Warniegate! The cyclist’s side

Anyone else surprised?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/warne-blasts-cyclists-on-twitter/comments-fn7x8me2-1226246735306

I have also been reading through the comments. A lot of angst in there.

This is crazy. How Shane Warne could deem his behaviour acceptable is just beyond me. 

This case will be solved with quiet a lot of ease. If there are such witness’ as the above cyclists state, then Shane will be in strife. Hit and Run (weather incidental or not, weather serious injury or not) is a serious offence. 

Collaborative witness statements combined with Shanes recent tirade on twitter should provide evidence enough to the authorities as to what occurred. I trust they will act accordingly.

Excellent. I’m so pleased that the cyclist’s side of the story has come out. I know that intersection very well, and it’s a tricky one because there’s a lot more to navigating it than just following the road rules.

While I’m here, I feel the need to promote my response to Warne’s call
for cyclists to register and display number plates (I hope I’m allowed to do this Wade):
http://davidjohnstone.net/blog/2012/01/shane-warne-vs-cyclists-registration-and-number-plates

This story is about to go viral

I’ts a shame that high profile morons like Warnie will bring out the mob mentality amongst some drivers, who will now be more inclined to think it is ok to threaten, abuse or ‘clip’ cyclists.  As the cyclist involved has mentioned, we ALL need to work together to make the roads safer. *sigh*

Here is a choice cut from the Herald Sun Comments:

Leeroy of Lala Land Posted at 9:39 PM January 17, 2012

I don’t drive my car on your bike paths, so take you bikes off my roads!

Comment 63 of 269

Yes amazing hey Josh.  I started reading them, then got so dispirited that I stopped.  People like Warnie legitimize this type of behavior, reminds me of Pauline Hansen and her behavior, which legitimized shocking behavior and attitudes towards migrants. Why do anti-cyclists seem to think that we don’t pay ‘road tax’? (Not that there is such a thing). Most cyclists I know also have a car. We just choose to use it less!

Warne’s twitter rant published here …. 
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/warne-blasts-cyclists-on-twitter/story-fn7x8me2-1226246735306

Herald Sun has published a large article in today’s Herald Sun.

The negative attention to cyclists in the media is extremely dissapointing, ery interesting to read the cyclists version.  thank you.

A quick point relating to ‘road tax’ etc… the impact of a bike on the road infrastructure, road congestion, environment, deterioration of services and physical size of the vehicle make registration pointless. To establish the financial impact of a bike using the road as compared to a car would be so one sided that to establish an equitable fee would deem it so insignificant as to make it unviable to administer.
Tax and rego is not the issue. Its attitudes that need to change.
If the above cyclist is telling the truth (witnesses are the key here) then Warne has to pay, if the cyclist was indeed holding the car and smashing the bonnet, then he should be fined.

This aggressive behaviour is precisely the reason that a message of mutual respect is so critical, but seemingly impossible to achieve.
Nothing short of appalling behaviour and from a supposed Australian sporting icon is utterly disgraceful.

This aggressive behaviour is precisely the reason that a message of mutual respect is so critical, but seemingly impossible to achieve.
Nothing short of appalling behaviour and from a supposed Australian sporting icon is utterly disgraceful.

Weird that, I encountered an old nissan skyline driving along (50km/h ish) the eastlink trail a couple of weeks ago.  

Weird that, I encountered an old nissan skyline driving along (50km/h ish) the eastlink trail a couple of weeks ago.  

I sincerely hope this guy has multiple witnesses (preferably not known to him previously) and the accounts are watertight.

Will be very interesting to see how the mainstream press play this – perfect tabloid fodder.

Highlarious. Warne tries to be the good guy (on the surface his calls for everyone to play nice are sensible), then we get the other side of the story.

Be interesting to see what the Hot Fuzz come up with.

No real surprise. Warne’s twitter comments did prick my bigot alarm. Thanks for getting the other side of story out Wade.

Shane was probably distracted texting Liz about how the new mango flavoured slim shake is surprisingly fruity

Good on you for sharing this Wade. I really hope that Warne at the very least pays the damages, if not publicly apologises (what’s the likelihood of that I wonder).

Tried to say to the Herald Sun there was more to this story than Warnies version.
Clearly they are enjoying the anti-cyclist Jihad too much.
This will blow up for Warnie.
Leaving the scene of an accident for a start.

just to be clear, I’m confirming the legitimacy of this which seems to be difficult to be 100% certain. The SHM has reported that Warne was driving a Ferrari but this letter says it was a Merc.

Please do implement a ‘road tax’ system for cyclist in Australia so that the world could laugh at you. 

The traffic light cycle at that intersection should be changed so that the cars coming from Toorak Rd have an opportunity to get around on to Kings Way (either shorten the green from Toorak Rd, or extend the green arrow for the turn onto Kings Way). This will help to remove this conflict. The other change that should be made is an alteration to the bike lane so that it doesn’t end in a left hand turn lane, which is ridiculous.

I for one was pretty appalled by the whole thing, after reading tweets and comments late last night. Tracey Grimshaw even weighed into the argument, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see yet another one sided argument presented in the media. The unfortunate truth is, the cyclists side will probably never be presented in print or anywhere else on mainstream media sites. The damage is literally done. Unfortunately, Motorists dislike any interruption to their journey and we are a big bright shiny target for their frustration.

Nice to read the cyclists point of view. ALWAYS 2 sides to a story, and I’m sure other media like ch9 News may be interested to hear this man’s side !

The media don’t understand the impact of this kind of story. Like many of you, I ride to and from work. Most of it on bike way and dedicated bike lanes so I don’t interact much with cars. But there’s sections where you can’t avoid it. Stories like this just raise the outrage of drivers towards cyclists. All it takes is one to think “I’ll give this guy a scare as payback for Warnie” and it could be something very serious.

A really good point Mark. A lot of people misunderstand what their money actually goes to and the minimal abrasion and ea cyclist have on the road. We also, despite what a lot of people seem to think, don’t really cause that much congestion (unless we are poorly integrated into the traffic).

I just don’t understand the vitriol reserved for cyclists. Drivers who get in their cars drunk and kill kids don’t get this sort of collective communal and national anger directed at them.

Doesn’t matter, its all good advertising for the TDU.

Warne said he was driving a merc

I’ll pay bike rego if motorists pay
- road congestion tax
- carbon tax (which they currently don’t)
- proportional rego in line with repairing damage done to roads
- compulsory third party insurance in line with the permanent injuries and property damage motorists cause cyclists  and vice versa.
- motorists who park/block bicycle lanes are fined the same  as for blocking a roadway.

If cyclists have to use rego plates, then pedestrians should too so they can be identified for walking on shared bike paths and roads in an illegal and dangerous manner. 

Stuff it, why not just have everyone have a number and barcode tattoo’ed to their forehead, arms, and legs, so all the perpetrators of more serious criminal behavior can be reported/identified.

Warne himself said it was a Merc on Twitter, so that, at least, is 100% correct.

If this turns out to be true, I think Warne’s punishment should be to ride the route for a week with the cyclist. Spend a Week in his cleats so to speak.

” began the precarious weave through the stationary traffic” So the rider admits he was in the wrong and broke the rules. Perhaps if he followed the rules (like he expects car drivers to) then this whole scenario would have been avoided. But, as usual, cyclists failure to follow the rules results in them causing trouble. Look in the mirror mate.

Warne himself on Twitter said there was some facts wrong in the newspaper reports and that he drives a Merc, not a Ferrari.
https://twitter.com/#!/warne888/status/159220050237206528

Dear Cyclist,

Thank you for your frank and open comments regarding the incident. The Amy Gillett Foundation has been inundated with media requests this morning for statements regarding the debate and we are doing our best to reduce the heated topic. We are in full support of the final statements made by yourself  and will continue to work hard in improving the safe interaction of all road users.

Kind regards,
The Amy Gillett Foundation

Cyclists are allowed to filter past traffic – no rules broken. 

From Shane Warne himself: ‘For the record I do not own a Ferrari – I have a Mercedes & a Chrysler !!!! HELLO – once again please do not believe what you read !!!’

https://twitter.com/#!/warne888/status/159220050237206528

Let me say this, how do we know that the person who wrote this is the person involved, after all when Warnie is involved some people will do or say anything to get their 15 mins of fame.
I’m sure something happened between S.W and a cyclist but is this the person???????

