Call for bicycle speed limit on footpath after pedestrian injuries

TWO pedestrians have been hit by cyclists in the city in the past fortnight prompting calls for bikes to be limited to walking pace when on footpaths before someone is killed.

6/4/16 Rebecca Bedford pictured at her Rostrevor home. Rebecca was a hit and run victim of a cyclist.

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TWO pedestrians have been hit by cyclists in the city in the past fortnight – with one suffering serious injury – prompting calls for bikes to be limited to walking pace when on footpaths before someone is killed.

Rebecca Bedford was thrown into the air when she was hit from behind by a bike she believes was travelling at 40km/h or more, as she was walking on a footpath in Currie St near the TAFE carpark.

She suffered a fractured rib and internal bleeding when she landed on the bike’s handle­bars.

The Brain Injury SA employee was left in a state of shock by the impact, which came without warning last ­Friday week about 5.15pm. It resulted in her receiving hos­pital treatment and at least a week’s sick leave.

Police are appealing for witnesses to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“I was trying to process what had happened when I was hit. I heard the rider say ‘oh my god’ and ‘are you OK?’ but I couldn’t talk because I was in shock,” Ms Bedford said.

“I staggered towards the TAFE carpark and the next thing I looked around and he was gone.”

Ms Bedford, 24, said it was “ridiculous’’ that cyclists could ride among pedestrians at the same speed as the road speed limit – which is 50km/h in most areas of the CBD.

“When the new laws were introduced (in October) allowing cyclists to do those speeds around pedestrians, I thought it was stupid,” she said.

“I work with people who have brain injury and know it doesn’t take much to do serious damage. At the least they should lower the footpath speed limit for cyclists and make some footpaths for pedestrians only.”

In another incident on ­Currie St around 8.45am a fortnight ago, a cyclist slammed into a woman after swerving to avoid passengers alighting from a bus.

The pedestrian was knocked to the ground and the cyclist was thrown from her bike before continuing her ride along the footpath.

The SA spokesman for the Pedestrian Council of Australia, Dr Rob Atkinson, said he was alarmed but not surprised at the recent incidents.

“We absolutely will see more of this and people will die – it’s already happened in Melbourne and Sydney,” he said.

Transport Minister Stephen Mulligan said he was always concerned to hear of injuries on our footpaths, but said it was up to councils to impose any bans or speed limits.

“If the Adelaide City Council determines changes are necessary in the CBD . . . the Government would be happy to work with them,” he said.

Should the speed of cyclists be restricted on footpaths?