Fed-up road users call out cyclists who regularly flout road rules and call for renewed road safety campaign
Some SA cyclists continue to disregard road rules, placing themselves and other road users at risk – sparking calls for a road safety campaign targeted at problem riders.
SA News
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The wife of a cyclist killed in a freak road accident has raised fears the lives of other riders are at risk on the road.
Margaret Vandenberg, 57, from North Plympton, whose husband Chief Petty Officer Kane Vandenberg died in 2013, is also calling for fresh road safety campaigns to warn cyclists of dangers.
About 17 per cent of South Australians cycle weekly — with some of these cyclists taking up full lanes, though it was unclear if they were simply overtaking each other, which is permitted.
Ms Vandenberg said the tragic loss of her husband makes her even more frustrated with some “self-righteous” cyclists who ignore road rules and place themselves and other road users at risk.
“My husband was competing in a defence cycling competition in Canberra in 2013,” she said.
“A wind gust knocked him off his bike and he ruptured his aorta and died instantly.”
Ms Vandenberg is concerned some cyclists are also combative and down right rude when challenged about how they share the roadwith cars.
“My partner and I regularly drive along routes like Anzac Highway, Military Rd, Seaview Rd and Burbridge Rd,” she said.
“We frequently see cyclists ignoring key road rules such as riding no more than two abreast.”
She reported an incident that took place on Military Rd on March 2.
“I observed a group of cyclists taking up an entire lane while riding three to four abreast,” she said.
Her partner David told the cyclist to read the road rules.
“He was told to ‘f--k off’, called a ‘monkey’ and told to ‘pull over’ — obviously they wanted to instigate a fight.”
Bike SA told The Advertiser these rule-flouting cyclists were in the minority, while pointing the finger at motorists, rather than cyclists for road accidents.
“The vast majority of cyclists follow road rules and ride responsibly,” a spokesman said.
“The data shows that most collisions involving cyclists in South Australia are due to driver error rather than rule-breaking by cyclists.”
Ms Vandenberg believes the government’s road safety campaigns are inadequate.
“Road safety campaigns regularly focus on drivers and motorcyclists, but there seems to be a lack of similar attention given to cyclists,” Ms Vandenberg said.
“We would like to see more government-led education campaigns to improve road safety for all road users,” the Bike SA spokesman said.
The state government currently promotes THINK! Road Safety and Way2Go Bike Education, with SAPOL also producing a number of advertisements.
SA road laws classify cyclists as “vehicles”, and therefore “must obey the same road rules as motor vehicle drivers”.
“Cyclists are vulnerable road users,” the Bike SA spokesman said.
“Encouraging mutual respect and better infrastructure for all road users will create a safer environment, reducing conflict.”
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Originally published as Fed-up road users call out cyclists who regularly flout road rules and call for renewed road safety campaign
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