AUbicycles wrote:@yugyug I disagree with your comments
I understand that you want Bicycle NSW to tackle MHL but this is not what the laws announced today were about or the objective of any of the organisations involved. Simply looking at this forum alone and the amount of problems a simple discussion among fellow cyclists causes, the upsets and offence, then it should be very clear that if a major cycling organisation were to add this topic as their top agenda then the same would happen within the organisation and in public. While it is a valid discussion (no argument), the state based cycling advocacy groups are tackling cycling topics which they believe they can achieve more progress - and I agree that currently in Australia, that this is necessary.
In this context, what BNSW (and BNV and whichever other bicycle advocacy groups were present at the roundtable) have done, is allowed the MHL to be strengthened by inaction. As you say, I might've tolerated BNSW having a more neutral position on MHL, but this is not a neutral position - by supporting the fine increases and disingenuously claiming it 'only' affects %30 of cyclists, they have further strengthened the disincentive that MHL presents to potential cyclists and further marginalised cycling as a healthy activity and mode of transport. This is tremendously shortsighted, unethical and just plain dumb behaviour for a bicycle advocacy group.
I had hoped that while the Senate Inquiry on MHL was ongoing that there would be little backward movement in MHL and its enforcement. This legislation incentivises enforcement.
With it, there is less hope that the MHL may go the way of the 'no pants allowed for woman' law in Paris, repealed in 2013 but not enforced for decades.
Funnily enough, BN(Victoria) has some rather strong words to say in the Guardian yesterday. I checked out their site and here is their whole statement:
In a move that smacks of totalitarianism—and demonstrates contempt for people who ride bikes—NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay will introduce next March compulsory photo ID for bike riders in the State.
This oppressive step is a new low for the treatment of bike riders in NSW, who have been under the heel since the ascent of Mr Gay as Roads Minister.
Everyday people who are riding bikes for health, employment, education or just plain enjoyment, are being characterised as a menace to society—people who require surveillance, supervision and control.
Bicycle Network condemns this initiative in the strongest terms and will work to prevent its introduction.
Compulsory photo ID for bike riders is something that few people would have expected to be introduced anywhere in the world in 2015, least of all a supposed modern democracy like NSW. Now NSW is planning to stand alone as the only place in the world with compulsory ID for riders.
What’s next? Compulsory ID for pedestrians?
Mr Gay has also announced, just days before Christmas when governments hope to bury unpopular news, a raft of massive increases in fines affecting bike riders.
These include:
Not a wearing helmet (from $71 to $319)
Running a red light (from $71 to $425)
Riding dangerously (from $71 to $425)
Holding onto a moving vehicle (from $71 to $319)
Not stopping at children’s/pedestrian crossing ($71 to $425).
Increases of this magnitude are unheard of. Imagine the outrage if fines for motorists jumped 500 percent.
In a move that appears designed to cloak Mr Gay’s harsh measures, the government is planning to simultaneously introduce a trial fixed distance passing law. What's worrying is that under the new fixed distance passing law penalties for driving too close to a rider look set to fall to a lower penalty than under the current safe passing distance law. Surely a bike rider's well being is worth more.
And to cap it off, NSW will also ask bike riders to give a metre to walkers on shared paths. No mention though of how much space riders have to give a dog!
Bicycle Network CEO, Craig Richards, said today that the announcements could set bike riding back decades in NSW.
“Bike riding has been growing rapidly around Australia because it appeals as a healthy activity that everybody can participate in regardless of age or status.
“But now you need the official stamp of government approval—you can't leave the house without your officially mandated, government issued ID card.
“In a time where we need greater cooperation from all road users, these proposals will result in bike riders being seen as a fringe group that needs special rules to keep them in check."
BN(V)'s comments are hypocritical because they supported huge increases in their own state, and they don't support passing laws so I can see why their framed their criticism in that regard, but at least they are using the appropriate kind of language to describe the ID requirement and fine increases in general. Advocacy has a lot to do with words and presence in the media. In this case, surprisingly, BN have made a better showing than BNSW, who I would say have just rolled over.