Its lengthy but worth the read for any one of us who have to deal with
this daily issue..
-----Original Message----- From: [email hidden]
[[email hidden]] Sent: Thursday, 10 June 2004 1:58
PM
<email addresses removed>
Subject: Action - road rage an cyclists
Road rage against cyclists (or at the very least a misunderstanding and
lack of knowledge of the rights of cyclists on roads), is an area of
concern for anyone who rides. Not only for the sake of safety, but also
for the sake of reducing the stress of riding, if all road users were
aware of cyclists, and their status as legitimate road users.
The email below, initiated by Mark Higginbotham of the Victorian Police
Prosecutions Division, identifies an opportunity for any road users, and
in the above context specifically cyclist, to confirm that this is an
important issue, and that some changes and actions are required.
Please read the email below, respond to Sand Cook (Executive officer of
the review), and indicate your opinion on any safety issues related to
cyclist,In particular is the issue of minimum distances that vehicles
should have to adhere to when passing cyclists. Many of you would have
been in a situation of not only being hit, but having the whit's scared
out of you by a vehicle passing too close. These close calls do not
help to encourage cycling, nor make it as pleasant an experience that
it could be.
Please send in any submission OR at the very least forward this email to
AT LEAST 3 other cyclists you know so that they may have the chance to
contribute, and get a few stories off their chests.
Go for it, let the Govt know that it is an issue, and we need some
changes. Cheers,
Paul
Subject: From Mark Higginbotham
There is a parliamentary committee looking into law reform that may
reduce road rage. This is an opportunity to improve the status of
cyclists on Victorian roads. I strongly suggest that you all make a
submission, urgently, to Sandy Cook, Executive Officer of the Drugs and
Crime Prevention Committee. There is a committee meeting being held on
the 21/6 and the discussion paper has already been published.
The agenda of this committee will be more difficult to expand very soon.
Email: [email hidden]
I spoke with her this morning and she has had 5 submissions statewide.
This will suggest to the government that it is a non-issue and nothing
will happen.
In most of the states of the US and in most of the countries of Europe
there are prescribed minimum distances that must exist when a motor
vehicle passes a bicycle.
My experience is that impatient drivers who resent the presence of
bicycles on roads take chances by forcing their way past when there is
insufficient space. Please tap out an email and send it to Sandy. The
committee wants some sense of the measure of the problem of road rage
and also to design strategies to reduce it. At the very least let her
know, should you agree,that cyclists are commonly the victims of road
rage that is an expression of the lack of status given to them by many
motorists.
Forward this to anyone you think has something to add. Mark S
Higginbotham Leading Senior Constable Prosecutions Division Research and
Training Unit Level 2 456 Lonsdale Street Melbourne 3000 Phone 86283280
Fax 96707563
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