RACV wants more bike lanes, tougher tests for new drivers
A fresh call for adult cyclists to be registered has sparked a surprising response from the state’s biggest car club.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Victoria’s peak motoring body wants more bikes on Melbourne roads and extra tests on cycling rules for new drivers.
The RACV, which has more than two million members, has called for licence tests to include a module on cyclists and other vulnerable road users.
RACV general manager mobility Elizabeth Kim said all motorists would benefit from extra cyclists.
“Every bike journey to work reduces the number of cars on the road and alleviates congestion and pollution,” Ms Kim said.
“Our support for cycling and walking therefore directly benefits those who drive.”
Ms Kim called on the state government to increase funding for cycling infrastructure, such as bike lanes, to separate bike riders from motorists and pedestrians.
She said the RACV would back any steps that taught prospective drivers how to safely share the road with cyclists and vulnerable road users.
“We support educational components VicRoads can include in their driver's licence testing requirements to ensure that this happens,” Ms Kim said.
According to the Department of Transport the learners permit, hazard perception and driving tests all included elements on sharing the road with cyclists.
“A road rule education tool was launched online earlier this year to help everyone brush up on their road safety knowledge and better understand safe driving and sharing the road,” a spokesman said.
“Last year we also introduced minimum passing distance laws to improve cyclist safety and make it easier to enforce reckless driver behaviour.”
It is now mandatory for motorists to give riders at least one metre clearance when overtaking on roads up to 60km/h, and 1.5 metres on roads with speed limits above 60km/h
The call to increase driver education came after a Leader poll revealed overwhelming support for compulsory registration for cyclists following an incident on the Mornington Peninsula.
The survey of more than 1500 people found 86 per cent were in favour of the move.
Of the 1541 respondents almost half (738) believed the initiative would better protect all road users and a further 20 per cent (317) thought cyclists should contribute to road maintenance via registration.
Another 18 per cent (273) thought cyclists should be restricted to bike paths.
Just 12 per cent (182) argued that most cyclists were already contributing via car registration and 2 per cent (31) felt cyclists should be exempt from extra charges because they were helping the environment.
The poll was conducted after a Mount Martha man called for compulsory registration for “serious” adult cyclists after he was allegedly run off the road by a pair of cyclists.
However, Ms Kim said the RACV did not support introducing registration or licences for cyclists.
“Because cycling is enjoyed by people of all ages, it would be more practical to invest in road education and training rather than implement a licence system,” she said.
The Department of Transport had no plan to introduce registrations for adult cyclists because there was no evidence to suggest it would lead to an increase in overall compliance or safety on the roads.