the pedestrians didn't seem to know how to share.

Quoted message said:

Oh, and the drivers still suck. I banged on the panel of one
van - turned around a corner at an intersection with a
crossing at about 30 or 40km/h. I'm glad I didn't start
walking, because they would not have stopped in time.

Less than 2 weeks ago, I had to call an ambulance for a young
child hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing here in the ACT.
Luckily perhaps, most of the trauma seemed to be emotional.

John

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 at 04:53 GMT, John Henderson (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

TimC said:

And cycling on footpaths. Very normal. Very fast.

All footpaths are bicycle paths in the ACT. Great isn't it?
The pedestrians tend to be more bicycle-savvy, and problems are
very rare. I did some riding on shared paths in Brisbane in
January, and the pedestrians didn't seem to know how to share.

I was watching a cyclist this morning at Epping hugging the curb, and
watched as the masses of cars passed him far too close.

Still, I'm surprised all paths are bike paths.

I wonder what pedestrians think of it?

I was part of a large group all walking to a pub for dinner. We were
walking along a track clearly marked as a bike path, and we were
taking up the entire path. I was *trying* to convince them to stay
left, but it was a lost cause. The bells did nothing to change our
behaviour.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oh, and the drivers still suck. I banged on the panel of one
van - turned around a corner at an intersection with a
crossing at about 30 or 40km/h. I'm glad I didn't start
walking, because they would not have stopped in time.

Less than 2 weeks ago, I had to call an ambulance for a young
child hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing here in the ACT.

🙁

Quoted message said:

Luckily perhaps, most of the trauma seemed to be emotional.

And the driver? Look like they regretted their carelessness?

--
TimC -- http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/staff/tconnors/
Error in operator: add beer

TimC said:

Still, I'm surprised all paths are bike paths.

I wonder what pedestrians think of it?

The other side of the equation is that cyclists are also
pedestrian-aware. I spend about as much time walking as
cycling, and the biggest problem I've had is being startled by
bicycle bells at close range!

Quoted message said:

I was part of a large group all walking to a pub for dinner.
We were walking along a track clearly marked as a bike path,
and we were taking up the entire path. I was *trying* to
convince them to stay left, but it was a lost cause. The
bells did nothing to change our behaviour.

I hope any cyclists were considerate. I try to keep in mind
that most pedestrians are motorists.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Less than 2 weeks ago, I had to call an ambulance for a young
child hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing here in the ACT.

Quoted message said:

And the driver? Look like they regretted their carelessness?

A very distraught, and now much wiser, young woman.

John

Canberra is packed with bike commuters... far more than I think I ever saw
when I was living in Melbourne. In the 'burbs around ANU there's a very
casual attitude to cycling to work and it's almost rare to find a helmet on
those riding in from Turner or O'Conner. For those of us who ride in from
further afield (and there are plenty that happily do a 20 k + each way jaunt
each day) helmets seem to be the norm. I feel incredibly safe since I can
ride the full ~18 k from home to work on sealed bike paths if I wish, or
alternatively use the bike lanes which are now well laid out and are a good
size. There is a stretch of road lane now linking North Canberra to Woden
and it's being extended I think (someone help me on this). I have not yet
(touch wood) had anything like a hairy moment on the bike in traffic...
primarily because I don't have to come in contact with it all that much. In
Melbourne I was fair game and usually had a story for the wife every day
when I arrived home.

--
Bean

Remove "yourfinger" before replying

"TimC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wow. There are a very large number of cycling commuters at ANU and
surrounds. There even appear to be cycling lawyers. I saw a few
people in the LCA conf rooms with helmets attached to their bags.

A few points to note: Helmets are still compulsory in the ACT, aren't
they? I estimate maybe 30% of riders wore them. And cycling on
footpaths. Very normal. Very fast.

