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Australian cyclist wrote to complain that police weren't enforcing close pass law days before he was killed in road traffic collision

Campaigner had long maintained that it was not a matter of ‘if’ he would be hit, but ‘when’

A cyclist on Australia’s Sunshine Coast wrote an open letter complaining that police had ignored his complaints about close passing drivers just days before he was killed. Cameron Frewer, who founded the Drive Safe, Pass Wide Facebook page, lost his life following a collision with a pick-up truck earlier this week.

Yahoo reports that Frewer left his home in Little Mountain early on Monday November 5 and was hit on Caloundra Road shortly before 6am. Despite paramedics’ attempts to revive him, he died at the scene.

Police are investigating.

Frewer had long maintained that it was only a matter of time before he was involved in a collision.

"The main reason [I film my rides] is to have evidence on record when the day finally comes that I am hit,” he said. “Not if. But when."

Frewer was particularly frustrated with the attitudes he encountered within Queensland Police Service (QPS) who he felt were not properly enforcing the state’s one-metre passing law.

In a recent open letter, since published in full on news.com.au, he wrote of his own experiences with QPS.

He said he felt there were, “a large number of police who have the same views towards people riding bikes on public roads as you will find in the comments section on social media.”

The letter detailed a number of Frewer’s video submissions and the responses he got. He went on to say that he believed he was, “being ignored as a ‘pest’, or submitting very close overtaking in a frivolous manner.”

He continued: “The question I often ask myself is, ‘Will bicycles ever be considered vehicles by those entrusted with upholding the states road laws?’ Or will the excuses for poor driving, victim blaming and irrelevant comments continue?

“And more particularly, why are officers with little or no understanding of what it feels like to have a motor vehicle come within an arm’s length of you on a bicycle (often at high speeds) seen as qualified to make an important decision using their ‘discretion’?”

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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8 comments

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kitsunegari | 5 years ago
2 likes

Institutionalised hatred of cyclists is endemic in this country, and I'm led to believe its far far worse down under. It must be hell trying to be a cyclist in Australia.

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antigee | 5 years ago
0 likes

wrong thread

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brooksby | 5 years ago
2 likes

That open letter is so very depressing... 

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CygnusX1 replied to brooksby | 5 years ago
2 likes

brooksby wrote:

That open letter is so very depressing... 

Isn't it just? Especially the depressingly long list of reasons given by the police why they won't progress the cases and suggesting that the cyclist should ride somewhere safer.

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brooksby replied to CygnusX1 | 5 years ago
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CygnusX1 wrote:

brooksby wrote:

That open letter is so very depressing... 

Isn't it just? Especially the depressingly long list of reasons given by the police why they won't progress the cases and suggesting that the cyclist should ride somewhere safer.

Exactly.  All that "Why doesn't he try and ride somewhere else?" and "Why doesn't he try NOT riding a bicycle?".  Horrible.

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Carmic0 | 5 years ago
1 like

Vale Mr Frewer,

I live in Australia and have ridden in the UK.  IMO the attitude of police and the public here is very similiar to the UK.   I live a rural area and have no problems as I ride mostly on dirt roads, however a 'proper' road ride needs to be planned to avoid road blackspots and busy roads.   If there is no shoulder on the road I won't ride it as a small percentage of drivers pass too closely.

I have my doubts about any investigation resulting in charges against anyone regarding Cameron's death.   

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Capercaillie | 5 years ago
1 like

RIP. 

I've never been to Australia but I've heard that public and police attitudes towards cyclists are even worse than in the UK.

I do hope that there is a fair investigation, but somehow I doubt that there will be.  The police are probably only too happy that he's no longer able to bother them.

 

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KINGHORN replied to Capercaillie | 5 years ago
0 likes
CaribbeanQueen wrote:

RIP. 

I've never been to Australia but I've heard that public and police attitudes towards cyclists are even worse than in the UK.

I do hope that there is a fair investigation, but somehow I doubt that there will be.  The police are probably only too happy that he's no longer able to bother them.

 

It depends where! I've cycled in Victoria a lot, lorries, cars, utes all passing very wide. I have had one twat though, in Melbourne, early morning, drove pass then blocked the cycle lane purposely so I couldn't repass as we approached slowing traffic!
Queensland ispretty damn racist, does not surprise me they have an awful attitude to cyclists!

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