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CSIT RTW Bulletin #13: Jan 2001
http://cs.anu.edu.au/csitRTW/bulletins/RTW.13.Jan2001.html
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***** If you'd like to make a contribution to the next bulletin, *****
***** please email it to me by the end of February 2001 *****
Well its certainly been a season of hot weather, but then again its more
pleasant to be out there feeling the breeze ...
I was talking to Peter Cormick a little time ago and the subject came up of
compulsory Bicycle Helmet laws and bicycle helmet effectiveness.
The
Cyclists Rights Action Group, a local lobby group opposed to the Law
(but not, they stress, to the wearing of bicycle helmets)
came to mind. I first came across their web site some years ago;
it is still up (but latest modification seems to be Oct 99).
I mention this not because I necessarily support their views or arguments,
but because I think it may be of potential interest.
Two such points they make are:
- there is evidence that the wearing of such a helmet can increase
the risk of injury (eg. when colliding with a car),
due to increased rotational forces. This, they say, is exacerbated
by the soft-shelled helmets typically in use.
- arising from one of their first Helmet Law cases they supported in
the ACT courts, there is now a loophole that
`any cyclist who believes on reasonable grounds that wearing a
helmet would increase the risk or severity of injury need not wear
one'.
Note that Pedal Power takes no position on the Helmet Law, but in most PP
events that I have been to, just about everyone (including myself now:)
seems to wear a helmet, for whatever reason.
In
Bulletin 9, it was mentioned that Brendan Smythe MLA would
modify Rule 248 for selected traffic light controlled crossings.
Peter Lamb has recently looked up the
Australian Legal
Information Institute Web site and found the legislation:
ROAD TRANSPORT (SAFETY AND TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT) REGULATIONS 2000 - REG 23A
23A ARR r248:
(1) Despite rule 248 of the Australian Road Rules, the rider of a
bicycle may ride across a marked foot crossing if authorised to do so by
a traffic control device.
(2) The rider must give way to any pedestrian on the marked foot
crossing.
[thanks PeterL.].
For a wild moment, I thought that `authorised to do so by a traffic
control device' might mean the `WALK' signal, but Neville Reece,
Pedal Power's chief lobbyist, has since told me that it is no so, ie.
it could be a a sign which gives approval or a
special bicycle traffic light.
I don't suppose anyone has ever seen such a crossing in the ACT modified to
this purpose? Because of the expense involved, one shouldn't hold one's breath
either. PP is in any case still seeking to amend R248 to
allow cyclists to legally ride across (as they illegally do now anyway).
Peter Lamb (thanks again, Peter!) sent a
response from
last Bulletin, which presents another view on the matter which you might also find interesting.
(NOTE: everyone please feel free to post directly to
csitRTW@cs if you like - its not just there to carry Bulletins!).
Interestingly, the issue came up again in CT last Friday with a lady
with a dog injured from a collision with a cyclist (who gave no warning
of approach) asking cyclists to use their bells. Neville Reece
responded the next day, saying among other things that many cyclists
have the same view as what Peter expressed. It was also pointed out
that while the NRR requires bicycles to carry bells, and that cyclists
must take measures to avoid collision, there is no requirement to use
the bell under any particular circumstance.
Anyway, I've been belling pedestrians in the Bruce-Kaleen-McKellar
paths for 6 months now, and it seems to have gone OK (ie. no inappropriate
or antagonistic responses). But then, on those paths, it is generally
accepted that cyclists are the main users (and often go quite fast:). So
deciding what one does when approaching pedestrians may be a matter of
what your local conditions are.
The
Pedal Power calendar is on-line;
There are lots of summer rides scheduled (but no lunch-time events)
see the above site for details.
Well thats it for these 2 months. Happy cycling! -Peter.
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RTW: sponsored by Pedal Power, HealthPact,
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