Oh, and the drivers still suck. I banged on the panel of one van -
turned around a corner at an intersection with a crossing at about 30
or 40km/h. I'm glad I didn't start walking, because they would not
have stopped in time. I reached out and banged on the panel, and it
stopped rather suddenly, backed back, and the driver started abusing
me. I just pointed to the crossing and said "crossing". Not even
yelled. I should have said "you might want to slow down next time",
just to make it more clear, because the driver said "but you weren't
even on it". No der! I'm glad I wasn't! There were about 3 peds on
my side of the road, and 7 on the other. A few wide open eyes, and
one guy who said "what an [censored]!" -- referring to them, not me 🙂

--
TimC -- http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/staff/tconnors/
A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems.

Oh, and yes, ACT drivers are the worst in the country (IMHO). I could rant
but will leave that for another thread

--
Bean

Remove "yourfinger" before replying

"TimC" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Wow. There are a very large number of cycling commuters at ANU and
surrounds. There even appear to be cycling lawyers. I saw a few
people in the LCA conf rooms with helmets attached to their bags.

A few points to note: Helmets are still compulsory in the ACT, aren't
they? I estimate maybe 30% of riders wore them. And cycling on
footpaths. Very normal. Very fast.

Oh, and the drivers still suck. I banged on the panel of one van -
turned around a corner at an intersection with a crossing at about 30
or 40km/h. I'm glad I didn't start walking, because they would not
have stopped in time. I reached out and banged on the panel, and it
stopped rather suddenly, backed back, and the driver started abusing
me. I just pointed to the crossing and said "crossing". Not even
yelled. I should have said "you might want to slow down next time",
just to make it more clear, because the driver said "but you weren't
even on it". No der! I'm glad I wasn't! There were about 3 peds on
my side of the road, and 7 on the other. A few wide open eyes, and
one guy who said "what an [censored]!" -- referring to them, not me 🙂

--
TimC -- http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/staff/tconnors/
A mathematician is a device for turning coffee into theorems.

Bean Long said:

Oh, and yes, ACT drivers are the worst in the country (IMHO). I

could rant

Quoted message said:

but will leave that for another thread

--
Bean

Cyclists at the ANU do seem to have complete disregard for the need for
a helmet in general. All those brains must protect you in a fall ;-)

And as for ACT drivers...well I admit that as a rule they aren't great
(especially if it rains), but, after a week in Brisbane I can say that
ACT drivers are fantastic...generally drive in only one lane, and don't
drive slow in the outside lane....

Got my MTB back from LBS today after servicing etc...still holding up
after 3 years of regular punishment. Off to Majura Pines for a night
ride - WOO HOO!!

Rob

TimC <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

I just pointed to the crossing and said "crossing". Not even

Quoted message said:

yelled.

If you were riding across then he might not have had to stop. Ped
crossings are for pedestrians and cyclists are required to dismount
before using them (we've all heard this before). I have no idea how this
is supposed to work or how you stand (legally) if hit while riding
across one.

And this assumes that the road rules in Canberra are the some as
elsewhere.

Does anyone actually dismount before using a crossing?

I think this might actually be a hold over from the days before pram
ramps at crossings. If cyclists didn't ride across then we didn't need
to install ramps sort of thing. There is a minor safety issue with the
speed that a cyclist can approach but otherwise there isn't a traffic
reason why they should dismount (And r*nners don't have to walk so this
isn't a real issue). Peds take too much time as it is ;-)

Cheers

BrettM

On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 at 11:19 GMT, BrettM (aka Bruce)
was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea:

Quoted message said:

TimC <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

I just pointed to the crossing and said "crossing". Not even

Quoted message said:

yelled.

If you were riding across then he might not have had to stop.

Nah - walking.

The conference organisers hired about 20 bikes on the last day, which
was the only riding I did for the entire week. My poor legs were
sooking all week at the inactivity, but I did manage to go to the gym
ontop of the accomodation a couple of times.

--
TimC -- http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/staff/tconnors/
Linux isn't hard. What does this do?
cat /dev/dsp > /dev/hda & killall -9 getty X
Records the sound of "Oh, fsck" on your harddrive. Obviously.

"RobWoozle" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

And as for ACT drivers...well I admit that as a rule they aren't great
(especially if it rains), but, after a week in Brisbane I can say that
ACT drivers are fantastic...generally drive in only one lane, and don't
drive slow in the outside lane....

