Its lengthy but worth the read for any one of us who have to deal with this daily issue..
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto
[email protected]]
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 protected]
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
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto
[email protected]]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 protected]
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