Let me say this, how do we know that the person who wrote this is the person involved, after all when Warnie is involved some people will do or say anything to get their 15 mins of fame.
I’m sure something happened between S.W and a cyclist but is this the person???????

Here’s a scenario that in no way relates to Shane Warne:

1. Celebrity ex sports person is driving and sees a cyclist and feels inaquate, jealous, scared, etc. that this cyclist can more easily pass through traffic, does not understand road rules relating to cyclist, etc.

2. All this and some adrenaline gets the better of the driver and he intimidates, abuses or attacks the cyclist.  

3. As the driver calms down and realises that he just committed a crime and is a moron for doing it, he reports it to police, putting his side of the story first. Cops lap up the celebrity aura of the ex sports star as he adds lots of sauce to his story suggesting in some way that he was at risk from this cyclist despite being inside 3/4 a tonne of car. 

4. Whip up more of a storm on social media to get public sympathy, and hopefully also lots pressure for police to drop any charges. Note the previous police involvement and pressure not to proceed with charges involving St.Kilda footballers.

5. Speak to an anti-cyclist shock  jock on 3AW for more pressure and public sympathy.

6. Point to his Charity Foundation as a means of pretending what a great bloke he is (hoping the public will not realise the said charity does not disclose any financial information or proper evidence that a reasonable % of the donations actually go to the said causes, employs his brother and others, etc.).  

7. Distract from crime by creating hysteria about Rego and car vs cyclist rubbish (“look over there, a unicorn!”).

As I said, this in no way relates to what Shane Warne may or may not have done.

Just sayin’

As a cyclist that has been injured by a motorist that reversed out of a driveway into me I’m well aware how much hitting or being hit by a car hurts!

I’m still appalled at the stupidity of most cyclists in traffic, why risk your own safety by randomly weaving through cars in traffic? can’t wait in traffic? dismount and walk your bike along the footpath or better yet plan a route that uses quite roads or bike paths!

Ignorance is no excuse, we all know that riding a bicycle in traffic is dangerous even if both parties are trying to be safe a cyclist is exposed and unprotected. 

…Motorcycles are not allowed to lane split why should bicycles be excepted?

Good to see someone in a position of responsibility and influence intending to make a statement. Why doesn’t BV ever get involved in this sort of media frenzy to try to dispel some of the myths and temper some of the debate…

Great story… I hope the letter is legitimate… then Warnie will be in a world of humiliation but then again he is used to that really!

Motorcyles are allowed to split lanes when the traffic is stationary.

The most surprising thing about this is that you ‘recognised’ Warnie. :) Ahh, until 100% of both cyclists and motorists respect one another, this will continue to be an issue. Why do some people just hate so hard??  

If the traffic was not moving how did the car hit him and move enough to get the bike under the car?

This ‘story’ smells like bullshit to me, people don’t generally fly off the handle for no reason. Besides Warney is a cricketing legend, defiler of women and consumer of baked beans, he can run down as many holier than thou cyclists as he wants.

Motorcycles are allowed to lane split.
There is on specific law prohibiting lane splitting.
It is legal to pass a stationary vehicle in the same lane on the left hand side.

I hear Warnie’s Mum is handing out driving tips along with diet pills these days

The lights changed green and the cyclist had the right of way to keep going straight and continue his journey. If  Warnes car hadn’t been there blocking the intersection (rather than waiting at the lights for the intersection to clear, which is what should happen) then there would have been no problem.  The cyclist would have simply taken off and kept going.
Somewhere in the 300 hundred odd vitriolic hate filled comments being spewed forth on the Herald Sun, that point seems to have been lost. 

Amazingly rational and calm in such a storm. This cyclist is a legend and sounds like exactly the kind of person I want to share the road with. Great to hear that you filed a police report BEFORE all the attention.

CT, thanks again for your brilliant and cutting-edge blog.

Your comment: “…Motorcycles are not allowed to lane split ” is incorrect.

Hit n run…oh dear Warnie.

Would be good if the cops take this seriously but a recent Beach road incident I was involved in suggests that they could use some more training about traffic legislation.  Motorbike road at me, coaught up at lights to be told to pay rego, get off the road etc.  police took six months and did nothing.

Would be good if the cops take this seriously but a recent Beach road incident I was involved in suggests that they could use some more training about traffic legislation.  Motorbike road at me, coaught up at lights to be told to pay rego, get off the road etc.  police took six months and did nothing.

It will happen because the Government taxes everthing else

It will happen because the Government taxes everthing else

This occured on St Kilda rd – which is supposed to be one of the most bike friendly routes in Melbourne WITH bike paths in what is apparently the world’s second most bike friendly city!!!  Some serious change in attitude towards cyclists right to be on the rds is required. 

This occured on St Kilda rd – which is supposed to be one of the most bike friendly routes in Melbourne WITH bike paths in what is apparently the world’s second most bike friendly city!!!  Some serious change in attitude towards cyclists right to be on the rds is required. 

In Warnie’s defence, his mum gave him the car and made him drive it. #notguilty

In Warnie’s defence, his mum gave him the car and made him drive it. #notguilty

They do say that the best form of defence is attack – and it appears Mr Warne has launched straight into that. When I first heard this on the news, it just didn’t ‘smell’ right – and this logical and balanced account of events confirms my first thought that Warne’s had another brain-fade. We all need to do our bit and respect each other on the road – drivers, cyclists & pedestrians. Each is as guilty of the other of careless and at times reckless actions.

They do say that the best form of defence is attack – and it appears Mr Warne has launched straight into that. When I first heard this on the news, it just didn’t ‘smell’ right – and this logical and balanced account of events confirms my first thought that Warne’s had another brain-fade. We all need to do our bit and respect each other on the road – drivers, cyclists & pedestrians. Each is as guilty of the other of careless and at times reckless actions.

I chatted on the phone with the alleged cyclist and all his details line up. I have no reason to believe he’s not legitimate. He has some evidence that makes his story very believable but can’t say what it is right now

I chatted on the phone with the alleged cyclist and all his details line up. I have no reason to believe he’s not legitimate. He has some evidence that makes his story very believable but can’t say what it is right now

You left out “Signs a few cricket balls for the constables..”

Should say ‘no specific law’

Did you read the letter? 

“As the traffic was stationary I unclipped my
right foot and squeezed through the small gap. The driver in the car on my
right, the Mercedes – possibly concerned I might damage his car – yelled out to
me. Once I was through the gap I moved back into the centre lane, stopped and
looked back at the driver, who was still yelling, to hear what he was saying.”

I hope we can both agree that the traffic was stationary.

“..and began to get ready to clip into my bike to continue the ride home. But before I could the driver lurched his car forward forcing my bike wheel and almost my leg under the front of his car. ” 

The traffic may or may not have moved off at this point, but that completely irrelevant.

Another song for Shane Warne the musical.

He’s been caught with his pants down before has Warney (so to speak). Would not be surprised if this is another one.

It does not relate to ex sports star and celebrity Rex Hunt, who was found guilty of attacking a cyclist on Beach Road. The cyclist was not charged, despite Rex Hunt claiming the cyclist attacked him.  

http://www.theage.com.au/national/rex-hunt-found-guilty-of-cyclist-attack-charge-20090508-axd5.html

I’d add that all cars would need to be speed limited via GPS so that speeding is a crime consigned to history.

Think of the lives saved & police resources freed up.

Don’t believe you Mr cyclist.

I take that back… not the best response advocating for registration.

also this:

“I think paying for the use of the road is not the issue here, but as a
bike rider I’d be happy to pay $20 or $50 to have the right to use the
road.”

You already have the right to use it for free – why would you want to pay for the same right…makes no sense…

Although i dont condone this sort of behaviour from Shane Warne, i think it is very frustrating from a drivers perspective cyclists weaving between cars for example at traffic lights.

Good Point Henry, don’t believe everything you read including what this cyclist has to say as we don’t know if that’s the truth either.  At least now we know his name.

Good Point Henry, don’t believe everything you read including what this cyclist has to say as we don’t know if that’s the truth either.  At least now we know his name.

I’m pretty sure Warne has a contract with Ch 9, so if they do anything I’d unfortunately expect auff piece rather than a balanced view.

A signed photo of him and Warnie taken at the scene? A lock of Liz Hurley’s Hair?

