Battle Of The Bitumen – Cyclists Versus Motorists

By Angela Faherty on July 1, 2014 in News

If there is one topic likely to get Sydney’s residents hot under the collar it is the great cyclists versus motorists debate. Ask anyone living and commuting in the city their view on this topic and you are almost guaranteed a passionate and colourful response.

The fact is, hostility between motorists and cyclists has never been greater and the number of accidents and fatalities on Sydney’s roads is rising. Motorists slam cyclists for flouting the rules of the road by running lights, weaving in and out of traffic and contributing to congestion during peak hours by cycling on the road instead of in designated cycle lanes.

In response, cyclists say bicycles help reduce motor vehicle and public transport congestion, require far less subsidies from tax revenue to build and maintain roads, and help to reduce pollution and the prevalence of health issues such as obesity.

Figures from the City of Sydney show that cycling trips have more than doubled in the past three years, and since counting began in March 2010 there’s been a 113 percent jump in bicycle trips with approximately 2,000 bikes passing through the top peak-hour intersections on an average weekday.

This news is unlikely to please motorists already disgruntled by the growing number of cyclists on the city’s roads, but with Sydney’s population expected to reach 8.4 million by 2060, and public transport already operating at capacity, the stark reality is that cycling in Sydney is no longer a fringe activity, but an alternative mode of transport.

“The fundamental truth is that Sydney is the seventh most congested city in the world and we need to continuously work towards viable transport solutions to move people and produce,” said Sophie Bartho, communications director at Bicycle NSW.

“We need to elevate the conversation away from the motorist versus cyclist debate and look at ways to create a fully integrated transport system which includes and promotes active transport.”
In 2010 US academic Dr John Pucher declared Sydney to be one of the developed world’s most hostile cities for cycling and, according to Ms Bartho, one of the main reasons for this is Sydney’s heavy reliance on motor vehicles and poor public transport options.

“Sydney, like most cities around the world, is not really set up for sharing the roads with ‘vulnerable road users’. We need to significantly shift this mindset and change our culture and behaviours. Not enabling bikes to share the road is adding to the pressure. There needs to be mutual respect for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists alike,” she said.

To this end, the NSW Government has released its Cycling Safety Action Plan, designed to improve interactions between vulnerable road users and motorists. Its vision is to make cycling a safe and positive activity by educating bike riders about ways to increase their safety, road positioning and visibility. For motorists, education will include a review of bicycle related road rules and enhancing the NSW drivers’ knowledge test questions relating to cycling. The government is also toying with the introduction of a licensing system for cyclists, a move that would be the first of its kind globally and one that has been broadly condemned by the pro-cycling community.

Bronte resident Katrina Briggs told The Beast that any move by government to make Sydney’s roads safer for riders is long overdue. Her son Bryce, his father Hans and five other cyclists were hit by a four-wheel drive travelling at 80km/h on Southern Cross Drive in March. While Bryce has recovered after some intensive physiotherapy, his dad has undergone spinal fusion surgery and is expected to take over six months to recover.

“This is about education and common courtesy and respect for other road users,” she said. “A common misconception among motorists is that cyclists shouldn’t be on the roads because they do not pay registration fees and therefore do not pay towards the upkeep of the roads. This is untrue; local roads are paid for by local councils so we all contribute. People need to be better informed about road management, road safety and the benefits of cycling on the environment and on the health of the nation,” she said.