The cycling road rule 84,000 Australians want banned

Tens of thousands of Australians have signed a petition to have a contentious road rule around cyclists overturned in each state and territory.

Drivers For Registration of Cyclists has launched a Change.org petition titled Compulsory Single File for Cyclists calling for all cyclists to ride only in single file. More than 84,000 people have already signed the petition.

The current law allows for cyclists to ride two abreast while on the roads, so long as they are no further than 1.5m apart. 

Drivers For Registration of Cyclists has launched a Change.org petition titled Compulsory Single File for Cyclists calls for all cyclists to only ride in single file and 84,000 people have already signed the petition

‘We, the undersigned, respectfully call on the Transport Ministers of each and every State in Australia, and each State Cabinet, to implement for all cyclists who ride in groups, regardless of whether a bike lane exists or not,’ the petition reads. 

‘We also call on the respective Transport Ministers of Australia to implement a prohibition of cyclists on all roads with a designated speed limit higher than 80kph if those roads don’t have designated Bike Lanes.’

The petition says cyclists are presenting safety hazards by riding two or more abreast and flowing into the traffic lanes.

‘Again, we say, Transport Ministers of Australia, please implement Compulsory Single File and ban cyclists from roads with a speed limit higher than 80kph if no bike lane exists,’ the petition read. 

Bicycle NSW communications director Kim Lavender said to news.com.au that it is actually safer for everyone if cyclists ride two abreast. 

The petition says cyclists are presenting safety hazards by riding two or more abreast and flowing into the traffic lanes

The petition says cyclists are presenting safety hazards by riding two or more abreast and flowing into the traffic lanes

‘If you are riding two abreast on a road it means you are taking up less length on the road so it is easier to for cars to overtake,’ she said. 

‘It reduces it down to two metres of overtaking as opposed to three or more if riders were in a single file.’ 

She said drivers who were against the rule did not understand the reason for it being implemented.

‘For some part I think it might be lack of education about why the rule is there in the first place, it is there for a reason and it is actually in place to reduce hazards on the road,’ she said.  

Ms Lavender said drivers should think about why cyclists ride their bikes and that more cyclists means less congestion on the roads. 

A number of Facebook users flocked to the Drivers For Registration of Cyclists’ page to voice their opinions on the proposed changes.

‘Yes or get off the road. You don’t pay rego, insurance and don’t follow the road rules. Us car user’s pay to drive on the roads,’ one user said in agreement with the proposal.

‘Why should they be any different from Motorists, they have to stick to road rules. Get annoyed about these people wanting everything their way,’ another added. 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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