A call to allow motorbikes to share cycle lanes in Australia has met with strong opposition from cyclists and the government.
Motorcyclist membership and lobbying group Motorcycling Australia called for a trial allowing motorbikes in cycle lanes as it could cut the rising number of biker crashes and fatalities. But cycling groups and the Government have opposed the idea, saying it would endanger cyclists.
Motorcycling Australia manager Dan Rotman said motorcyclists and scooter riders were vulnerable and restrictions on using bike lanes should be lifted.
“While injury trends for bicycle riders and car occupants are in decline, riders of powered two-wheelers remain highly vulnerable, and part of the solution could be extending the use of bicycle lanes in selected locations. Bicycle and powered two wheel riders have a lot in common – a similar exposure to risk, size and footprint – and much of the new bicycle lane infrastructure could safely and easily accommodate both groups.”
But the call has lead to strong opposition from cyclists. Bicycle Queensland manager Ben Wilson said the speed difference between bicycles and motorcycles would leave cyclists in danger, and bike lanes are often just 1.2 metres wide so that any overtaking would be extremely dangerous, and likely to increase collisions.
Further opposition has come from the government. Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the Government had taken great strides in improving safety for motorcyclists and people on bicycles. He said: “We have no intention of undermining that work by letting motorbikes and cyclists share designated bike lanes.”
The debate has been particularly intense in states with high bike and motorbike use, such as Victoria. Here Bicycle Victoria’s Harry Barber reinforced the view that the two modes of transport are fundamentally different. “Motorcyclists are certainly vulnerable, but just as you don’t put motorbikes on the train lines you don’t put motorbikes in the bike lanes.”
Bicycle Victoria are also not in favour of low-powered motor-scooters using cycle lanes, however the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce’s David Purchase has said scooters should have access to bike lanes but higher powered motorcycles should not.
The Victorian state government won’t be supporting any proposals to introduce powered two wheelers into bike lanes.
Maybe a clickbait title will drag in a few anti-cyclist trolls and then ply them with facts. But most anti-cycling trolls probably do not know what...
But how on earth do you expect people to know that's not allowed?...
eradicating Hamas is a laudibale goal. Achieving this goal by killing or driving out every palestinian in Gaza, is either genocide or doomed to...
Man flees after crashing into grade II listed Dorset home https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24263845.man-flees-crashing-grade...
If plod can't get through their in their cars, then criminals will use it to evade them because heaven forbid the police should patrol on foot or...
The questions would be "who / what do the rules serve? What are we willing to pay / accept to maintain or enforce them?"...
I once had an Explosif in Reynolds 853 with their Project 2 fork and it was one of the best mountain bikes I've ever owned. I still think about it...
It sounds very much as if this is an argument about land rights and access, not about bikes or cars. It feels a bit like the Daily Fail whipping up...
Friday's effort
Am I right in thinking that this has been the case in NL for over half a century (or 30 years nationally)? With a brief interruption from 2003 -...