Too late for a breath test….

Plead the Alan Bond defense!

Let us hope so. Let us also hope he has sound witnesses. Then ole Warnie may be in a bit of trouble, lying to police, hit and run….

I don’t believe Warne either. It’s your word VS Warne’s… who’s right and who’s wrong?

Surely if there were witnesses they would come forwards. Lets get an impartial view from a bystander.

Yes you give good evidence in pictures… but I don’t know. 

These drivers vs cyclist debates are getting old and tiring. Every week something new.

I don’t ride a bike as I don’t trust drivers.

To quote Mr. Warne from the herald sun story; “…its a good thing he didn’t … I might have put my foot down and hit him” (!!!!!)
Sounds like he may have done exactly that.
It’s disappointing and telling that such a thing should be voiced in the media (such as it is) as acceptable behavior.
He just does not appear to understand that it’s not ok to run people over (!!!!) if they ‘get in my way’.
It also seems as though his story has changed a bit in the Age story. A sure sign that something’s amiss.

You might also find it frustrating that:
Somebody else earns more than you
Somebody else got “your” promotion
Somebody else has a hotter partner than you

Doesn’t ever entitle you to hit them with your car.

How is it frustrating? Describe how this causes you frustration please.

It’s very disappointing to hear that you advocate a look into the absurd idea of bike registration. Total waste of money.

Warne, if it’s true, would have had to hit him pretty bloody hard to bend the wheel like that. If it is true, and IF Warne did hit him, where is the photo of the dent in the weel? Surely there would be one.

I’m not saying hitting somebody is right, it’s clearly not and if proven he needs to be severely punished, but there needs to be more evidence shown by either a 3rd party or a photo of the dent.

You’re  a troll.  Mate.

I know the girl that approached the cyclist and  I talked to her about an hour after the incident – stating that she saw the car rev forward to deliberately hit  the cyclist,  neither of us could believe that at the time the cyclist said he wasn’t going to press charges, glad he has come to his senses and talked to the police! RE: ‘Vistas’ -  Whether the cyclist was in the wrong or not – Warne deliberately hit the cyclist with his car, are you condoning road rage?

Whether or not cyclists SHOULD be allowed to lane filter (not lane split) doesn’t change the fact that they ARE allowed to.

And if you read the article above, the cyclists WAS attempting to reach the cycle path you so loudly advocate using – but as usual the links BETWEEN cycle infrasturtcure were lacking…..

I’m all against cyclists behaving stupidly, but I am also firmly against the ignorance of many drivers acting as if they own the road, and the celebrity wannabe arrogance of Mr Spin-king here, believing that an opion, a twitter account and an attitude is sufficient to claim being the victim.

Perhaps Shane’s excuse could have been that his mum was driving?

Amy Gillett Foundation CEO Tracy Gaudry is calling for a thorough investigation into the prospect of registration for cyclists. 

“She said many cyclists were also motorists and so already paid for the right to use the road.
“I think paying for the use of the road is not the issue here, but as a bike rider I’d be happy to pay $20 or $50 to have the right to use the road.”
Motorists don’t pay for the right to use the roads. Roads are a public asset, funded out of general tax revenue for all to use. You can be banned from driving, but you can’t be banned from using a road. 
I don’t think this fella should donate his pay to an organisation whose CEO is so misinformed. It’s a real shame, because everything about the organisation is of great benefit to society; they really do a good job. But this attitude just flies in the face of common sense.

Amy Gillett Foundation CEO Tracy Gaudry is calling for a thorough investigation into the prospect of registration for cyclists. 

“She said many cyclists were also motorists and so already paid for the right to use the road.
“I think paying for the use of the road is not the issue here, but as a bike rider I’d be happy to pay $20 or $50 to have the right to use the road.”
Motorists don’t pay for the right to use the roads. Roads are a public asset, funded out of general tax revenue for all to use. You can be banned from driving, but you can’t be banned from using a road. 
I don’t think this fella should donate his pay to an organisation whose CEO is so misinformed. It’s a real shame, because everything about the organisation is of great benefit to society; they really do a good job. But this attitude just flies in the face of common sense.

Lane splitting legal or not, traffic moving or not the point is this cyclist put himself in harms way like many others!

I draw your attention to this part of his letter:

“I and the other 10 or so cyclists at the intersection began the precarious weave through the stationary traffic”

Precarious, that would insinuate dangerous, like Precarious cliff edge would it not? so why do cyclists put themselves in dangerous situations? 

ride smart don’t put yourself in situations where a dickhead in a car could hit you, this maybe the nanny state but come on a little forethought around the point where he unclips to squeeze through and we could of avoided more airtime for warnys ugly head, nobody hurt and life go’s on and more time spent on driver / rider education then arguing who is right and wrong . 

Lane splitting legal or not, traffic moving or not the point is this cyclist put himself in harms way like many others!

I draw your attention to this part of his letter:

“I and the other 10 or so cyclists at the intersection began the precarious weave through the stationary traffic”

Precarious, that would insinuate dangerous, like Precarious cliff edge would it not? so why do cyclists put themselves in dangerous situations? 

ride smart don’t put yourself in situations where a dickhead in a car could hit you, this maybe the nanny state but come on a little forethought around the point where he unclips to squeeze through and we could of avoided more airtime for warnys ugly head, nobody hurt and life go’s on and more time spent on driver / rider education then arguing who is right and wrong . 

Funny, because Warney is saying on Twitter “Ps we both know what happened & people next to me shook their head at your actions ! Enough – all move on please !”…

Hmmm, who to believe…?

Funny, because Warney is saying on Twitter “Ps we both know what happened & people next to me shook their head at your actions ! Enough – all move on please !”…

Hmmm, who to believe…?

True, but I guess if Warne is trumpeting his version from every possible media hilltop then the cyclist doesn’t really have any other choice but to give his version of events does he?  To be honest I hate these kinds of incidents because its then that you see how many people really hate cyclists.  Makes me even more scared to ride on the road – I avoid it like the plague and pretty much limit myself to cycle paths.

True, but I guess if Warne is trumpeting his version from every possible media hilltop then the cyclist doesn’t really have any other choice but to give his version of events does he?  To be honest I hate these kinds of incidents because its then that you see how many people really hate cyclists.  Makes me even more scared to ride on the road – I avoid it like the plague and pretty much limit myself to cycle paths.

well you riders just don’t get it? you are all innocent according to the posts on this site , you lot are a joke , seriously . Shane is just pointing out what many drivers have to put up with on the road, that is , violent , angry cyclists who risk their own lives every day. let me share with you my thoughts on this… you can try to prove your point on the road and if you get hit by a car or bus or truck OR tram then that is fine with me , the courts will deal with the driver but you have to be a cripple for the rest of your life. is that worth your cause?? i didn’t think so . please think of your futures and families every time you go out to ride , it might be your last , i don’t want anything bad to happen to ANYBODY but in the end , it will be the cyclist who will have to live with the physical consequences .

Clearly not a cyclist, yet claiming technical knowledge of what force causes a wheel to buckle?

Next time you are attacked by someone, I assume you won’t report it until you have collated your own 3rd party witness statements, photo’s, etc.? 

What’s it like under the bridge Troll?

 Yep – and the driver at fault who will have to live with the guilt, the fine, and the jail term (hopefully) for the rest of their life. It’s high time drivers recognised that they ARE responsible for their own actions….. Poor poor beleagured little Shane, set upon by evil lycra clad cyclists with their clippy shoes….. how DARE they go passed his eminent presence in traffic…..

If there was ever anyone who DIDN’T NEED more media scruitiny, it has got to be Warnie.

If anyone did that to me i will bring them down and make a big scene about it!!!
Atleast get him to pay for the damage done to your bike!!!!

Oh come on what a crock mate.   Sometimes there is no choice for start.  Secondly, if it’s possible to safely ride on the roads in some countries  (ie. The Netherlands) why is it not possible here?  It’s all to do with the road rules, implementation of said rules and driver / bike attitudes.  While I’m sure some cyclists break the rules, motorists are equally as bad if not worse.  The hate attitude is what gets me.  I’ve been swerved, yelled at, harrassed etc. for no reason whatsoever.  I was riding single-file to boot as I don’t believe in riding in parallel on the road.  Why?  Because I happen to wear lycra? 

