Melbourne cyclist calls for better protections for riders after he was left with broken bones and a costly bill

After he was left with shattered bones and thousands of dollars out of pocket, a Melbourne man has shed light on a critical blind spot that could leave cyclists vulnerable.

Mr Cresp was seriously injured in a cycling accident in 2019. Picture: Ian Currie

A cyclist is calling for a boycott of Melbourne’s bike paths after an accident left him seriously injured and tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket.

Five years on from a collision with a pedestrian, business owner Rohan Cresp has spoken out to warn his fellow cyclists about the lack of protections they have when they use bike paths, rather than lanes.

Mr Cresp, who took out a comprehensive insurance package with Bicycle Network Victoria, believed that if tragedy ever struck, he would be covered for his injuries.

But he said he could not have foreseen the world of pain he was about to endure when a pedestrian stepped out in front of him – without looking – while he was riding on a bike path in Docklands on August 29, 2019.

“I have been in ongoing pain for almost five years and I still can’t see the finish line,” he said.

“I have at least another two years ahead of me where every day is full of pain and struggle.”

The 61-year-old shattered bones in his shoulder and has undergone five costly surgeries to mend the injury, with a sixth surgery scheduled for later this month.

Mr Cresp has called for cyclists to boycott Melbourne’s bike paths until they are afforded adequate protections and insurance. Picture: Ian Currie

The avid cyclist will never again have the full use of his right arm and claims he has spent about $60,000 to cover his costs.

“Injuries like this can destroy someone’s life in a moment,” he said.

Mr Cresp said there is a critical blind spot being ignored by all levels of government that left cyclists vulnerable to a lack of coverage while riding around the city.

Cyclists are covered by the Transport Accident Commission if they are injured in a car accident while riding in a bike lane, but there is no similar scheme in place for those riding on a bike path.

Instead, they must rely on their own public or private healthcare insurance.

“It’s wrong that riders in one lane are fully covered by TAC but on a connecting path they’re

not covered at all,” Mr Cresp said.

“This gap needs to be fixed and until it is, people need to know about this risk.

“Until this problem is fixed nobody should be riding bikes in Victoria.”

Mr Cresp said there is a critical blind spot being ignored by all levels of government that left cyclists vulnerable to a lack of coverage while riding around the city. Picture: David Caird

Bicycle Network Victoria, the peak industry group available to cyclists across the state, has major shortcomings with its own insurance, according to Mr Cresp.

Payouts are capped at 52 weeks, regardless of severity of injury, with $0 coverage for fractured bones, return-to-work assistance or reconstructive surgery.

A Bicycle Network Victoria spokesman said they were unable to comment on the matter.

Dean Hurlston, president of ratepayer advocacy group Council Watch, said: “We have long been advocating that most bike paths (not lanes) are unregulated and unsafe.”

“Councils need to take this seriously and quickly offer insurance coverage OR remove all bike paths immediately.”