Bike SA chief Sue Bowman says riders have ‘legal right’ to use all roads amid Main South Rd cyclist ban call

As calls mount to ban cyclists from a notorious road in Adelaide’s south, the CEO of a top SA cycling group says riders “have a legal right” to use it.

The CEO of South Australia’s top cycling institution has hit back at a claim riders should be banned from a notorious stretch of road in Adelaide’s south – urging the state government to instead “consider comprehensive road safety solutions”.

It comes after a near-miss on Main South Rd at Wattle Flat between a car and a truck, which had pulled into oncoming traffic to avoid a 4WD slowing suddenly for a pedal trike. It was caught on dashcam, which went viral.

Bike SA chief Sue Bowman said the shocking moment - and a horrific double-fatal crash a day later 400m up the road - was a “solemn reminder of the importance of road safety for all users”.

“In response to the tragic incident on Main South Rd and the calls for banning cyclists, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families affected by the recent crash,” Ms Bowman said.

Alternate vision of the near-miss involving a 3-wheel cyclist and a truck that had to take evasive action to avoid crashing. Picture: Supplied

A truck carrying live sheep was forced to swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid colliding with the white 4WD. Picture: Supplied.

“Cyclists have a legal right to use South Australia’s roads, including rural and regional routes like Main South Rd. Our focus, however, is on ensuring that these rights are accompanied by necessary infrastructure improvements that prioritise everyone’s safety.

“Main South Rd’s narrow and high-traffic nature poses challenges, which underscores the need for more investment in dedicated cycling routes or, at a minimum, roadway upgrades that improve conditions for all.”

The footage from November 3, shows the terrifying close call on Main South Rd, between Myponga and Yankalilla – the same stretch where two women were killed in a horrific smash just 400m away at Wattle Flat the next day.

Major Crash on the scene of a serious accident near Wattle Flat. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

A map showing how close the double fatal crash and the near-miss were to each other.

The driver of the vehicle nearly struck by the truck urged the state government and local council to consider banning cyclists from Main South Rd after experiencing “one of the scariest moments” of his life.

Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis has said cyclists would not be banned, but questioned the thought process behind the cyclist captured on dashcam footage.

“While the mere presence of cyclists on any road in itself does not constitute a hazard, I would question the wisdom of operating a reclining pedal tricycle across a narrow bridge on a busy freight route,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“It is the responsibility of each individual to adhere to the Australian Road Rules and exercise due care.”

Yankalilla Hotel manager Kingsley Smith told The Advertiser he travelled along Main South Rd up to six days a week and believed the road’s condition was getting worse.

“It’s been deteriorating over the course of time because of the lack of maintenance,” Mr Smith said. “I can’t even remember the last time they have actually done a lot of work on the road down here.

“Everyone’s the same – the talk around the whole town, the whole area, is that we all want something done about the roads. It’s just a matter of when they will and how much they actually do.”

Mr Smith said proposed overtaking lanes from Normanville to Cape Jervis “wouldn’t fix” the “real problem area” between Yankallila and Myponga.

“I don’t know where they are going to have room to do anything like that. It’s all hills … cliff-face and hillside,” he said.

Mr Koutsantonis said the state and federal governments were spending $168m on the National Road Safety Program to upgrade safety ratings of regional roads and deliver pedestrian and cycling safety improvements.

Originally published as Bike SA chief Sue Bowman says riders have ‘legal right’ to use all roads amid Main South Rd cyclist ban call