Oh come on what a crock mate.   Sometimes there is no choice for start.  Secondly, if it’s possible to safely ride on the roads in some countries  (ie. The Netherlands) why is it not possible here?  It’s all to do with the road rules, implementation of said rules and driver / bike attitudes.  While I’m sure some cyclists break the rules, motorists are equally as bad if not worse.  The hate attitude is what gets me.  I’ve been swerved, yelled at, harrassed etc. for no reason whatsoever.  I was riding single-file to boot as I don’t believe in riding in parallel on the road.  Why?  Because I happen to wear lycra? 

is this a sign that Warnes relationship with Hurley is on the rocks? Any excuse to take it out on some else! Just saying

is this a sign that Warnes relationship with Hurley is on the rocks? Any excuse to take it out on some else! Just saying

Lane splitting in Australia is Illegal.
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/SafetyAndRules/RoadRules/Motorbikes.htm

Lane splitting in Australia is Illegal.
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/SafetyAndRules/RoadRules/Motorbikes.htm

Not necessarily – I remember chatting to someone one of the AGF people about this a while back.  I don’t recall the detail but the upside is that it could then get you a heap of insurance protection through the State 3rd party cover schemes, especially if you are hit while riding by an uninsured driver.  I’m not up on the details though.  It could be a very simple box tick on your driver’s insurance and it’s worth $20 alone to shut up the morons currently posting on the Herald Sun website once and for all.

Not necessarily – I remember chatting to someone one of the AGF people about this a while back.  I don’t recall the detail but the upside is that it could then get you a heap of insurance protection through the State 3rd party cover schemes, especially if you are hit while riding by an uninsured driver.  I’m not up on the details though.  It could be a very simple box tick on your driver’s insurance and it’s worth $20 alone to shut up the morons currently posting on the Herald Sun website once and for all.

There’s always two sides of the story. The best way to hide guilt is to use your media power and get on the front foot. This is what Shane Warne has done. Let the police run there investigation, talk to any independent witnesses and let’s see what the truth is. Based on Shane Warne’s track record, he has no credibility and the outcome should not be a surprise.

There’s always two sides of the story. The best way to hide guilt is to use your media power and get on the front foot. This is what Shane Warne has done. Let the police run there investigation, talk to any independent witnesses and let’s see what the truth is. Based on Shane Warne’s track record, he has no credibility and the outcome should not be a surprise.

Abdu, mate you are on a different planet then the rest of us if you think this is why it went down the way it did . i love the way that when someone has an opinion on something people like you feel compelled to believe that they have some sort of psychological malfunction that has caused this to happen , could it be that YOU sir are the one with the malfunction ? 

hmmm you mention that in now way does this relate to Shane Warne? i fail to recall a similar scenario so please explain why on earth did you post this is its in no relation to Shane Warne? this is typical of the cyclists attitudes when there is a difference of opinion. too many sheep….

Clearly, you’re correct. I have a bike I use on a bike path as I’m too scared to ride it on the road. Why, because I know the angst towards cyclists and I’m too scared to risk it.

All I’m saying is, we have two sides to the story and it would be nice if somebody who saw it came out and said ‘this is what happened’.

As it stands, it’s his against Warnes.

Absolute 100% factual truth… as it stands we will never know. Hence why a 3rd party witness would be nice!

Warne lost all credibility years ago. A man who took money from an Indian bookmaker and tested positive for drugs is not someone whose story I readily believe.
 I think as a cyclist the thing that annoys me is that Warne’s comments only inflame the bogans…on both sides. He should have kept the matter private and let the police deal with it. His opinion on whether cyclists should be registered should be kept to himself.

is it ok to retort to abusive cyclists?? theres always 2 sides to the story

I would be happy to pay a token rego if it stopped the road rage. But of course the excuse for abuse would just change to: “just because you pay registration, you think you own the road”. The attitude is just the same, the excuse is different.
Most of the registration cost is the TAC fee which pays for the injuries caused by cars. I don’t think too many drivers have ever been injured by cyclists.

Wow you got dispirited you had to stop reading posts? geez you sound like a total flake

To the aggrieved cyclist in question, I may be able to help you get a new bike. I write for a national media publication that is interested in telling your story.  Please text me on +64212655288 if you’re interested.

And Warnie, with all the grace and humility he is so well known for, when made aware that the cyclist’s side of the story has emerged, had this to say…..

warne888
Shane Warne

Have just seen bike riders version of events, please buddy – whatever !
I’m not going to get into a 5 year old tit for tat..

Warnie – you are a prat.

it will happen because you lot need to be accounted for. i say take you to the pet store and microchip you at the same time

You raise some good points.

Most cyclists are also motorists. An additional $50? levy allowing motorists to tick on their vehicle registration for ‘cycling insurance’ (rather than bicycle registration) to cover against injury, cycling infrastructure, whatever, would also be good for all concerned, be it govt, motorists and cyclists.

negative attention? dissapointing? its neither , its just the facts , people are fed up with cyclist behaviour. how do you think a driver feels ? there is nothing more scary when a cyclist is next to you because you don’t know what there gonna do . Drivers are the ones who feel scared of cyclists . 

‘One woman approached me offering assistance and asked, “Are you OK? Are you going to follow it up? I have the rego ” as she held her phone.’

That was me, I would like to put forward a witness statement I am just not sure how to go about this..

Maybe they were shaking their head at Warney, but he just can’t get past his ego to comprehend he may be in the wrong?

I think they’re too busy on Twitter trying to be personable.

I believe Shane

Are you daft? He said it had nothing to do with Warnie. Could be anyone?

If it did relate tho, it sounds accurate!

Where is the rule on this?

Did you read the the introduction?

i saw this happen how do i lodge a witness statement? just go to the police station?

its the best idea , what the problem? you scared you might be identifiable? how about if you got free ergo ? would that be better you tightarse

if i read correctly, he was weaving through cars illegally blocking an intersection. car drivers are there own worst enemies – insisting on entering blocked intersections (which is illegal) and creating gridlock. we wouldn’t need half the new freeways if drivers used common sense and obeyed the road rules.

anyway, once again, warney comes out of yet another incident proving what an utter goose he is. i just knew this was going to end badly for him when i first read his tweet, but it looks even worse than that now, haha.

Allan , this is the most sensible comment on this blog . Well done in showing me some cyclists have common sense. Good on you mate :-)

Allan , this is the most sensible comment on this blog . Well done in showing me some cyclists have common sense. Good on you mate :-)

Principle: A cyclist is a legitimate but vulnerable human being on the road.  All people deserve protection, both in law and in cultural norms, more so the vulnerable ones. 

Point 1.  The cultural norm is this country (and the USA) is very warped. The key reason is the historical failure of Police and the legal system to act appropriately. Many Police officers still have a bogan/old-school concept of cyclists as illegitimate, sub-human, not law-abiding etc etc. They see all cyclists as one group: ‘them’. Many of us have have very regrettable levels of support or even sympathy from officers. To me, this is the key failing in Australia. Magistrates & other lawyers also seem to suffer from the same bogan sympathies. I don’t know how this should be addressed, other than with my second point…

Point 2. Danish law makes drivers automatically responsible for all car-bike incidents (unless shown otherwise). This is what we need in Australia. If not, why not? Drivers are responsible for an unacceptably high level death and serious injury. Only some of this is addressed in law, in the enforcement of law (ie Police), and the practice of law (lawyers, e.g. where Police fail). Cultural views habits would soon change after a few legal cases make an example of irresponsible drivers.

This would put a halt to the us-them feuding, and more importantly, the injustices we put up with, not just as cyclists, but as a wider society which will always have cyclists.

Have you ever ridden a bike in traffic? By nature, it is precarious.

“You lot”. Nice. What about the drink/drunk drivers who do it all the time (and get away with it). Red light runners? Speeders?

Cyclists are the least of your worry mate. We’re value adding. You sir, sound value destructive.

With motor vehicle registration also comes limited injury insurance.  Cyclists are only protected if involved in a collision with a ‘moving’ motor vehicle. Hit a stationary vehicle, a pot hole, the back of another cyclists wheel, a door, whatever, and your up for your own injury insurance.

Whilst registration of cyclists/bicycles is too much of a mind field, paying a nominal fee with vehicle registration for cyclists to give cyclists some rights as to other motorists is a very good idea, I think this is what the AGF may be referring to. (see my levy post above).

