[POLL] Cyclists Basically Never Yielding at Stop Sign on Stanley St, Woolloongabba, QLD - Is There Anything I Can Do?

So here's the jist - I'm not trying to stir up any heated discussions over cyclists using the road.

There's just a frustrating interaction I have with many cyclists 3 or so times a week on my commute to work in the morning. Here's the location the cyclists come from: Little Stanley Street (I'm usually on the inside lane, if you read further, images included)

Clearly the cyclist lane goes up to, and through, the Stop signage. Cyclists just blaze through this with wanton neglect - I have only seen a handful of cyclists stop at this sign, and I've been driving this route for about a year now, Monday to Friday.

In this image you can see my route in the lane with a red arrow, as I drive further along the lane and then turn left onto the motorway or you can see where on Google maps

Edited here for clarity: The issue being when they don't stop at this sign they are often over-taking traffic that is going slower, and then are riding along the cyclist lane and it inhibits drivers turning onto the motorway as they merge, because the vehicle is going slower, thus cutting off the cyclist, technically. If the cyclist/s had stopped at the Stop sign, vehicles driving past and turning into the exit lane would already be on their way up the ramp before the cyclist got into the cyclist lane. This is amplified when there is a file of cyclists along this route not stopping at the sign, which is common.

The point of the Stop sign is to filter traffic and bikes onto the road in a timely manner and to space them apart - that's why it's there.

This flagrant disregard for obeying traffic laws is really twisting my knickers, because I see it a handful of times a week. It's like they don't think this stop sign applies to them!

What do the Bargain of Oz users think?

Poll Options expired

  • 23
    Nothing you can do, but I agree - what a pain
  • 106
    Nothing you can do, get over it
  • 6
    Bikies (not bicyclists)
  • 128
    Post a strongly worded paragraph straight to QLD Police's Facebook page

Comments

    • +3

      I think the point is they aren't being safe.

    • +4

      If they are being safe and not endangering anyone

      Running a stop sign is not safe. They exist for a reason. Forcing drivers to drive behind and then inevitably have to overtake them 50m down the road is also not safe.

      Perhaps we need to change the law?

      We don't - the law already applies to cyclists that they need to stop at stop signs.

      • Forcing drivers to drive behind and then inevitably have to overtake them 50m down the road is also not safe.

        Why? I don't get why this impacts the drivers. No drivers are going to be crossing the bike lane there as it's a bus stop. The bike lane is still to the left of the regular traffic lane.

        • +1

          From OP:

          and it inhibits drivers turning onto the motorway as they merge

          I mean, if drivers could do that without caring about cyclists getting injured, sure. Except if they did, it'd be their fault.

        • +1

          @HighAndDry: I also don't get OP's comment. From the streetview links I can't see how it impacts drivers an entire block away

        • @brazen00: I was purely showing where the stop sign is, I will try to clear up the OP

    • Because they are breaking the road rules, hence why they should be forced to pay for registration.

  • +11

    I don't understand why something so trivial causes seemingly normal people to get so upset because their drive is impeded for a few seconds? Do you have the same reaction when you see a car not come to a complete stop at a stop sign?

      • +2

        By law, a bicycle is a vehicle, and it is allowed to fully occupy a lane of traffic. ref

        I mean, if we didn't have stupid minimum distance from cyclist rules, I wouldn't mind - breeze past and if they get a shock that's on them.

        If the minimum passing distance law did not exist, by doing the above you would be breaking the law by overtaking a vehicle without changing to the next lane to the right.

        • By law, a bicycle is a vehicle

          And so should be expected to obey road rules and signage like stop signs too, right?

          If the minimum passing distance law did not exist, by doing the above you would be breaking the law by overtaking a vehicle without changing to the next lane to the right.

          That's not true - in many smaller roads, you can have two actual lanes of traffic without any lane markings, so long as there's space. In the case of a cyclist, the argument would be the same - there's effectively sufficient space for there to be two lanes of traffic.

        • +4

          @HighAndDry:

          By law, a bicycle is a vehicle

          And so should be expected to obey road rules and signage like stop signs too, right?

          Everyone needs to obey the law; there's no argument there!

          Someone else breaking the law is not an excuse for you to break the law, nor is it a good idea to hold a grudge against all cyclists because some of them do it.

          That's not true - in many smaller roads, you can have two actual lanes of traffic without any lane markings, so long as there's space. In the case of a cyclist, the argument would be the same - there's effectively sufficient space for there to be two lanes of traffic.

