Why I believe that cycling was looked at as a child's activity.
VICTORIAN TRANSPORT STUDY REPORT ON BICYCLES 1980
Summary
Bicycles as a significant means of personal transport have been around for more than a century. In the post World War 2 period their use has been somewhat overshadowed by the rapid evolution of the multi car household, the widespread development of the school bus system for transport of children to and from schools, and the low cost use of public transport systems by school children through concession fares and subsidies.
The use of bicycles now seems to be going through a phase of revival, and more of them are being seen on the roads, particularly in suburban area , as the younger generation realises the advantages of this flexible form of personal transport and as the r parents recognise the economic and physical benefits of bicycle ownership
The Future role of the bicycle in transportation,
particularly in the young teenage section of the population, seems assured. While serious consideration of the bicycle in the context of a Transport Study in 1980 might be queried by some, the fact is that many people give thought to, and make use of this means of transport.
Introduction
1.1 In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the bicycle as a means of transport, and at the same ime there has been a substantial increase in bicycle sales. Between 1966 and 1976 bicycle sales in Victoria increased by 600 percent, and currently there are about 130,000 bicycles sold each year. It is estimated that there are now about 700,000 bicycles in Melbourne alone, of which up to two-thirds are ridden regularly.
1.2 Data on bicycle usage is limited.
However, surveys in the Geelong area indicate that 77 percent of bike owners and 90 percent of regular bicycle users are students. figures for Melbourne and other urban areas in the State could be expected to be of a similar order.
1.3 The current trend is for an increasing number of adults to own and ride bicycles. This trend can be expected to continue in the foreseeable future, although
the number of bicycle trips per day by adults is always likely to remain a very small percentage of the total daily trips by adults using all forms of transport
1.4 As the use of the bicycle has increased there has been an increase in accidents involving bicycles. In 1975, 605 cyclists were involved in injury accidents, including 16 killed. In 1979 the comparable figures were 950 and 43. A cyclist involved in an accident has a 4 times greater chance of being killed, and a 4.5 times greater chance of being injured, than a motorist.
Also, studies by the Road Safety and Traffic Authority indicate that in Victoria 2/3 of bicycle accidents can be attributed to the fault of the cyclist. 72 percent of bicycle accidents occur in the 7 to 17 years age group, while 33 percent of them are in the 12 to 14 years age group.
1.5
Because of the increasing sales and use of the bicycle and because of concern about the number and severity of accidents involving cyclists, it is important that proper provision be made for the bicycle to ensure that it is a safe means of travel.
Submissions
2.6 The submission from the Country Roads Board (
Now called Vic Roads) contains a section on bicycles. It says that bicycles are part of the transport system, and that provision should be made for them.
It indicates that the majority of bicycle owners and riders are students, and that while the contribution of bicycles to urban commuter travel is increasing, it is still small and likely to always remain so. The Board's submission concludes that the bicycle serves a useful role in providing individual services to that section of the community with relatively few other transport options.
Discussion
7.1 T
he Study Group recognises that the bicycle is, and will continue to be a significant mode of transport, particularly for school children and students, and other young people. It also recognises that appropriate consideration should be given to the provision for bicycles in transport planning, and when transport facilities are being designed.
Conclusions and Recommendations
8.1
The bicycle is, and will continue to be a significant mode of transport, particularly for school children and students, and other young people in the community.
https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/paper ... 81No45.pdf
There's obviously more in that report, I have only highlited what supports my assertion. Cycling was seen as something predominately for the young.
The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia
BICYCLE HELMET SAFETY
Final Report on the Motorcycle and Bicycle Helmet Safety Inquiry
Report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Transport Safety
November 1985
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BICYCLE HELMETS
The effectiveness of helmets in reducing head injuries in crashes has been confirmed by recent studies and the
growing number of cyclists wearing helmets attests to their popularity and the public's desire for safer cycling. Yeah, thanks mate!