With motor vehicle registration also comes limited injury insurance.  Cyclists are only protected if involved in a collision with a ‘moving’ motor vehicle. Hit a stationary vehicle, a pot hole, the back of another cyclists wheel, a door, whatever, and your up for your own injury insurance.

Whilst registration of cyclists/bicycles is too much of a mind field, paying a nominal fee with vehicle registration for cyclists to give cyclists some rights as to other motorists is a very good idea, I think this is what the AGF may be referring to. (see my levy post above).

I’m a hugely disappointed in the AGF’s comments on this issue. As others have said, why would you pay for something you already have the right to use? 

Why support the idea of registration that will do little to address rider safety? All it would do is make it harder to ride, and therefore fewer riders. Governments would then have less reasons to invest in infrastructure and awareness campaigns.”She said many cyclists were also motorists and so already paid for the right to use the road.”If the AGF said that, then it shows a huge lack of understanding. Registration isn’t the payment that provides rights to the road. Roads are funded by Governments, not registration.And even if bikes had number plates, what would it achieve? If Driver A went to the cops and said Bike X had gone though a red light, what could the cops do? Bike X would say “no I didn’t”, and it’s one person’s word against another’s. AGF, if you want to make the roads a safer place, this is not the way to do it.

I’m a hugely disappointed in the AGF’s comments on this issue. As others have said, why would you pay for something you already have the right to use? 

Why support the idea of registration that will do little to address rider safety? All it would do is make it harder to ride, and therefore fewer riders. Governments would then have less reasons to invest in infrastructure and awareness campaigns.”She said many cyclists were also motorists and so already paid for the right to use the road.”If the AGF said that, then it shows a huge lack of understanding. Registration isn’t the payment that provides rights to the road. Roads are funded by Governments, not registration.And even if bikes had number plates, what would it achieve? If Driver A went to the cops and said Bike X had gone though a red light, what could the cops do? Bike X would say “no I didn’t”, and it’s one person’s word against another’s. AGF, if you want to make the roads a safer place, this is not the way to do it.

So on that behaviour you justify attempted murder?
Just lovely!

I imagine a driver feels: angry, exhausted, fed up, miserable, probably overweight. Cyclists are an easy target. I know, because I used to be you. I was 88k (5’7″) drove every day, was angry at traffic, aggressive, hated cyclists etc.

Started riding. Bit of an eye opener, ya know? Lost 25kg. Rode 15,000km last year (to work, mainly, rain hail or shine). Drove 20,000km less. That is sure a lot of CO2e, eh? Took a car off the road. Still paid rego. Think I paid 40k in general taxes last year. Don’t have kids (no FTB A or B for me). The list goes on.

So on that behaviour you justify attempted murder?
Just lovely!

I imagine a driver feels: angry, exhausted, fed up, miserable, probably overweight. Cyclists are an easy target. I know, because I used to be you. I was 88k (5’7″) drove every day, was angry at traffic, aggressive, hated cyclists etc.

Started riding. Bit of an eye opener, ya know? Lost 25kg. Rode 15,000km last year (to work, mainly, rain hail or shine). Drove 20,000km less. That is sure a lot of CO2e, eh? Took a car off the road. Still paid rego. Think I paid 40k in general taxes last year. Don’t have kids (no FTB A or B for me). The list goes on.

Yes – go to the local station probably in the area that the incident happened. With all the interest in this incident all over the media you will probably be taken seriously if your report is serious.

And in case Warnie is following here too now he knows this article exists, don’t accept any match advice or tickets from him to change your story – he’s all spin anyway :) 

Yes – go to the local station probably in the area that the incident happened. With all the interest in this incident all over the media you will probably be taken seriously if your report is serious.

And in case Warnie is following here too now he knows this article exists, don’t accept any match advice or tickets from him to change your story – he’s all spin anyway :) 

I hope the guy pursues the legal path and people come forward, the media will crusifly warnie if he’s lied about all of this and attacked some one.. Something I’d love to see!

I hope the guy pursues the legal path and people come forward, the media will crusifly warnie if he’s lied about all of this and attacked some one.. Something I’d love to see!

Ok so because the cycle infrastructure was lacking the cyclist should (in the letter writers words) “precariously weave through traffic” to reach the bike path?

Legal to do so – Yes

Smart and safe – NO

Nothing is perfect and safe, but one needs to ride to the conditions and take a little responsibly for there own safety and if that means assuming every driver is warny and keeping well away from tight situations with cars at the expense of slightly increasing your transit time vs maybe losing your life?

let me be clear there is NO EXCUSE for the car drivers actions but the whole situation should not of happened in the first place because:

There should be better cycle infrastructure, 
Drivers should be more careful,
Cyclists should be more careful. 

Ok so because the cycle infrastructure was lacking the cyclist should (in the letter writers words) “precariously weave through traffic” to reach the bike path?

Legal to do so – Yes

Smart and safe – NO

Nothing is perfect and safe, but one needs to ride to the conditions and take a little responsibly for there own safety and if that means assuming every driver is warny and keeping well away from tight situations with cars at the expense of slightly increasing your transit time vs maybe losing your life?

let me be clear there is NO EXCUSE for the car drivers actions but the whole situation should not of happened in the first place because:

There should be better cycle infrastructure, 
Drivers should be more careful,
Cyclists should be more careful. 

The whole thing about bike rego, obey road rules, running red lights, and any other randon complaint about cyclists using the roads is just a load of crap……a red herring….the actual angst towards us stems from the pathetic Australian cultural cringe that can’t tolerate fit blokes with shiny muscular legs in lycra

The whole thing about bike rego, obey road rules, running red lights, and any other randon complaint about cyclists using the roads is just a load of crap……a red herring….the actual angst towards us stems from the pathetic Australian cultural cringe that can’t tolerate fit blokes with shiny muscular legs in lycra

There was no moon landing.

There was no moon landing.

I would contact your local police station and ask them. They should be able to assist.

How many of those drivers could be on bikes? Then there’d be less congestion.
Task for you – sit at Elwood BP at peak hour AM and count single occupant vehicles at a standstill (and clearly not tradies etc).

“…nothing more scary…”? Wow you must live a sheltered life.

I find it frustrating I’ve paid 300k in taxes in a decade and rarely been a drag on the system (few Medicare claims) and I’m told I need to pay more taxes just to ride my bike.

I find it frustrating that so many motorists sound like potential murderers.

Self-belief is important, Warnie, but  I think this is a case of self-delusion.

Do you understand due process? Doesn’t sound like it.

Call 3AW in the morning seems to be what people do. As much as people loathe the station it seems to make a difference.

Maybe we can all wear gold stars sewn on to ourselves to show who is a net payer of taxes. I’ll bet a huge cadre of roadies are large net payers of tax. I’ll bet a large cadre of motorists are net drags on the system. Can we have different coloured badges? We could even live separately!
Weeeee!

there is no rule, that’s what makes it legal.

Just not cricket is it.

And my 3 kids under 16 Prestie … where would they be covered when riding to playground ?  Already pay 2 lots of rego, BV membership for some coverage (?) and a heap of income tax.   Enough fees and levies on households already.   You said it … “minefield”

I see your points, but please refer to my reply to Dave. A levy or fee to cover injury is a good thing. I hope this is wht they may be referring to over and above registration.

Now how does someone explain how cyclist in which i have encountered on numerous ocassions riding without helmets. One cyclist even turned around and asked one of those non helmet wearing cyclist what was with him not wearing his helmet. Answer: ‘oh…i’m JUST going down the road’. And also the cyclist to which was wearing his earphones oblivious to the world crossing from one side of keele st to the other side through wellington st in collingwood? This guy just casually pulls up past the drivers side. When the traffic clears i move forward to cross the same path as this idiot and he just pulls right in front of me and rides on. This guy nearly ended up underneath my car along with his bike because of his arrogance if i hadn’t noticed.
I’m a bike rider too. On-road and off. I’ve almost been run over by a driver zipping in front of me to get to a parking spot without even noticing that there were people on bikes riding correctly through bike lanes. But at the end of the day, bike riders need to be off their earphones, they need to stop zipping through traffic to get to the front just to block traffic and  they need to be weary of the dangers. Regulations need to be set for these riders, because at the end of the day, if anything happens to a rider, the driver is always to blame even if the riders the one at fault.