<rant>Sorry... but I can't agree. Under no circumstances would I ever say
that ACT drivers are "fantastic". They tend to drive right up your [censored] no
matter what the weather, generally pick which ever lane they like
(apparently the right lane of a two lane freeway is fair game even if
there's no other traffic about) and they are generally arrogant and a right
pain in the bum... and I sorely admit that I have an ACT driver's
license!<\rant>
--
Bean

Remove "yourfinger" before replying

Bean Long said:

"RobWoozle" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

And as for ACT drivers...well I admit that as a rule they aren't great
(especially if it rains), but, after a week in Brisbane I can say that
ACT drivers are fantastic...generally drive in only one lane, and don't
drive slow in the outside lane....

<rant>Sorry... but I can't agree. Under no circumstances would I ever say
that ACT drivers are "fantastic". They tend to drive right up your [censored] no
matter what the weather, generally pick which ever lane they like
(apparently the right lane of a two lane freeway is fair game even if
there's no other traffic about) and they are generally arrogant and a right
pain in the bum... and I sorely admit that I have an ACT driver's
license!<\rant>
--
Bean

Ever ridden in Brisbane, Bean?

Tam

No Tam... ever ridden or driven in Canberra?!

--
Bean

Quoted message said:

Ever ridden in Brisbane, Bean?

Tam

Bean Long said:

Quoted message said:

Ever ridden in Brisbane, Bean?

Tam

Quoted message said:

No Tam... ever ridden or driven in Canberra?!

--
Bean

No, I've observed traffic there a lot though, as a pedestrian or
passenger. RobWoozle said that in comparison to Brisbane, ACT drivers
were fantastic. So if you say that's not true, then you might want to
really avoid cycling in Brisbane, because here it's f'ing appalling. Hey
been cycling in Perth? People in Perth are so chill, it's awesome!
Pedestrians can just walk out onto the road without looking, and know
that locals will stop. Too bad if Sydney drivers are visiting though.

Tam

As far as riding goes, Canberra is actually quite good (see my earlier
post). However, get in your car and have a drive around Canberra and you
take your life into your own hands!! :-}

--
Bean

Remove "yourfinger" before replying
"Tamyka Bell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Bean Long said:

Quoted message said:

Ever ridden in Brisbane, Bean?

Tam

Quoted message said:

No Tam... ever ridden or driven in Canberra?!

--
Bean

No, I've observed traffic there a lot though, as a pedestrian or
passenger. RobWoozle said that in comparison to Brisbane, ACT drivers
were fantastic. So if you say that's not true, then you might want to
really avoid cycling in Brisbane, because here it's f'ing appalling. Hey
been cycling in Perth? People in Perth are so chill, it's awesome!
Pedestrians can just walk out onto the road without looking, and know
that locals will stop. Too bad if Sydney drivers are visiting though.

Tam

Drivers in Perth are diabolical, no wonder cycle paths are so popular
here

I was one of the people in the LCA conference rooms with a helmet attached to my bag.

I enjoy cycling in Canberra. It doesn't take long to get out onto a quiet country road, there's a very active mountain biking scene, there's lots of infrastructure for cycling around town and it hardly ever rains.

I'm not one to generalise about drivers based on their location. I have been hit three times in the three years that I've lived here though. Each time by cars not giving way. What I can say about Canberra drivers is that there are at least three who either don't look or don't care.

Brisbane drivers are incompetent but Canberra drivers are the absolute pits. We have cycled around a there a couple of times when we have been down for the Floriade and have found Canberra drivers the rudest and most agressive a****holes that we have experienced.
The atitude is, and this is one of the reasons that I hate bicycle paths, YOU SHOULD BE ON THE F*****N BIKE PATH. How dare you be on the road.
When you don't kbow the way around a city and you don't wont to ride on unlit bike paths at night, the road is the best option. Each time we have been there we have had a few louts screaming at us to get off the road.
Leaning out of the car, stuff thrown at us and abused.
I used to think that Sydney was the worst place in the world to cycle (after Naples but thats another story) but Canberra beats it had down.
Rant over

Feeling sorry for Canberra cyclists

Geoff