Sydney needs to put less focus on fining cyclists and more effort into creating infrastructure
“THERE would be an international scandal if the world knowingly let the entire population of Australia, Ghana or Nepal die in just 15 years.”
These are the words of UN Environment executive director Erick Solheim in his foreword for the intergovernmental organisation’s Global Outlook on Walking and Cycling report.
Mr Solheim’s mordant quote relates to the 1.3 million people that die in road accidents annually, which is predicted to reach a total of 30 million deaths by 2030.
“Many of these people risk their lives every time they travel. More than a quarter of the people killed in road accidents are pedestrians; a number increasing steadily due to a tragic lack of investment,” he said.
Despite having a strong focus on low to middle income countries, the report looks at ideas from around the world and suggests a startlingly simple solution.
“As the population heads towards nine billion, we need to design mobility for our people instead of mobility for our cars,” he said.
To achieve this goal, the report suggests governments should “set aside at least 20 per cent of the total transport budget” to fund infrastructure for non-motorised transport.
So how does Australia stack up on a global scale?
Admittedly, we are performing better than the middle income countries flagged in the report as those in most need of rapid progress, yet we still have a long way to go.
Sydney is Australia’s largest global city and the premier destination for international corporations, business leaders, tourists and students.
As such, you would expect its bicycle infrastructure and attitude towards cyclists to be world class.
Sadly, this is not the case.
NSW Government website MySydney has been developed to explore the smarter infrastructure needed for an expanding city.
With cycling being a leading method for sustainable transport across the globe, the website includes maps of Sydney’s cycleways and information on diversions.
While offering a decent amount of options for those looking to navigate the city on two wheels, the map highlights how much framework is needed to connect up the existing cycleways to make bike riders safe on our roads.
Bicycle NSW chief executive Craig Meagher said the current state of infrastructure was concerning.
“Connectivity is absolutely critical for cycleways to be successful. Unless riders can feel safe and confident for their full journey, then a large proportion will not attempt the ride,” he told news.com.au.
“While rules such as the Minimum Passing Distance are very welcome, an integrated network of safe, separated cycleways is needed to promote the use of bicycles as a valid active transport option. The benefits for health, transport and the environment are overwhelming.”
While the city might lack vital infrastructure needed to connect existing cycleways, it’s good to know Premier Mike Baird’s government is working to keep cyclists safe.
His method is to get the NSW police force to regularly conduct one-day operations aimed at “educating riders and promoting awareness within the Sydney CBD and surroundings suburbs”.
The latest crackdown, dubbed Operation Pedro, resulted in 141 fines issued to cyclists and pedestrians — which will net the Baird government more than $26,000.
Metropolitan commander of the traffic and highway patrol command superintendent David Driver said the aim of the operation was to ensure they were doing everything possible to ensure a reduction in road trauma.
“Four [cyclists] died on our roads so far this year, compared with five at the same time last year, and we all have to do our part to end this tragic loss of life” he said.
“Cyclists are vulnerable road users and we urge them, and other road users, to do the right thing, not take risks and maintain road awareness.”
If the Baird government truly was trying to do “everything possible” to reduce road trauma, shouldn’t there be a focus on completing bike paths to offer commuters a safe ride?
In a blog post, Bicycle Network chief executive Craig Richards was quick to point out the operation didn’t include any action taken on minimum passing distance.
“It’s hardly a cyclist safety package when only bike riders are being fined and minimum passing distance laws not enforced,” he wrote.
Mr Richards also questioned the $106 fine given to cyclists for riding on a footpath, which is fitting given the lack of cyclepaths throughout the city.
“I also question how fining people for riding on footpaths reduces fatalities. Unless police can show that riders or pedestrians are dying from bikes being on the footpaths, the justification for this is completely flawed,” he wrote.
“Fining riders is just stopping people from jumping on their bikes and getting active. Authorities should be educating and enabling riders instead.”
With some areas lacking cycle paths and fines for riding on the footpath, there is always the option to take matters into your own hands like Canadian man Warren Huska.
To ensure drivers stick to the minimum passing distance, Mr Huska strapped a pool noodle to stake out the space he is entitled.
This cyclist says attaching a pool noodle to his bike makes Toronto streets safer for him pic.twitter.com/EII94xFca1
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) October 18, 2016
We commend you, Mr Huska.
NSW Roads Minister for Roads Duncan Gay said since 2011, the NSW Government has invested historic levels of funding into building cycleways and pedestrian infrastructure.
“With cycling injuries remaining high in NSW, I had no choice but to look at tougher deterrents and increased enforcement to improve safety for cyclists and other road users like pedestrians. I don’t want to see another dollar in fine revenue but I do hope to see a reduction in cyclist injuries,” he told news.com.au.
“It should be noted that we’ve introduced changes for motorists too through the Minimum Passing distance law. I am not targeting cyclists. I am targeting risky behaviour.
“Where it’s possible we provide dedicated infrastructure and separated bike lanes. But these aren’t the only answers. Improving cyclist safety is about mutual respect on the roads and responsible behaviour.”
The Government said it is making a major commitment to invest in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, with a total of $284 million in funding to be made available over the next four years.
This includes $59 million in 2016-17 for more than 300 projects across the State, an additional $145 million for active transport projects over the forward estimates, and an $80 million reservation in Restart NSW for cycling infrastructure projects, which the Government will spend over four year period on additional priority cycling projects.
These funds are in addition to cycling infrastructure that is being delivered as a part of other projects and funded in this Budget, including new cycleway infrastructure at Homebush and around St Peters being delivered as part of WestConnex and new bike spaces at train station and commuter car parks, including Opal-activated bike sheds, which are being delivered as part of the Transport Access Program and B-Line projects.
In the Sydney CBD, the College Street cycleway was replaced with a north-south separated cycleway connecting Central and the Harbour Bridge via Castlereagh, Liverpool and Kent streets in September 2015 – the first time the south and north of the city have been connected by a continuous off-road cycleway.
This enabled an extra traffic lane to be installed on College Street to support its use as a vehicle route following the closure of George Street for the light rail construction, as planned in the Sydney City Centre Access Strategy in 2013.
Within the core CBD area there will be no additional cycleways until the light rail is completed.
What do you think about the matter? Continue the conversation on Twitter with your favourite bicycle commuter @mattydunn11.
Bike lane near-misses1:56
Cyclists take their life into their hands each time they use the bike lanes on Sylvan Rd, in Brisbane?s west. Courtesy: YouTube
Originally published as What this map tells us about Sydney