Hear, hear!

Mr trailblazer, my guess with your innocuous comment, is that you play no sport and sit inside an enviro bubble with no stimulation whatsoever. Every day we live we take risks and yes we add risks to our lives by riding but we also reduce our risk of dying by diseases (including cancer). I do consider my family, friends and future when I ride or do anything. I don’t ride for a cause. I ride because I enjoy it.

Do you enjoy sport? If you do, go tell your sporting ‘hero’ to stop taking up a cause and stop playing because their risking their life.

We all need to respect each other more and a few second watching out for a cyclist or a pedestrian won’t hurt anyone, literally. And that’s as a cyclist and a driver.

A bit of an “unstable” rant there Trailblazer?

Worst. Troll. Ever.

It’s nice to see that there’s not even any even-handedness or openmindedness to your replies. 
You lot?Typical of cyclists attitudes? 

You can’t even construct an argument or a defence. The insight given here by cyclists and motorists are mostly to the point and constructive. I’m not sure I learnt anything about the story, the intersection, celebrities, cyclists, story tangents or insight from reading your posts.Maybe the next post you make?

Worst. Troll. Ever.

It’s nice to see that there’s not even any even-handedness or openmindedness to your replies. 
You lot?Typical of cyclists attitudes? 

You can’t even construct an argument or a defence. The insight given here by cyclists and motorists are mostly to the point and constructive. I’m not sure I learnt anything about the story, the intersection, celebrities, cyclists, story tangents or insight from reading your posts.Maybe the next post you make?

I heard interesting article/ opinion on a cycling podcast recently.
It detailed how bicycles were one of the main reasons for the development of
roads and there continued improvement as cycling became more a popular form of
transport between villages/ towns etc (pre-cars this is when cycling groups
place pressure to improve roads). Previously main roads between towns were
quite basic as walking/ horses were used, and long distances were covered by
train. The formal road system that connected places were based on the need for decent
bicycle riding paths or roads.

When the car was developed, then the agenda for roads was hijacked and as well
all know ownership taken from the bicycle rider. So basically (very basically),
when told to pay rego, get off the road etc, maybe express that the reason said
person can cruise around in your V8 is based on the hard work and persistence
of cyclists.

More in the link if interested,   http://quickrelease.tv/?p=1435 

This time Shane Warne, you can run but you can’t hide. The truth will emerge and you will fall accordingly – AGAIN!

I love the fact that $3.8 billion is raised by rego yet $15 billion is spent on road crashes………..so road rego doesn’t cover a third of the cost of crashes let alone do anything for the quality of our roads, sweet logic to all the motorists that yell that shit out………motorists need to realise the more people that ride their bikes to work the less traffic there will be and the quicker they will get to work. Only one way to fix congestion, remove vehicles from the roads. Bike rego = another barrier for riding to work = less people riding = more cars on the road = more congestion. Amazingly flawed logic for those advocates out there, I hope the Age/SMH/Herald Sun (who generally does a great job of covering cycling suprisingly) put out more balanced articles instead of these reactive pieces of shit.

Doesn’t surprise me in the least. Shane Warne is an embarrassing  Australian. Call him white trash or bogan or whatever he’s it. If it wasn’t for his Cricket talent he’s have trouble holding down a job at McDonalds.

How many of them are terrified to ride on the road (like me) because they know how much drivers hate bike riders?

I’d ride to work, but I don’t have the will or the want to ride 60km to work in the morning then home again!

Armchair adjudication: Shane’s ego got the better of him when our cyclist realized who it was and laughed it off with a ‘Oh, it’s just Warnie’ comment.

No, lane splitting *moving* traffic is illegal. Lane splitting between stationary vehicles is not.

“Lane splitting
You must drive with your vehicle completely within a lane. Riding between lines of moving vehicles is illegal and dangerous”

Anecdotal examples are just that.  That would be like us claiming that all drivers speed and run over schoolchildren because we saw it happen once.  Yes – so there’s idiots out there that break road laws – more often than not they’re more like you than the readers of sites like this.
The problem in Australia is impatience, right across the board.  How can you justify squeezing by one lane just because you think the four seconds you lose rather than going around are worth more than the risk of someone elses life?  Yet we don’t see the same complaints about waiting for red lights, the constant traffic jams on the Eastern and Monash freeways which cost you way more time, being held up behind busses, or being made to wait at pedestrian and level crossings.Seriously.  The time you lose and the way you project this hatred towards cyclists is despicable.

…and all drivers on the phone or texting should be shot on sight.

…and all drivers on the phone or texting should be shot on sight.

I live in Flemington and heaps of cars use the cycle path down the back of Norths’ ground.  Not to mention all the motorbikes constantly on bike paths everywhere!

I live in Flemington and heaps of cars use the cycle path down the back of Norths’ ground.  Not to mention all the motorbikes constantly on bike paths everywhere!

Shane Warne, the A grade Bogan with the C grade actress. So Shane, damage to your car was ok when you had sex with Kerrie Collimore on the bonnet. Honestly you think a lot better with your little head. Word of warning don’t try and use your big head, it’s pretty empty Shane. I’m going to give the cricket a miss this Thursday now!

Shane Warne, the A grade Bogan with the C grade actress. So Shane, damage to your car was ok when you had sex with Kerrie Collimore on the bonnet. Honestly you think a lot better with your little head. Word of warning don’t try and use your big head, it’s pretty empty Shane. I’m going to give the cricket a miss this Thursday now!

Who to believe? A media whore ex cricketer or a bloke trying to ride home after a long day…..Warne you are no cricketing gent ….you are a tool!

Who to believe? A media whore ex cricketer or a bloke trying to ride home after a long day…..Warne you are no cricketing gent ….you are a tool!

I don’t believe in bicycle/cyclist registration, that’s not the answer, and its not what I am advocating. I believe in ‘any’ cyclist being protected with insurance against injury on the roads through TAC with or without a motor vehicle, rather than paying additional insurances.

The fact is, there are far too many bicycle injury admissions for those under the age of 18 which would sky rocket a levy.

I don’t believe in bicycle/cyclist registration, that’s not the answer, and its not what I am advocating. I believe in ‘any’ cyclist being protected with insurance against injury on the roads through TAC with or without a motor vehicle, rather than paying additional insurances.

The fact is, there are far too many bicycle injury admissions for those under the age of 18 which would sky rocket a levy.

Having ridden through this intersection for many years I know exactly the issue around a significant gap between the end of the bike lane and the bike “box” at the intersection which is compounded when you add a left hand turning arrow. Hopefully the truth will come out in a reasoned manner and we can all co-exist on what is a public asset that I have paid taxes on for over 20 years and counting.

Well done for putting this article in the public domain Wade and I hope that we can get to some form of “truce” very soon as in an altercation between car and cyclist there is usually only one person who gets hurt – and in the worst of circumstances could die.

Remember that licensing or registration won’t change bad behaviour – as is proven by the current appalling death toll on our roads, change comes through education and mutual respect. Next time you see a fellow cyclist do something they shouldn’t, be sure to call them on it.

Having ridden through this intersection for many years I know exactly the issue around a significant gap between the end of the bike lane and the bike “box” at the intersection which is compounded when you add a left hand turning arrow. Hopefully the truth will come out in a reasoned manner and we can all co-exist on what is a public asset that I have paid taxes on for over 20 years and counting.

Well done for putting this article in the public domain Wade and I hope that we can get to some form of “truce” very soon as in an altercation between car and cyclist there is usually only one person who gets hurt – and in the worst of circumstances could die.

Remember that licensing or registration won’t change bad behaviour – as is proven by the current appalling death toll on our roads, change comes through education and mutual respect. Next time you see a fellow cyclist do something they shouldn’t, be sure to call them on it.

I am much more inclined to believe this report than Shane’s version of events.  Thanks for posting it!It’s very sad how much anti-bike discussion this whole incident has enraged though.  Bikes are such a good option for so many reasons- wouldn’t it be nice if we could all play nicely together.