          I was referring to marked roads when I made my comment.
          In smaller roads with no lane markings, you usually use common sense when passing a stopped/parked car. This shouldn't be any different to passing a cyclist.
          The only problem was that in the case of bicycles there wasn't a clear definition of how much space was "sufficient space".

          I both drive and cycle, and see both sides of the story. Almost every time I cycle there's a car which ignores a stop sign or a give way sign and cut across my path (esp. at roundabouts). I also see cyclists doing similar things, however, 95% of the time that would just inconvenience someone rather than cause real danger.
          I've cycled in more than 15 countries. From my experience so far Sydney motorists have the most toxic attitude towards cyclists, dunno where we went wrong.

          Also, most laws come into play because some Johnathan in the past did not use common sense at some point.

        • @FirstWizard:

          Everyone needs to obey the law; there's no argument there!

          Someone else breaking the law is not an excuse for you to break the law, nor is it a good idea to hold a grudge against all cyclists because some of them do it.

          But OP isn't breaking the law or holding a grudge against all cyclists. In the OP especially, he always refers to only the cyclists who run the stop sign.

          In smaller roads with no lane markings, you usually use common sense when passing a stopped/parked car. This shouldn't be any different to passing a cyclist.

          Except it is - there's a minimum distance required to pass a cyclist that doesn't apply to any other vehicle.

          From my experience so far Sydney motorists have the most toxic attitude towards cyclists, dunno where we went wrong.

          Probably lack of dedicated cycling infrastructure. Cyclists and cars don't really mix well. One frequently goes 20-50km/h faster than the other. The speed difference itself is already dangerous (imagine a car on a road going 20-25km/h only, even on major roads), and then on top of that, it means one has to pass the other, or one is always holding up the other. Bound to cause friction.

        • @HighAndDry:

          I mean, if we didn't have stupid minimum distance from cyclist rules, I wouldn't mind - breeze past and if they get a shock that's on them.

          Cleary, the intention here is cause stress to someone else!? You can't point a gun at someone and say "if they get a shock that's on them."

          Except it is - there's a minimum distance required to pass a cyclist that doesn't apply to any other vehicle.

          I can list down few reasons why having a minimum distance is a good idea,
          * Unlike bikes, all other vehicles usually have a rigid body and the passing vehicle driver can easily gauge what a safe distance is.
          * most vehicles don't swerve much while moving forward due to the higher inertia.
          * the higher area to mass ratio makes cyclists more susceptible to drag forces caused by close fast-moving vehicles (due to the Bernoulli principle). Also one of the reasons why the safe distance of 1m becomes 1.5m when moving faster than 60km/h.
          * prevents motorist from accidentally underestimating the required "sufficient distance" to pass. This happens in multi-lane roads where the motorists try to pass cyclists without crossing over to the right lane as it's an inconvenience to do so.

          On the plus side, we can now legally overtake a cyclist on a multilane road without completely changing to the next lane.

          Probably lack of dedicated cycling infrastructure. Cyclists and cars don't really mix well. One frequently goes 20-50km/h faster than the other. The speed difference itself is already dangerous (imagine a car on a road going 20-25km/h only, even on major roads), and then on top of that, it means one has to pass the other, or one is always holding up the other. Bound to cause friction.

          Totally agree with this point. The government needs to spend more money on sustainable modes of travel.

  • Beep them when they pass.

    Alternatively, if you run over enough of them the rest should catch on. (that's a joke - please obey all road rules and regulations and refrain from deliberately injuring others, no matter how deserved.)

    • Is the last bit your public service announcement. :)

      • Hahaha, it's my "I'm not actually evil and wishing injuries to people, not too seriously anyway" disclaimer. Also so I don't get sued and can have a clean(er) conscience (in that order of priority…).

        Nah, I have friends who're cyclists and I ride with them fairly regularly (once every few weeks) so I get it's a small number of cyclists ruining it for the rest of them. But I also empathize with drivers because I also drive (and also work in the city) and the number of cyclists who basically refuse to even entertain any concept of road rules is really reaaally high.

  • +3

    My main beef with some bike riders is they tear down the bike lanes/shared paths without any consideration for their own safety or that of others. If someone steps out onto the road, or if a car drifts into their lane, then they can't stop in time. If it is a car then they will be worse off if it is a child then the kids in trouble. All I ask is that people, ride/drive/walk/run defensively and not assume they have right of way anywhere. The most important road "rule" is that you should travel in a manner where it is safe to stop.

