Cycling honeymoon: Intense public scrutiny of new cycling road rules have meant safer riding

INTENSE public scrutiny of controversial new cycling road rules have created a “honeymoon’’ period of safer riding for cyclists, according to a new survey.

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INTENSE public scrutiny of controversial new cycling road rules have created a “honeymoon’’ period of safer riding for cyclists, according to a new survey.

But the state’s largest recreational cycling body, Bike SA, is still fearful dangerous driving behaviour may return.

The Bike SA survey of more than 1300 cyclists two weeks after the introduction of the new laws found:

55 PER CENT said motorists were respecting the rule to pass riders by at least 1m distance on streets with speed zones of 60km/h or less;

49 PER CENT of riders said they had taken advantage of the law allowing all cyclists to ride on footpaths;

62 PER CENT of respondents also said drivers were taking advantage of the rule allowing cars to cross centre lines to overtake cyclists safely, and;

36 PER CENT of cyclists surveyed said they would ride more often because they felt safer.

However, not all the new rules are being respected, according to the survey. Riders reported a low adherence to the law requiring drivers to leave at least 1.5m distance when passing on roads with speed limits above 60km/h.

Only 34 per cent of riders said motorists were obeying this rule while almost two-thirds found it had no impact on drivers’ behaviour.

Bike SA chief executive Christian Haag was pleased with the early feedback from riders about the impact of the new laws.

He said the survey had been conducted to “gain insights on the benefits of the new road rules’’.

“Early results are positive in SA, with the new rules clearly showing an intent to ride more due to a greater sense of safety on our roads,’’ Mr Haag said.

Bike SA will seek further feedback with surveys to be held in three and six months’ time to determine the longer term impact of the rules, he said. “The all important test will be to assess motorist and cyclist behaviours after a year, to ensure this ‘honeymoon’ period of intense media coverage will not see unsafe behaviours becoming the norm again,’’ he said.

Regular rider Alisha Thompson was one of the more than 300 female cyclists who took part in the survey.

The receptionist said she had seen a “definite improvement’’ in driver behaviour since the laws were introduced a fortnight ago.

“They have made me feel more confident and respected by drivers,’’ the 21-year-old, from Adelaide’s western suburbs, said.

“Hopefully it will become second nature for drivers to comply with the law and people will relax and think the new laws are appropriate.’’

Ms Thompson said some drivers had deliberately passed close by her “to scare me’’ before the new laws were adopted but she hoped such stupidity was a thing of the past.