Bicycle accident research
15. Research in Australia and overseas over the last 20 years has continued to highlight the extremely high incidence of head injuries amongst cyclists involved in accidents. The first study of this phenomenon was undertaken in Australia and showed that of 181 bicycle fatalities in Brisbane from 1935 to 1964, 80 per cent showed brain damage, with 71 per cent having associated skull fractures.3
16. Subsequent studies have confirmed figures of this order with a recent study of bicycle fatalities for children under 15 years in Queensland indicating that 77 per cent died of head injuries, 13 per cent of multiple trauma which did not include head injuries and 10 per cent of spinal fractures involving the neck. Other research has shown that head injuries occur in approximately 80 per cent of fatalities.
17. A study based on head injuries treated in the Royal Childrens Hospital in Brisbane between 1956-1978 pointed out that any further improvement in mortality rates in childhood head injuries lies in "prevention or increased protection rather than in increased sophistication of surgical techniques".
21. In evidence, the Federal Office of Road Safety summarised these statistics by estimating that 70 per cent of all bicycle casualties involve children aged seven to seventeen years of age.8 Children in this age group made up only 18.4 per cent of the population in 19
Recommendations
22. The dramatic over-representation of young cyclists is even more disturbing when it is remembered that many injuries go unreported.
Helmet usage rates
42. In the general community, helmet wearing rates vary widely but generally appear to be extremely low. Figures in the order of 2-5 per cent are generally accepted by researchers. The Federal Office of Road Safety estimates that the highest estimate for overall usage, across Australia, would be less than ten per cent. The Committee heard evidence that recent helmet campaigns have raised usage rates dramatically (See Table 2). The Committee also heard that the
helmet usage rate amongst adult commuters in Canberra and Melbourne was as high as 50 per cent
45. An understanding of the usage rates of bicycle helmet wearing is essential if effective programs are to be developed to educate and encourage cyclists to wear helmets. Education and publicity programs need to be carefully targeted to ensure that particular bicycle user groups are reached to increase their use of helmets. Peer group pressure amongst older children is a major obstacle to widespread helmet use. The Committee heard of instances where children who wear helmets have been called 'sissy' or 'egghead' by their friends. This negative pressure is occurring at ages where peer group pressure to conform is strongest. Peer group pressure may be turned to advantage if sufficient numbers can be persuaded to wear helmets and there is pressure on others to follow. Overcoming this reluctance to helmet usage by children and young teenagers should be a major objective of education and publicity campaigns. The Victorian Government has directed their education campaigns predominantly to the parents of primary school children.
It is of great concern to the Committee that the highest risk group of cyclists, the under 17 year olds, has the lowest usage rates.
The Committee recommends that:
1. (a) the Minister for Transport, through the Federal Office of Road Safety take steps to publicise widely helmet bulk-purchasing programs and to
coordinate a national program by encouraging schools, manufacturers and retailers to work closely together to ensure all Australian schools have the opportunity to participate; and
(b) the Minister for Education
facilitate the operation of school-based bulk purchase schemes for bicycle helmets in the Australian Capital Territory along the lines of the Victorian scheme. (Paragraph 58)
2. the Ministers for Education and Transport seek the cooperation of their State and Territory counterparts to
encourage all schools to introduce the 'compulsory' wearing of helmets by children cycling to and from school. (Paragraph 65)
3. the Minister for Transport seek the cooperation of the States and Territories through the Australian Transport Advisory Council to;
(a) develop effective programs to promote bicycle helmet usage, utilising where possible effective material already developed; and
(b) provide suitable funding for the development of these programs and materials. (Paragraph 71)
4. the Minister for Transport and the Special Minister of State in conjunction with their State counterparts;
(a)
investigate more effective enforcement techniques to ensure cyclists, particularly children, follow the traffic code; and
(b) introduce a more innovative cycling traffic code. (Paragraph 85)
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Bu ... _pp360.pdf Thanks Bruce for the link
There's obviously heaps more there. And a few more reports that are not linked. But it's pretty straight forward in understanding what these inquiries were focussing on. As for adults, well, A.O. Neville's practice of breeding out the black was applied. If that didn't work, the rest were collateral damage; a minority that would have to suck it up for the greater good.