    • +4

      My main beef with some car drivers is they tear down the roads without any consideration for their own safety or that of others. If someone steps out onto the road, or if someone drifts into their lane, then they can't stop in time. If it is another car they will be in an accident and if it is a child then they will kill someone. All I ask is that people ride/drive/walk/run defensively and not assume they have right of way anywhere. The most important road "rule" is that you should travel in a manner where it is safe to stop.

      • +4

        Yeah nice try. If car drivers are tearing down roads without consideration for their own safety or others they have a thing called a license plate which can can be used to identify the perpetrator by law enforcement and/or a member of public. How do we identify the cyclists?

      • +1

        So you cut and pasted exactly what I said. Sounds like we are in agreement.

        • +2

          Not exactly; do a closer comparison

        • +4

          @GG57: You mean where he dissed car drivers instead of bike riders. My main point is we all need to be responsible in how we travel. Nice try though.

      • The problem is this - between a cyclist and a driver, if there's ever a serious accident it'll always be the cyclist getting more injured and getting sympathy, and the driver having to pay the bulk of the costs (because in most such accidents there'll be a proportional distribution of liability that's almost never 100% either side - and the driver will be out of pocket because the cyclists costs/damages will be far higher).

        As an example:

        Cyclist has medical and other costs of $8,000 for hospital stay, etc.
        Driver has costs of $800 for some scratches in the bumper.

        Even if it's a 50/50 liability scenario, the total damage is $8,800 and the Driver will have to pay $4,400 - $800 for their own, and $3,600 to the cyclist.

        • +2

          and in an accident with a bicyclist and a child I'm going to have WAY more sympathy for the child. As I indicated I want everyone to be responsible for their actions. As a pedestrian I have more issues with stupid bicyclists because they are incredibly unpredictable. Generally, with a car I can guage the traffic to determine when they are stopping or not; however, a number of bicyclists decide the road rules don't apply to them and go through red lights, race down the footpath, ride down the middle between lanes, etc. You get them onto the shared paths and they think they own it. You don't want to end up in hospital then ride like you are vulnerable. Don't think you can speed down the bikelane because the cars have stopped; be aware that someone might do something stupid in front of you and be prepared to stop. As a pedestrian I know I'm vulnerable so I'm always looking around me, even if I know I'm in the right to cross because I know I'm at the bottom of the food chain when it comes to being injured. Not all bicyclists are stupid and the ones that are make is harder for the responsible ones.

        • @try2bhelpful: Yeah. Not that I've ever been in this position, but it's like being that kid in primary school who's bigger than everyone else, and so even if other kids can get in your face and be more 'aggro', you have to always be more restrained and more careful, because if anything gets out of hand - the other smaller kids will likely be hurt more and get more sympathy, even if "they started it". That's basically the driver in this situation re cyclists, just with much more serious potential consequences.

          Also YES! The hypocrisy of some cyclists who demand to be treated with silk gloves when they're sharing the road, but absolutely rip down sidewalks with no regard for pedestrians…. again I work in the city - it happens way too much.

        • +1

          @HighAndDry: Yeah, that was basically my point. It sucks, but it is no point being in the right when you are the one on the road being attended by the ambulance. I do sympathise with cyclists, in general, and feel for the ones who get injured - if you want to see something scary watch "24 hours in ER". My beef is really with the ones who have a chip on their shoulders and think "sod everyone else" then, again, I also have that beef with similar car drivers, pedestrians and, frankly, the world in general :) Safe cycling dude.

        • -1

          Did you calculate the actual injury to the cyclist, lost wages, lost mobility, permanent scars Etc? Did you calculate that? Lets make it a 50/50 liability and let me break the other guys legs to make it fair next time they decide to tbone me on a bike lane.

          What a stupid comment.

        • @BumbaT: Yes, I did. That was the entire point of the comment. In my view, if two people are 50/50 responsible for an accident, they both cover their own side of costs.

          Except here, if one side has $50k in damages from an accident that they're 99% responsible for, the other side still has to pay them $500. That, to me, is not fairness.

  • +10

    I don't get your issue, OP. How does the cyclist stopping or not stopping there impact traffic a block down the road? The cyclists won't have to give way to any traffic there except buses entering the stop. By the time you get to your exit, even stopped cyclists would have sped up again to be faster than the cars (if that's what's currently happening).

    What am I not understanding here?

    • +1

      I've tried to clear it up a little bit by editing the op to include:

      Edited here for clarity: The issue being when they don't stop at this sign they are often over-taking traffic that is going slower, and then are riding along the cyclist lane and it inhibits drivers turning onto the motorway as they merge, because the vehicle is going slower, thus cutting off the cyclist, technically. If the cyclist/s had stopped at the Stop sign, vehicles driving past and turning into the exit lane would already be on their way up the ramp before the cyclist got into the cyclist lane. This is amplified when there is a file of cyclists along this route not stopping at the sign, which is common.

