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Road Rule Debates....
I can't remember when it was... (maybe i'll look it up when i'm not on limited time at the Library.) But about five years ago the Australian Road Rules were updated and reissued.... I remember a lot of messengers and cyclists feeling angry and unrepresented (or underfunded) when these laws were changed.... I can remember the "all vehicles (including cyclists) must give way to buses road rule".... This rule morally made a lot of sense. Although it caused a lot of problems and got us cut off heaps of times when buses abused the privlige not waiting for the already passing vehicles to get out of the way.... I still agree with this road rule change....
The other road rule that pissed me off was the left turn at red lights for cars.... Hearing about and seeing the problems it caused in Toronto (If you stuff up in a car you kill other people) made me grumpy.... I've always thought that cyclists should be able to turn left at red lights after giving way to pedestrians and oncoming traffic (if you stuff up on a bicycle you only kill yourself (odds)...
My general opinion is that road rules are based around cars (not cyclists) and the streets would be safer if cyclists were put into there own cattegory.... If the road rules admit that cyclists and Motorists are two completely different forms of transport we will be a lot better off.
What road rules or exemptions do you think cyclists should have?
Comments
Lit Pedestrian Crossings exemption?
More often than not you never really pull up at these crossings alone. If you wait at a lit pedestrian crossing you always have to take off with heaps of cars, trucks, taxis, and busses. (normally in Sydney there is at least two or the busses at each intersection). So what exactly are the road rules trying to say? Taking off with a bunch of motor vehicles including busses and taxis in the left hand lane that normally have to pull over and stop, Is safer than giving way to all pedestrians than taking off before the lights change and getting out the way of common left lane traffic?.... You have got to be joking. Do we really have to dismount and walk three steps to make it legal?
Giving way to all pedestrians then being allowed to continue through light pedestrian crossings should clearly be legalised (for cyclists).
Losing is for winners
Joining in with pedestrians crossing at intersections?
Hook turns for cyclists are a good way to avoid heavy traffic. But if the lights are already red waiting for the lights to change twice is just not practical and silly. Waiting in the middle of the road to turn right while motorvehicles pass you from both directions is also... pretty f**king dangerous. The sneaky practice of joining in with the pedestrians to cross the road and then taking off as the lights change should clearly be legalised.
Losing is for winners
Left turns at red lights?
Left turns at reds after stopping (and giving way) should only be legal for cyclists and other forms of non motorised transport. This would give cyclists an advantage over motorvehicles and provide an opportunity for cyclists to get out the way of motorists before lights change (beneficial to motorists also)...
I honestly believe that changing this particular road rule would provide people with a bigger reason to ride to work instead of driving a gas guzzling motorised death trap into an already congested city every day than bike lanes ever will (correct me if you think i`m wrong).
Losing is for winners
BAN AIRBAGS BECAUSE THEY ARE SELFISH!
I was really grumpy at work one day because i'd ran into one too many assholes (whats new).... When it crossed my mind that airbags are dangerous because they make motorists feel safer.... I just thought it was a funny joke but the more i thought about it the more it made sense.
Maybe if you replaced airbags with with garbage compactors people would take more care.... I know that i pay more attention when i know if i fuck up i might get sqaushed...
Losing is for winners
ban seatbelts too!
and helmets.
winning is for losers
Man that no helmet rule is weird.
Was kind of looking forward to arriving in the states and riding around with out a sweated out peace of plastic on my head, but i must say i felt kind of vulnerable. Every time the phone rang i had to ride around with one hand on the handlebars (i think thats legal in the US) instead of using my helmet straps as a handsfree kit... Always thought it was a hassle to wear a helmet if you just want to go around the corner or something like that but when i started to not have it with me whenever riding you forget it all the time... Can still feel the helmet ridges in my skull from wearing it for 45 or so hours a week tho.
Although i think its better to hurt yourself than someone else and the main reason they brought the helmet rule in was because of the danger of motor vehicles (they didn't address the real problem.)
I've gotta say i think i agree with the helmet rule.
Seatbelts? Scooter use some common sense!... The car insurance covers the cleaning bill, but if the body flies out the window it could hurt someone.
Losing is for winners
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