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New South Wales ditches plans to force cyclists to carry ID

In an unprecedented development, life for once won’t get slightly worse for New South Wales cyclists

The New South Wales government has said that it will not be bringing in mandatory photo ID for cyclists. The Guardian reports that the rule had been due to be introduced in March with $106 fines for those who failed to comply.

A petition against the measure launched by the Australian Cycle Alliance attracted over 10,000 signatories, and following consultation with cycling groups, roads minister Duncan Gay has announced the government will instead “encourage” cyclists to carry ID or “emergency contact cards.”

A recent Bicycle NSW survey revealed that 93 per cent of cyclists already carried ID.

In a statement, Gay said the compromise “struck the right balance between safety and convenience.”

The requirement for cyclists to carry photo ID was announced in December 2015 alongside a raft of changes to laws relating to cyclists.

While a minimum passing distance law was introduced, fines for a number of cycling infringements were increased significantly.

Cyclists in the state now face being fined $315 for failing to wear a helmet and $425 for running a red light.

The fines have brought in $1.33 million since they were introduced on March 1, leading Penny Sharpe, environment spokeswoman for Australia’s Labor party, to brand them “nothing more than a nice little cash cow for the government.”

Gay rejected that however, saying, “that is not why we increased fines for high-risk and downright stupid behaviour. These changes are about improving safety. I don’t want to see another dollar in fine revenue but I do hope to see a reduction in cyclist injuries.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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6 comments

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Russell Orgazoid | 7 years ago
1 like

NSW sounds like a crap place to live.

Avatar
ktache | 7 years ago
0 likes

“struck the right balance between safety and convenience.”

and personal liberty.

How was being able to easily identify a body meant to increase safety?

Avatar
ianrobo replied to ktache | 7 years ago
0 likes

ktache wrote:

“struck the right balance between safety and convenience.”

and personal liberty.

How was being able to easily identify a body meant to increase safety?

not noticed though that the idea of personal liberty is dying  2 

I have the Apple emergency thing on the phone, thats all you need really 

Avatar
brooksby replied to ianrobo | 7 years ago
0 likes

ianrobo wrote:

ktache wrote:

“struck the right balance between safety and convenience.”

and personal liberty.

How was being able to easily identify a body meant to increase safety?

not noticed though that the idea of personal liberty is dying  2 

I have the Apple emergency thing on the phone, thats all you need really 

But that wouldn't have been good enough for the NSW legislators,

Avatar
ianrobo replied to brooksby | 7 years ago
1 like

brooksby wrote:

ianrobo wrote:

ktache wrote:

“struck the right balance between safety and convenience.”

and personal liberty.

How was being able to easily identify a body meant to increase safety?

not noticed though that the idea of personal liberty is dying  2 

I have the Apple emergency thing on the phone, thats all you need really 

But that wouldn't have been good enough for the NSW legislators,

Thats because they are the UKIP of Australia it seems, car is king, us cyclists just a nusiance in their small minded brains.

I will point everyone to what West Mids Police are doing as the perfect way to make everyone's life better, cyclicts and drivers alike.

Avatar
handlebarcam | 7 years ago
2 likes

Classic negotiation tactic: include one demand so ridiculous that people will focus on that and you can slip your other demands past them. Still, I bet Mister Gay was having wet dreams at the thought of effectively banning all children from cycling for a while there. 

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