      The point of the Stop sign is to filter traffic and bikes onto the road in a timely manner and to space them apart - that's why it's there.

      Not sure if that changes anything for you. I'm sure an OzBargainers who use that particular turn in the mornings would agree with me - it's difficult to relay the situation. If I could animate the situation, I would.

      • +8

        The stop sign doesn’t do anything to impact the motorway entry. There is an island at the end of the next sectoin so cars will not enter at that point. By the time you can take the left turn the cyclists would be up to speed anyway.

      • +4

        But the cyclist would not have to give way to any cars. They'd stop, and could pull alongside a car, since they're not going into the regular lane. They would still be passing cars along the way. I just don't get how them stopping would make it better for you.

        • Whilst you have a point, I think you're missing the bigger issue of the cyclists not stopping at the stop sign.

          Irregardless of any impact that is having, it's the law.

        • +2

          @Chandler: I totally get that. But that’s not the OPs point. OP is trying to say that they are impacted, but I just don’t see that.

        • +1

          @brazen00: agreed.

      • -2

        it inhibits drivers turning onto the motorway as they merge, because the vehicle is going slower, thus cutting off the cyclist, technically

        Technically, there is no law against "cutting off".

        If you indicate for 5 seconds and gradually move across, I'm pretty sure the cyclists will manage to avoid you.

    • -1

      OP doesn't want to share the road with cyclists because motor vehicles are more entitled to use the road?

      • Christ, get off your high horse - this post is about cyclists running a stop sign repeatedly. Other than that, I have nothing against cyclists.

  • +4

    How often do you see drivers do the wrong thing? Have you posted that on ozbargain as well?

    • +2

      I'd be on ozbargain all day.

      Oh wait.

  • This thread is going to fly off the handle.

  • +3

    Hey OP,
    Not sure if this helps but I believe there is something planned to have a bike way along Stanley St.

    I also see the same thing happen every morning. (profanity) your life if you're stuck behind them when there is traffic along side you, you can't overtake and you have to wait until they (profanity) off.

    • lol they're closing off the exit in question because of that bikeway!

  • The problem with cyclist rage in the Western World boils down to one thing - cyclists believing they are equal to every other vehicle on the road but don't want to share equal responsibility. There are many examples of cars and bikes getting along peacefully for example in parts of Asia where bikes often outnumber cars on roads. How do they get along? By following the simple rule of size. Pedestrians need to give way to bikes who need to give way to cars who need to give way to buses/trucks and so forth. But ofcourse, entitled cyclists in the Western World value "equality" and self righteousness over rational thinking and their own safety

    • +2

      Learn the road code mate.
      It clearly informs you of your "equality" as regards your "might is right" way of thinking.

    • +1

      I edited this for you.

      The problem with road rage in the Western World boils down to one thing - car drivers believing they are more entitled than every other vehicle on the road but don't want to share equal responsibility. There are many examples of cars and trucks getting along peacefully for example in parts of Australia where Trucks often outnumber cars on roads. How do they get along? By following the simple rule of size. Pedestrians need to give way to bikes who need to give way to cars who need to give way to buses/trucks and so forth. But of course, entitled car drivers in the Western World value equality, "i pay rego therefore I own the road" and self righteousness over rational thinking and their own safety.

    • +1

      I guess you havent been to Asia then… its the other way around.. the bigger vehicles give way to everyone else… they do that, and they accept it… they dont go into a rage like Western drivers do.

  • +2

    Why can't we all just get along?

  • +6

    So aside from the cyclists breaking the law, what is the actual issue ? If I walked around getting in a tizz everytime I saw someone breaking the law I would get in a real tizz !

    Here is 5 seconds of googling to make you feel better about your life

    https://theconversation.com/seeing-red-why-cyclists-ride-thr…

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho_stop

    Yes I understand it is illegal. Yes you have a perfectly valid point. Yes there are many reasons while a cyclist would run a stop sign and No its not because they are aunts and hate society, altho that is applicable to some.

    That is a pretty awkward spot for a cyclist to stop in peak hour or if you have a car/truck/bus up your patootie.