I am much more inclined to believe this report than Shane’s version of events.  Thanks for posting it!It’s very sad how much anti-bike discussion this whole incident has enraged though.  Bikes are such a good option for so many reasons- wouldn’t it be nice if we could all play nicely together.

no. the cyclist apparently has witness who have backed him up. warney’s story was OTT anyway – who hangs onto someone’s car without being provoked and bangs on it? i’ve never seen that and i’ve been riding/driving for a looong time.

a similar thing happened to me with a tradie in a van. cut me off, went ballistic at me when i asked him what he thought he was doing. a lot of drivers think they can just get away with anything. there was only one hitch – i had a camera on my bike and a youtube account. the grovelling apology and pleading that he was about to be sacked if i didn’t take the video down was schaudenfreude in spades. i did take it down too, as unlike mr tradie, i’m not an a***hole.

no. the cyclist apparently has witness who have backed him up. warney’s story was OTT anyway – who hangs onto someone’s car without being provoked and bangs on it? i’ve never seen that and i’ve been riding/driving for a looong time.

a similar thing happened to me with a tradie in a van. cut me off, went ballistic at me when i asked him what he thought he was doing. a lot of drivers think they can just get away with anything. there was only one hitch – i had a camera on my bike and a youtube account. the grovelling apology and pleading that he was about to be sacked if i didn’t take the video down was schaudenfreude in spades. i did take it down too, as unlike mr tradie, i’m not an a***hole.

I witnessed it as well and reported it to the St Kilda Rd police station just up the Rd  from where it happened last night. There is no doubt that Warnie intentionally and dangerously drove into the cyclist when he was stationary – not that I knew it was him when I first saw this. I urge you to please go to the police station to make a statement. He can’t get away with fabricating such a story.
Station location: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

I witnessed it as well and reported it to the St Kilda Rd police station just up the Rd  from where it happened last night. There is no doubt that Warnie intentionally and dangerously drove into the cyclist when he was stationary – not that I knew it was him when I first saw this. I urge you to please go to the police station to make a statement. He can’t get away with fabricating such a story.
Station location: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

And I’ve had a Harley hoon past me on a bike path too!

I first saw this on Sunrise this morning.  What was interesting, is that the way it was mentioned, was that Warne’s view was assumed to be correct, and then Kochie went into his lycra bandit story.

There was an interesting take on the “registration” thing that I’ve not seen before.  ie cyclists should be registered so we can report them to the police.  Not “I pay for this, so get the fluck off”.

Not surprised to see ~30 odd comments on Stage 1 and 100+ on here.

What a pity. Adelaide is currently hosting the TDU with some of the best ProTour teams and riders in the world and GreenEdge Cycling, a $20mil investment by our friends at Jayco is just being launched on the world stage. Then we get some white trash bogan in Shane Warne highjacking what is the premium week of Australian cycling. You are and always have been a tool!

hey, will clarke is about to win a stage of the TDU! and maybe take the ochre jersey!

What you really forgot to add is that said Celebrity is ‘engaged’ to a complete hottie…

^^^Get ready for all the responses from brain dead, no life 3aw listeners. Their site has linked here.

Mate. Would you please go to the media and tell them what you saw.
The level of anti-bike hatred that Warne has whipped up is truly frightening. I ride 100 km + a week and the level of abuse is rising. At least put expose Warne for all our safety. The idiots feel justified when they see their heroes doing this..or getting away with it!

Mate. Would you please go to the media and tell them what you saw.
The level of anti-bike hatred that Warne has whipped up is truly frightening. I ride 100 km + a week and the level of abuse is rising. At least put expose Warne for all our safety. The idiots feel justified when they see their heroes doing this..or getting away with it!

Yes, as you said by nature its precarious, no need to make it more so by taking risks is there?

Yes, as you said by nature its precarious, no need to make it more so by taking risks is there?

I support the registration idea and was thinking along the same lines.  Rather than have a seperate system link it to your car registration in that the plate should replicate your car registration number.  No administrative burden other then adding a checkbox on your Vicroads form and requiring them to provide you with a minature number plate for your bike/s. 

Great article.  It hits the nail on the head, even with silly comments about lightning.

Great article.  It hits the nail on the head, even with silly comments about lightning.

Trailblazer, you’ve never heard of irony?

http://www.amygillett.org.au/agf-stance-on-bike-rider-registration

More poor reporting from the mass media?  Say it ain’t so!

http://www.amygillett.org.au/agf-stance-on-bike-rider-registration

More poor reporting from the mass media?  Say it ain’t so!

Well that explains the TDU coverage then ;P

Is he back on the dope?
He now just looks like a sad plonker.

I dont know who the bike rider was, but i tend to believe his side rather than warne’s. Many drivers have that old idea i am bigger so the bike rider will yield. So many people get hurt because of this selfish idea. Stand up for yourself mate and make warne pay for his ignorance and careless ways. 

While you use hyperbole, you do have a point.  Most people do feel angry / aggrieved / frustrated with cyclists.  Trust me I know.  I’m a cyclist and my wife and in-laws are always going on about cyclists and while people hate them.

Just don’t say “nothing more scary” as I don’t think it has anything to do with being scared.  More about being inconvenienced.

I think it is a real shame that as yet we haven’t heard Liz Hurley’s views.

She must know a lot about cycling given how many times she has done the Warney.

Not sure where you’d fit a rego plate, that would probably be a stumbling block. It’s cause further danger, and like a similar issue with plates at the front of a motor bike.
A one off fee imposed at the time of purchase might work, and some way of linking an annual fee, say a tick box on your tax dec asking whether you own a bike, the deducting a nominal fee, but therefore also allowing this mode of transport to be tax deductible.

I have a feeling though that having cyclists pay rego and displaying a rego plate will do nothing to change driver attitude. I’m sure motor cyclists would be able to verify this. Just being on a bike makes you are target. Cyclist = mosquito.

Most motorists don’t know the road rules relating to cyclists, use of bike lanes etc.

I support a TAC insurance levy, sorry but I don’t believe in registration for bicycles ~ (no. of bikes, administration, complaints handling, costs, etc.)

Unfortunately a large percentage of drivers are becoming sick to death of cyclists who feel they are a law unto themselves and feel that the cops do not target cyclists who break the law. This is likely to garner support for Warne through the actions of a minority who have no regarding for other road users when cycling. As a cyclist, motorcyclist and car driver, I find myself frequently becoming frustrated with cyclists who behave like complete douchebags. Not a day goes by where I don’t have to contend with cyclists switching from the road to pedestrian crossings (without dismounting), ignoring red lights, weaving through traffic and then slowing down the drivers who pull off etc. I’m honestly at a point where I believe there are about 10% of the cyclists that need to go out and catch up on what they are allowed to do on the roads because they don’t seem to have a clue.

It’s only precarious if some dickhead decides to drive forward when you’re right in front of him!

 Life is precarious. Get over it.

Worst idea ever.

No they aren’t. They generally differentiate lane splitting and filtering. Filtering is with the cars stationary, lane splitting is with the cars moving. Lane splitting is illegal and cops will pull you over every time for it if they see it. Filtering is also illegal but the cops turn a blind eye to it if you do so safely. So in reality, by his own admittance in the cyclists notes, he was actually doing something illegal and was in the wrong. 

I fund it very unlikely that Warnie would make all up this story. Bike riders often break the rules to go faster and it is dangerous. People on bikes should be more careful.

I wish I was a righteous & infallible as a cyclist. Bunch of cunts.

Free ergo?

Cool! Sign me up big guy.

I’ve cycled through peak hour traffic in Milan, and felt quite comfortable. It was an experience of “Road users sharing a road”. The traffic is accommodating. “Lane filtering” doesn’t even raise an eyebrow. The only comment I got from a motorist was “Why are you wearing a helmet?”
Australian drivers don’t understand how to drive with cyclists.
Australian drivers are aggressive toward cyclists.
Australian drivers believe they “own” a laneway when they occupy it.
Warne is no good.

Brilliant…I’d love to have seen that! Well done.

The AGF’s actual stance on the issue can be seen in an email from them, quoted verbatim, here: http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=48453&start=100
 

Wow CT you’ve attracted a few absurd opinions. eg The Warnie Fans.Haven’t heard so many illiterate, ignorant and self-righteous comments on this blog before. Haha always good for a laugh but also quite concerning :/ .
Stay safe everybody and a bit of patience goes along away.

