Victoria ‘too dangerous’ for cyclists, new survey finds

DRIVERS have branded Victoria’s roads too dangerous for cyclists, with two in five motorists reporting a near-miss.

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DRIVERS have branded Victoria’s roads too dangerous for cyclists, with two in five motorists reporting a near-miss.

And a survey also reveals support for mandatory registration and insurance of riders. More than half of 2000 drivers questioned backed the idea.

The survey, by comparison website finder.com.au, found an increasing number of close calls where drivers were “terrifyingly close to cyclists”.

70 per cent of drivers believed roads were “too dangerous” for cyclists. ­Almost two-thirds wanted more bike paths to improve safety.

RACV roads and traffic manager Dave Jones said legislative change was needed to keep bikes and cars apart.

“Minimum lane widths for bicycles and cars should be mandated for all public roads in Victoria,’’ Mr Jones said.

“Where space is constrained, on-street parking should be removed, making way for separated bike lanes and wider footpaths.”

More than 150 cyclists have died on Australian roads since 2013 — 39 of them in Victoria.

New data is indicating Victorian cyclists are at risk on the road. Picture: Steve Tanner

The Herald Sun last week reported cars and trucks constantly parked in bike lanes in central Melbourne.

The Greens want cars to leave a minimum 1m distance ­between cars and bikes if under 60km/h and 1.5m for higher speeds.

But a Bill before parliament is unlikely to get final support, with the government favouring an education campaign.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Julie-Anne Newman said safe cycling was about all road users having consideration for each other.

“We do identify cyclists as vulnerable road users, as little is separating them from the road and other traffic and they don’t have the same protection as a driver in a vehicle,” she said.

A road-safety blitz in Glen Eira, Bayside, Moreland, Port Phillip and Yarra municipalities found a high level of compliance among ­cyclists.

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Drivers weigh in on road safety for cyclists.

Traffic signals, distractions and safety equipment were among the target areas of the blitz.

Of 377 offences detected among all road users over four Saturdays, 43 related to ­bicycles.

Support for mandatory registration of cyclists in the ­finder.com.au survey comes after the family of a pedestrian killed by a bike backed such a move.

Norman MacKenzie, 85, was crossing Jacka Blvd when he was hit, but an investigation found the cyclist was not at fault.

Bicycle Network chief executive Craig Richards said registration was “ridiculous”.

“It’s not only a financial and administrative burden, it’s overkill,” he said.

The RACV is also against mandatory registration and insurance for bicycle riders.

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