    Inform the police if its a real concern they love fining cyclists, get a couple without a bell etc, you know the real big issues. They used to have a favourite spot at the bottom of a hill at herston, after much complaining and nashing of teeth it is now a giveway as it was deemed dangerous for a cyclist to stop and then proceed across two lanes. A couple of police blitzes here would probably result in the same action, or what they should do is create a slip lane for cyclists to proceed and not get cleaned up by a bus.

    Or as has been mentioned, calm down, relax, breathe forget about it and enjoy your day.

  • +1

    If you are in front of the cyclist and indicate your intention to turn left onto the freeway the cyclist must give way to you as they are not allowed to overtake a left turning vehicle…. "Keeping left and overtaking When you ride, you must:" "not overtake another vehicle on the left if that vehicle is indicating and turning left" https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-device…

    • +3

      If those cyclists followed road rules, we wouldn't be in this thread to begin with…

      • True, but OP's scenario is not actually adversely affected by the cyclists running the stop sign. S/he seems to think that the "stream" of cyclists each stopping for a millisecond would make their merge 200m further down the traffic jam easier somehow.

        If they followed the rules OP may well have posted a "nasty icky cyclists why they gets special lanes I hates thems" post ;)

        • the "stream" of cyclists each stopping for a millisecond would make their merge 200m further down the traffic jam easier somehow.

          Depends how long the car ends up waiting at the stop sign. But blowing through one vs coming to a stop, waiting, then going is at least a hundred meters or so, even for a slow cyclist.

        • +4

          @HighAndDry: But OP isn't stopping. They're coming down the main road, and the cyclists are moving faster than the main road traffic. So if the cyclist stops, it just shifts which car of the traffic jam they impede, statistically it doesn't change a damn thing to OP. Same result as if OP had left home 4 seconds later that day…

          I mean, I agree, they should stop. But it's orthogonal to OP's complaint about being unable to change lanes.

        • @abb:

          They're coming down the main road, and the cyclists are moving faster than the main road traffic.

          Wait, why are the cyclists faster than the cars on the main road?

          I get what you're saying that it really shifts it a few seconds either side, but if they were supposed to be there, you can't complain. But to be held up when they shouldn't have been there in the first place and are only there because they ran a stop sign? I can see why that'd be more galling.

        • @HighAndDry:

          Wait, why are the cyclists faster than the cars on the main road?

          I guess you don't live in a big city ;)

          I can see why that'd be more galling.

          For sure.

    • That's a fair point - I don't like to cut bicyclists off, though. But you're right.

    • +2

      If you are in front of the cyclist and indicate your intention to turn left onto the freeway the cyclist must give way to you as they are not allowed to overtake a left turning vehicle…. "Keeping left and overtaking When you ride, you must:" "not overtake another vehicle on the left if that vehicle is indicating and turning left" https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-device…

      Well not quite true for the particular scenario the OP has shown.

      OP has to change lanes before making the left turn. Any vehicle changing lanes MUST give way to other vehicles already on the lane they're changing into, bicycle or not.
      Furthermore, OP is changing lines across a marked cycle lane, on which cyclists have right of way.

    • Taxi (Victoria) did just that to me years ago in a single left hand turning lane turning onto Nepean Highway … and got away with it in court after he hit my door. He claimed his car was stationary which was total BS! I think he assumed I was turning into a middle or right lane not the left, but it was his fault … overtaking on the left. Even produced a fake witness he had never met before, even though they both worked for the same taxi company .. go figure!

      Rule of the day is not to allow enough room on your left in those lanes so someone cannot try that on you.

  • +9

    I think that is a poorly marked intersection for the cyclists. The continuous green bike lane crosses the area that buses would use to access the bus stop. But to a cyclist it looks like they have the right of way along that section because it is unbroken.

    Cyclists are clearly used to riding straight past the stop sign without stopping, which could result in a bad accident if they don't realise a bus is coming through at the same time.

    I think it would be much better for the green bike lane on the feeder road to end at the stop sign/line, and recommence at the point where it is not in the path of the buses. The broken lines could remain to indicate the safest path between the two sections of bike lane. This would change the perception that cyclists have of that section, making it clear that they do not have right of way and must stop and wait.

    This is a perfect example of how civil engineers need to pay really close attention to how road markings will be perceived by road users.

  • Hopefully you provided your feedback to council when they sought community feedback before finalising plans for the Woolloongabba Bikeway Project

    In any case, you need not worry because when the Bikeway is implemented they will be closing off your left turn onto the Southeast Freeway from Stanley Street.

    Problem solved!

    • I honestly had no idea about the bikeway project - I've provided the feedback now, but too little, too late!

