Not fare … the battle of bike rider and bus driver
Dr. Sir John Howard, AC, WSCMoF
CYCLISTS have slammed the actions of a fellow rider who allegedly boarded a bus
and assaulted the driver after riding illegally on a T-Way lane in Sydney's
north-west last Friday morning.
Cycling forums were buzzing yesterday as many riders and other motorists
condemned the alleged assault, but some said buses did not take enough notice of
bike riders.
The 64-year-old bus driver was able to defend himself. The Transport Workers
Union wants all bus drivers to be trained in self-defence.
The union's bus industry official, Darcy Waller, said people who attack bus
drivers should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
''If bike riders want the respect of the road, they need to respect the road as
well,'' he said. ''I can understand how drivers would be apprehensive going to
work - most people want to do their work and come home safely.''
During peak hour in the city yesterday, the Herald noticed a minority of bike
riders flouting the law, including running red lights, riding the wrong way in
one-way streets and riding without helmets.
But most of the riders stopped at traffic lights and followed the road rules.
A City of Sydney spokeswoman said city rangers look out for anyone behaving
''inappropriately''.
''If a cyclist is seen to be behaving inappropriately, the ranger will ask a
cyclist to stop, and will then ask for a name and address and issue them with a
caution or, where appropriate, a penalty notice for breaching in line with
signage [any act which may cause inconvenience or danger to others].''
City of Sydney data show that in 2007 only five crashes involving cyclists and
cross traffic occurred at traffic-light controlled intersections within the City
of Sydney, while 151 crashes involved motor vehicles.
A spokeswoman for the Police Minister, Michael Daley, said police enforce
cycling infringements but riders were subject to a different set of fines, which
were usually less than those given to motorists.
It was ''simply unacceptable'' for bike riders to break road rules, Bicycle
NSW's chief executive officer, Alex Unwin, said.
''It's not really about punishment and how much or little but there's a set of
laws and they are there for a reason,'' he said.
''If someone jumps a red light on a bike they should be fined.''
Parramatta police superintendent Philip Flogel appealed to the public for help
finding the male cyclist, who was described as being of white or European
appearance, in his 30s and about 178 centimetres tall.
He was wearing a blue helmet and bike clothing.
==========================
Let's hope this snowballs into real action. Its about time the cyclists who
think they're beyond the law are brought to book. Especially the cycle couriers
in the city.
--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ipvdBnU8F8
- KRudd at his finest.
"The Labour Party is corrupt beyond redemption!"
- Labour hasbeen Mark Latham in a moment of honest clarity.
"This is the recession we had to have!"
- Paul Keating explaining why he gave Australia another Labour recession.
"Silly old bugger!"
- Well known ACTU pisspot and sometime Labour prime minister Bob Hawke
responding to a pensioner who dared ask for more.
"By 1990, no child will live in poverty"
- Bob Hawke again, desperate to win another election.
"A billion trees ..."
- Borke, pissed as a newt again.
"Well may we say 'God save the Queen' because nothing will save the governor
general!"
- Egotistical shithead and pompous fuckwit E.G. Whitlam whining about his
appointee for Governor General John Kerr.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU DUMB CUNT!"
- FlangesBum on learning the truth about Labour's economic capabilities.
"I don't care what you fuckers think!"
- KRudd the KRude at his finest again.
"We'll just change it all when we get in."
- Garrett the carrott
Claude
Dr. Sir John Howard, AC, WSCMoF
> This incident is bringing out the loonies
>
> http://www.nationaltimes.com.au/opinion/blogs/blunt-instrument/vicious-cycle-no-surprise/20091026-hfea.html
LOL! That clown is a wheel short of a unicycle.
terryc
> This incident is bringing out the loonies
Just another impotent cager trying desperately for attention.
"John Birmingham tells stories. Most of them true."
Right.
The really shocking bit is that this is under the National Times banner.
It was a very informative newspaper in its first life. Guess it is now a
good example of how journalistic standards have fallen. No wonder less
people are buying newspapers.
Ken & Stace
story yet.
Why was the actual ALLEGED assault not shown on YOUTUBE? Perhaps it was not
as bad as the media is making out? The lead up was shown but not the result.
The bus driver is 64 years old and harldy bears any resemblance to Mike
Tyson. He was taught self defence? I find it hard to believe this would
enable him to fight off anyone trying to carry out a determined assault. The
course they are given does not give them a black belt.
HOWEVER, it appears the rider has made some kind of contact to the driver
which is assault.
BUT, it is illegal to ride those roads. They are seperate roads (not just
lanes) with BUS ONLY signs on them. No cars, bikes or pedestrians allowed.
BUS ONLY signs mean exactly that. It's on the RTA website. It is the same as
having NO BICYCLE signs there. If the rider didn't know that it's his
problem. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
That does not give the bus driver an excuse to endanger the riders life. If
he had hit the rider and the rider was killed, there would have been charges
if witnesses could testify IF the driver had made no serious attempt to
avoid him.
In the past, the police would turn a blind eye to bicycle riders or stop you
and inform you it is illegal to ride on them. I have never heard of any
being fined.
Because of this, we wont be able to ride on them. It will mean a fine.
It's a shame the rider didn't keep his temper just a bit longer. He
ultimaltely has lost and turned many of us against him.
Cheers
Ken
"terryc" <newsnine...@woa.com.au> wrote in message
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