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Cyclists biggest offenders in SA Police vulnerable road user blitz

An SA Police operation targeting a range of road users has hit one group almost as hard as all others combined.

Police have sent a clear warning to cyclists that they must obey the road rules “just like motorists” after hundreds were nabbed during a targeted statewide crackdown last week.

According to official figures from SA Police, cyclists were the biggest offenders during an operation that also focused on “vulnerable” pedestrians, motorbike riders and scooter users.

In the seven day blitz, 422 expiations were issued to cyclists, making up almost half of the notices issued throughout the whole operation.

Police said the majority of offences detected were for failing to wear a helmet (73 expiations and 150 caution notices) or having inappropriate lighting (47 expiations and 115 caution notices).

“Cyclists must obey all road rules, just like motorists, including stopping at stop signs and traffic lights, riding on the left side of the road and giving way to pedestrians on crossing and at intersections,” a police spokesman said.

During morning peak hour, The Advertiser walked the streets to observe the behaviour of cyclists on city roads.

A cyclist on his phone at the intersection of Waymouth St and King William St in Adelaide’s CBD. Picture: Keryn Stevens
A cyclist on his phone at the intersection of Waymouth St and King William St in Adelaide’s CBD. Picture: Keryn Stevens
A cyclist weaves through the middle of the King William and Waymouth Street pedestrian crossing. Picture: Keryn Stevens
A cyclist weaves through the middle of the King William and Waymouth Street pedestrian crossing. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Some riders were not wearing their helmets properly, others were using their phone while stopped at a crossing and dozens wove their way through the middle of pedestrian crossings.

While it is not illegal for a cyclist to use a pedestrian crossing, police said there are still rules that riders need to follow.

“You must keep to the left, give way to any pedestrian, and cross without delay,” a police spokesman said.

“You must obey any pedestrian or bicycle crossing lights and not enter the crossing once the symbol turns red.”

The blitz comes with the number of cyclist deaths on SA roads this year sitting at four, just one less than the previous three years combined.

Bike SA CEO Brett Gillett said the deaths of vulnerable road users was a sad and concerning trend.

“We encourage everybody to do the right thing on the roads and we support these awareness campaigns – a gentle reminder is worth it to prevent a tragic end,” he said.

But David Elliot - chair of community-based organisation Bike Adelaide - has hit back at the police, claiming some cyclists felt “bullied” by the targeted blitz.

He said he had received feedback that on many occasions people felt it was unclear what they were being stopped for.

A cyclist on Rundle Mall which is a no cycle zone.
A cyclist on Rundle Mall which is a no cycle zone.
A cyclist riding hands free on Rundle Street.
A cyclist riding hands free on Rundle Street.

“I think it’s unfair to assume the police are engaging in explicitly bullying tactics and just stopping a cyclist because they feel like it,” he said.

“But when we have previously tried to inquire about what people were being expiated for, they wouldn’t give us a breakdown of the numbers,” he said.

Mr Elliot said even the lighting and helmet offences were “ambiguous”.

“It’s unclear what the offences were and what context they were being issued,” he said.

“Was it cause the helmets were unsecured, is it cause they weren’t wearing one at all or is it cause they didn’t meet road safety standards?”

He said ultimately the biggest threats weren’t cyclists or pedestrians.

“When a cyclist or pedestrian does something wrong, even if it is breaking the rules, the consequences for others around them tend to be negligible or not there at all,” he said.

“Whereas the consequences of a motorist intentionally or unintentionally doing something wrong can cost many people their lives.”

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-sa/cyclists-biggest-offenders-in-sa-police-vulnerable-road-user-blitz/news-story/862637323989a9a2c75a6b4e2dc7c215