    • Closing the left hand turn to the freeway was rejected by the state government earlier this month. See Councillor Sri's facebook page for a summary of the lobbying that has been taking place both for an against.

      • Really? The Council feedback page says it's still being closed. Hmm.

  • contact the bicycle network

    https://cam.bicyclenetwork.com.au/contact/
    select issue/complaint attach images/video and they will take it up for you.

    • Fidget Spinner as a logo

    • +7

      I currently drive to work every day and cycle on weekends. Your stupid post has inspired me and I'll be riding to work over summer! I wont pay rego, wont display number plates and guess what, I took the bell and reflectors off my bike too (I'm quite the rebel).

      • you don't sound too inspired if you can't handle riding in the winter.

        • Oh I ride through winter OK. I have a whole wardrobe full of winter lycra for the large 2 abreast group rides I do with all my cycling mates. 150 km or so per weekend. I'll just add the weekday element on city streets when the weather's nice.

    • +2

      I'd like to see cyclists pay registration and display registration so motorists can complain about their cycling. Police need to crack down on them too.

      lol, maybe after they crack down on the idiots in 2T metal boxes driving like (profanity)…

      Have you ever called in a complaint about a bad driver and reported their plate? How did it turn out?

    • +2

      I'd like to see cyclists pay registration and display registration so motorists can complain about their cycling

      I don't understand this argument. Let me ask you and anyone in favour of this - do you report registered motor vehicles to the police every time you spot one driving unlawfully on the road?

      I'm not excusing poor behaviour by either cyclists or drivers, but just don't follow how registration will somehow make cyclists more compliant on the road in the manner that you have suggested.

      Disclaimer: I'm a road cyclist and (registered) owner/driver of multiple motor vehicles

      • Great question.

        Where's all the clowns now? The ones who reckon rego on bikes will make all the difference?

        Dont Care, tell us how you go complaining to cops about all the law breaking licence plated drivers.

  • This is why the Gabba bikeway project is key to eliminate this dangerous slip lane…
    The slip lane will be permanently closed and replaced with a signalled left turn to the motorway..
    This is an important bikeway connection from eastern suburb to the CBD.

  • +2

    I just dont get it… Why wasnt this done in microsoft paint????

  • +2

    Buy a bike and ride to work. When you get to that particular intersection stop in the exact spot that other cyclists blast through and wait patiently for the lights to change. The serial light jumpers might run up the back of you so leave the Colnago at home. Not all but some cyclists would probably take notice of another cyclist stopped obeying the rules, particularly if they cant get past. If it doesnt work you get some free exercise and fresh air!

  • For all those with irrational hatred of cyclists, this piece from today should give you a but of perspective: http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-25/road-rage-cycling-c…

    • It is hard to feel really sorry for someone who did something dangerous, knowing it was dangerous, and ended up hurt. I mean if someone likes to base jump and one day their parachute fails to open, it's sad, but you can hardly get angry at the ground. They knew what they were getting into. If they didn't, there should be a licensing system for being allowed on the road where they have to do a test like the Ls test for drivers - showing they know the road rules and educating them about the dangers. If they don't want to do the test and get a license they can stick to bike paths.

      • +1

        Almost every adult bike rider has a drivers licence, we just choose to ride a bike. If cycling was as dangerous as base jumping it would be incredibly sad. How do you feel about Motorcyclists, people playing weekend sport, Home Handymen. All of these folks get injured and occasionally killed.

        • I ride a motorcycle, and I know that my life is in my hands - I obey the road rules and I assume everyone else is a moron and might not follow the rules. My safety is in my hands. I don't go around getting in people's way and then complaining loudly when I get hurt. If I get hurt, it is my own fault. For example, the year before last I was travelling down a highway at about 90 and only had around 3 car lengths between me and the car on front. When it slammed on its brakes, I went for a slide. Broke my wrist. Did I blame the car? No, it was my fault for not having more distance between me and the car in front. You can't predict what cars are going to do. Cyclists should have the same attitude as motorcyclists, we are trained in this thinking during our Ls course. You don't learn how to ride as a vulnerable road user when learning to drive. Having a driver's license means absolutely nothing when it comes to riding. Road cyclists seem to have this attitude that everyone else has to cater to them, that they don't have to follow any road rules unless it suits them, and their life is everyone's responsibility except their own. I am a cyclist too, I usually ride to work 2-3 days a week, except I value my own life and stay on bike paths. It is a little slower, but my life is worth more to me than ten minutes travel saving. I am not going to risk my life hoping that everyone else is going to do the exact right thing. Not doing so is just suicidal or thrill-seeking.

