Cyclists should be forced to ride in single file and should be banned from narrow roads, a survey of drivers has revealed.
More than 6,750 Western Australian motorists shared frustrations over cyclists sharing the road in the biggest survey ever conducted in the state.
Almost half of respondents believed that cyclists and motorists would never be able to safely share the road and the majority wanted cyclists to be licensed, the Zero Excuses survey revealed.
Cyclists should be forced to ride in single file and should be banned from narrow roads, a state-wide survey has revealed (stock image)
Under current Western Australian laws, cyclists are allowed to ride double file and motorists must kept a 1m distance between themselves and cyclists, under new laws passed late last year.
However, the longstanding frustration among drivers calling for cyclists to ride single file was strongest from younger drivers, with ninety per cent of drivers aged 17-24 wanting singe file legislation.
Seventy-nine per cent of younger drivers also believed cyclists should only be able to use roads where there was enough space to do so, compared with 65 per cent of respondents on average.
Women generally believed in tougher riding regimes for cyclists.
More than 6,750 Western Australian motorists shared frustrations over cyclists sharing the road in the biggest survey ever conducted in the state
WestCycle transport and safety general manager Philip Taylor justified cyclists riding two abreast, saying it made riders more visible and reduced the distance for other vehicles to overtake.
He also noted it reduced the temptation for drivers to attempt risky overtaking manoeuvres.
Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts (pictured) said laws requiring cyclists to ride in single file are not currently under consideration
‘Whilst it is legal to ride two abreast on the road, we encourage the cycling community to move to single file to allow other vehicles to pass when it is safe and appropriate to do so,’ Mr Taylor said.
Road Safety Minister Michelle Roberts said laws requiring cyclists to ride in single file are not currently under consideration, the West Australian reported.
Requiring bicycles to be licensed would be ‘administratively onerous and expensive’, Ms Roberts said.
‘All road users deserve a safe place to commute,’ she explained.
‘We all need to show mutual respect and courtesy to one another. The safe passing distance laws that we have introduced provide extra allowances for drivers to overtake cyclists safely’.