        • @Quantumcat: Just to add to this. The attitude I'm talking about is a bit similar to someone complaining about how terrible people are when their car is broken into and their handbag or iPhone stolen, when they had left it in a busy place for a long time with said handbag or iPhone on the passenger seat in plain view. Yes, it's awful that criminals exist, but you have to take some responsibility for what happens if you fail to take obvious precautions. Criminals are going to exist forever and there's nothing you can do about it. Complaining will do nothing, harsher punishments for convicted thieves will do nothing. But you can do something to prevent it happening to you - just hide your valuable stuff. Easy. What does this have to do with cycling? Simple - stupid car drivers are going to exist, no matter what rules you put in place. Some people just don't like following rules, others are too stupid to, or just ignorant of what they are. Complaining about people not following rules when you get hit isn't going to turn back time and stop you being injured. The only thing you can do, is assume car drivers are all morons and ride accordingly! Riding two abreast and drifting over the shoulder lane line into the paths of cars, trusting they'll give you enough room because you have the right to ride two abreast is stupid. Riding on narrow, windy country lanes where cars are travelling at 80 and can't see you around a bend or over a rise in time to slow down, move more to the right and avoid running you over is stupid. Seeing that a car hasn't noticed you and still riding through a turning lane instead of stopping and waiting for the car to turn, just because the car is supposed to give way to you, is stupid. Riding on roads with no shoulders and trusting cars to see you and give you enough room is stupid. Is it worth being killed just to be able to say, "well I was right and the driver didn't follow the road rules!"? As a pedestrian, if you're at a zebra crossing and you see a driver barrelling towards you going much higher than the speed limit, would you step onto the crossing? If he doesn't slam on his brakes or if he does but can't stop in time, your corpse will get to say "Ha! I was in the right and the driver was in the wrong!" But what good will it do you when you're dead? This is what many road cyclists do on a daily basis. So, when I read about yet another cycling crash, unless it is an unusual circumstance like the cyclist being unlucky enough to be near a car crash when it happened so they get caught up in it, or a car doing something very unusual like suddenly veering right into a cycle lane or someone's dog getting loose and running in the path of the cyclist, I just think, well, they did a dangerous activity hopefully knowing the risks involved, and sadly, those risks came true today for them. Could they have prevented it by taking more precautions? Who knows if you weren't there, but usually, yes.

        • +3

          @Quantumcat: What you are doing is seeing some cyclists that are breaking the law and projecting that 'all' cyclists follow their lead as if we are all some kind of unified collective. Once you have internally defined this stereotype you then start associating bigoted generalizations to us. You see the efforts of safety campaigners trying to save lives as some kind of avoidance of responsibility on the behalf of the vague stereotype you call 'cyclists'. Here is some news for you, @rseholes exist in all walks of life. There are undoubtedly stupid morons on bikes. There are undoubtedly idiots that make wreckless decisions and expect the rest of us to bail them out, no argument from me that these idiots exist however projecting that 'cyclists' in general all conform to this stereotype is ridiculous. You've given an example of a crash that personally injured you, I could give 10 examples of cycling crashes I've either been involved in or close to. Few of the examples prove any kind of pervasive generalisation. I have seen idiots on motorbikes taking insane risks, even been present at the aftermath of a few that came undone as a result (unfortunately). I dont think all motorcyclists are hooning arrogant risk taking idiots, my brother loves his motorbikes and as far as i know is very responsible. I'm able to make the distinction between the moron doing 200 km/hr weaving in and out of cars on the Monash Fwy and my Brother taking his vintage motorbike for a Sunday Spin through the hills.

          I have a full drivers licence but i also ride a bike. When i was in the Army i completed the Queensland Police Driver defensive training course at Mt Cotton. I've driven everything from articulated trucks to Tanks (yes the large armoured things with a turret on the roof). I'm not sure what other training I could possibly have to safely ride my bike on the roads. In the group of guys that I regularly ride with there are several professional truck and delivery drivers, people that drive for a living but ride bikes on the weekend. There are plenty of guys that ride motorbikes as well as bicycles, even a former professional motorbike racer and a former world-class motorcross rider. None of us fit your stereotype but you would see us in lycra at the side of the road and attach your stated judgement and values.

        • @2ndeffort: I wish it were the case that I only see some cyclists breaking the law. The reality for me (and this is not just a lie for sake of argument), is that MOST cyclists I see on the roads are breaking the law ranging from minor offences to more serious ones endangering others but mostly themselves. I daresay that most cyclists on the road are not fully aware of their legal obligations when sharing a road with cars. I am not just talking about the lycra clad tour de france wannabe types, but also the average rider who use their bikes occasionally to get to shops or get some exercise. Like it or not they still must adhere to the law especially when riding in traffic. Could be because bike laws are relatively new? Could be because cyclists don't need to pass a series of tests to obtain a license like cars? Or perhaps there is still a blurred line between cycling being a leisurely activity vs a serious mode of transport? Like it or not if cyclists want to share the road equally with drivers then they need to be equally trained, regulated, licensed, safety checked, and enforced by authorities. I still remember the uproar from cyclists when they made helmets mandatory lol. So bizarre as the law only benefits cyclists safety and nobody else.

        • +2

          @bobolo: I reckon I see more cyclists than you given that I am a cyclist, I ride with other cyclists and I ride thousands of Kms every year. Almost all of the cyclists I ride with follow the law to a 'T'. I am one of the dreaded 'Lycra Types', the TDF Wannabes, the group everybody loves to poke fun at based on our clothes. I have an expensive carbon fibre bike and I love hanging out sweaty with all my cycling mates at coffee shops. I am the stereotype. Almost everyone I know follows the law. We ride in pairs but in a group, if we have cars behind the guy at the back calls out 'Cars Back' and we all 'single up' to let the car past. We are all drivers, as I mentioned above, some of the guys drive for a living. None of us are inner city 'commuters', we dont ride around inner city roads during peak hour but we are out in force in windy country roads on the weekend or off raising money on charity bike rides. None of us are intentionally breaking any laws but we get the abuse all the same.

          I've been run off the road, had full beercans thrown at me from open windows, we have P platers playing 'chicken' with us doing close passes at 100 km/hr etc. One guy held us all up while he did burnouts on the road ahead screaming something about 'Lycra' and 'faggots' out the window of his car. I had a tradie showing off to his apprentice match speed with me on a country road then get almost touch close to me so that he could squirt me with windscreen washer nozzles that he had angled to the side to 'get the Lycra (profanity)'.

          I dont doubt for a second there are idiots breaking the law on bikes. I absolutely doubt it is the majority of cyclists. I also doubt that cyclists break the road laws more than drivers. I drive to work in Melbourne every day from the outer suburbs and every day I see multiple morons weaving in and out of traffic or blasting through red lights. It is not drivers vs cyclists it is idiots that live among us breaking the law. Some of those idiots drive cars, some ride bikes, some ride skateboards others ride rollerskates.

        • @2ndeffort: I’m willing to bet the vast majority of the abusers are male as well.

  • +1

    I'm not a huge fan of cyclists myself… but in this case it's mainly just bad road design, why the hell would you place a bike lane that cuts into a vehicle merging/exit lane…

    • +1

      The exit refered to is actually 70 metres further down the road. What you can see from the google maps link is a bus lane/stop. No car traffic is meant to cross the green bike lane.

      Agree though the design is terrible, the green bike lane seems to visually contradict what the stop sign is saying.

      I dont know the area but it doesnt look very cycle friendly

  • Can I just say that no cyclist will willing stop at a stop sign when it is clear to go, or dismount at a dismount sign.

    Just think of it as being better than the stop sign being enforced and cyclists choosing to use the main traffic lane to avoid stopping.

  • +1

    Do what other haters drivers do.
    Don't worry, having a driving licence and rego is enough to justify 1300 deaths and multitude of injuries a year and noone will blink an eye or make an Ozbargain post about it

    • +1

      I'm not a hater. I specifically posted about this Stop sign not being obeyed and causing issues with traffic turning.

      Other than that, I don't whinge about cyclists.

  • +4

    Join the police force and dedicate your career to policing rogue cyclists

    • If only. I'd be that w4nker cop pulling people over for failing to indicate and blazing through Stop signs

  • Step 1) Buy one of these at Bunnings. https://www.bunnings.com.au/bastion-450mm-stop-slow-traffic-…
    Step 2) Dress in hi-viz and dedicate a Saturday morning to standing in the bike lane with the sign.
    Step 3) ???
    Step 4) Profit (or someone gets pissed off and calls the cops and you get yourself a move along notice)

  • Dashcam. Drive at them if you have right of way when they break the rules. Beep and curse them out telling them to wake up to themselves.

  • -3

    Are you the police? The minister for roads?
    If not then mind your own business!
    This is why I hate people.
    MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS

    • +1

      Obviously YOU are one of these irresponsible cyclists.
      Your comment is uncalled for and out of order

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