Takes one to know one. We are people just like you.
That said if we are like you we are c**ts.
So i guess we are not like you.
Go back to the Herald Sun

Surely you are kidding…so we should all cower under our beds because motorists don’t want to obey the road rules? If the only way to get through to ignorant motorists (most of whom don’t even know the road rules, especially in relation to cycling) is to yell at them, then so be it! The trouble is, they won’ t go home, look up the road rules and admit they made a mistake, they instead jump on Facetwitter and start ranting and raving about how wonderful they are and that all cyclists are evil! Not that I am suggesting Shane Warne did this. Not at all.

I’m pretty sure filtering at traffic lights (or “weaving through traffic and then slowing down the drivers who pull off “) is completely legal.

Always good to read both sides of he story

Hope the police follow it through and are able to sort it allout

It just seems that this issue is always bubbling away with the public and it only takes the slightest push to set it off.

We have all seen bad cycling and I’m sure we have all contributed to this at some point by mistakes or blatantly ignoring rules because we felt we were prioritising our safety. I know I have and I am not proud of it but I can go riding down Beach Rd and feel that I am put at risk by reckless or irresponsible driving at least 5 times, especially on the horror stretch there are at Brighton.

Every motorist has the story of “I was cut off by a cyclist” or “They slowed down all the traffic” but I dare say every time we ride we come out with at least 5 stories of “Ute that gave me a fly by” or “4WD swerved into the front of a pack to turn left”.

And why do we have to have this debate every few months? Because the public LOVES to vent over this and you cant get easy publicity writing actual news. 250+ comments on the Herald Sun website. Money for old rope.

It just seems that this issue is always bubbling away with the public and it only takes the slightest push to set it off.

We have all seen bad cycling and I’m sure we have all contributed to this at some point by mistakes or blatantly ignoring rules because we felt we were prioritising our safety. I know I have and I am not proud of it but I can go riding down Beach Rd and feel that I am put at risk by reckless or irresponsible driving at least 5 times, especially on the horror stretch there are at Brighton.

Every motorist has the story of “I was cut off by a cyclist” or “They slowed down all the traffic” but I dare say every time we ride we come out with at least 5 stories of “Ute that gave me a fly by” or “4WD swerved into the front of a pack to turn left”.

And why do we have to have this debate every few months? Because the public LOVES to vent over this and you cant get easy publicity writing actual news. 250+ comments on the Herald Sun website. Money for old rope.

It just seems that this issue is always bubbling away with the public and it only takes the slightest push to set it off.

We have all seen bad cycling and I’m sure we have all contributed to this at some point by mistakes or blatantly ignoring rules because we felt we were prioritising our safety. I know I have and I am not proud of it but I can go riding down Beach Rd and feel that I am put at risk by reckless or irresponsible driving at least 5 times, especially on the horror stretch there are at Brighton.

Every motorist has the story of “I was cut off by a cyclist” or “They slowed down all the traffic” but I dare say every time we ride we come out with at least 5 stories of “Ute that gave me a fly by” or “4WD swerved into the front of a pack to turn left”.

And why do we have to have this debate every few months? Because the public LOVES to vent over this and you cant get easy publicity writing actual news. 250+ comments on the Herald Sun website. Money for old rope.

It just seems that this issue is always bubbling away with the public and it only takes the slightest push to set it off.

We have all seen bad cycling and I’m sure we have all contributed to this at some point by mistakes or blatantly ignoring rules because we felt we were prioritising our safety. I know I have and I am not proud of it but I can go riding down Beach Rd and feel that I am put at risk by reckless or irresponsible driving at least 5 times, especially on the horror stretch there are at Brighton.

Every motorist has the story of “I was cut off by a cyclist” or “They slowed down all the traffic” but I dare say every time we ride we come out with at least 5 stories of “Ute that gave me a fly by” or “4WD swerved into the front of a pack to turn left”.

And why do we have to have this debate every few months? Because the public LOVES to vent over this and you cant get easy publicity writing actual news. 250+ comments on the Herald Sun website. Money for old rope.

I don’t like Warnie. More importantly I don’t like you “lycra nuts”. You don’t have a greater share of the road than anyone else. In this instance Warnie is right. Stay off our roads or get regsitered and observe the laws made for all not you idiots!

I don’t like Warnie. More importantly I don’t like you “lycra nuts”. You don’t have a greater share of the road than anyone else. In this instance Warnie is right. Stay off our roads or get regsitered and observe the laws made for all not you idiots!

I don’t like Warnie. More importantly I don’t like you “lycra nuts”. You don’t have a greater share of the road than anyone else. In this instance Warnie is right. Stay off our roads or get regsitered and observe the laws made for all not you idiots!

Agree totally – Hate Warnie – but his story rings true. Bikers are a mad lot when they dress up in that ridiculous “lycra”!

Agree totally – Hate Warnie – but his story rings true. Bikers are a mad lot when they dress up in that ridiculous “lycra”!

Bike Riders should stay off the Road, That’s what Bike Path’s are for. 

Bike Riders should stay off the Road, That’s what Bike Path’s are for. 

What a joke! Cyclists believed ahead of Warnie and now we need Liz’s story. Bugger off you nut cases. The road is for everybody! Obey the rules and the probability of being injured is lessened!

What a joke! Cyclists believed ahead of Warnie and now we need Liz’s story. Bugger off you nut cases. The road is for everybody! Obey the rules and the probability of being injured is lessened!

What a joke! Cyclists believed ahead of Warnie and now we need Liz’s story. Bugger off you nut cases. The road is for everybody! Obey the rules and the probability of being injured is lessened!

Great and valuable thread- lets hope the real story gets out … as I write I just heard the cyclist version being mentioned on the radio
My Points
1. Its a horrible intersection designed to cause grief particularly between cyclists and cars – like Beach Road at Beaumauris the infrastructure just has to change – as do people’s attitudes on both “sides”
2. Personally I would not mind registration… but through work I see the vast number of hidden older and casual riders many of modest means – the paperwork, cost and bother of registration would keep these people from cycling. …. and that would be a crime!  One of the beauties of cycling is that it is accessible to all …. and that is seriously worth preserving
3. Most cyclists are allready paying road tax on the car they have in the garage while riding the bike .. Any reasonable additional registration cost would get used up in administration and other than providing a plate would do little else. Frankly I would expect it to cost the govenment lots – unless it could be included in an existing system say Myki.
4. I wish it had got this much attention when a car intentionally clipped me on an empty road – the police did not want to even know of it!
Great  thread to flush some issues out  

Great and valuable thread- lets hope the real story gets out … as I write I just heard the cyclist version being mentioned on the radio
My Points
1. Its a horrible intersection designed to cause grief particularly between cyclists and cars – like Beach Road at Beaumauris the infrastructure just has to change – as do people’s attitudes on both “sides”
2. Personally I would not mind registration… but through work I see the vast number of hidden older and casual riders many of modest means – the paperwork, cost and bother of registration would keep these people from cycling. …. and that would be a crime!  One of the beauties of cycling is that it is accessible to all …. and that is seriously worth preserving
3. Most cyclists are allready paying road tax on the car they have in the garage while riding the bike .. Any reasonable additional registration cost would get used up in administration and other than providing a plate would do little else. Frankly I would expect it to cost the govenment lots – unless it could be included in an existing system say Myki.
4. I wish it had got this much attention when a car intentionally clipped me on an empty road – the police did not want to even know of it!
Great  thread to flush some issues out  

Great and valuable thread- lets hope the real story gets out … as I write I just heard the cyclist version being mentioned on the radio
My Points
1. Its a horrible intersection designed to cause grief particularly between cyclists and cars – like Beach Road at Beaumauris the infrastructure just has to change – as do people’s attitudes on both “sides”
2. Personally I would not mind registration… but through work I see the vast number of hidden older and casual riders many of modest means – the paperwork, cost and bother of registration would keep these people from cycling. …. and that would be a crime!  One of the beauties of cycling is that it is accessible to all …. and that is seriously worth preserving
3. Most cyclists are allready paying road tax on the car they have in the garage while riding the bike .. Any reasonable additional registration cost would get used up in administration and other than providing a plate would do little else. Frankly I would expect it to cost the govenment lots – unless it could be included in an existing system say Myki.
4. I wish it had got this much attention when a car intentionally clipped me on an empty road – the police did not want to even know of it!
Great  thread to flush some issues out  

Great and valuable thread- lets hope the real story gets out … as I write I just heard the cyclist version being mentioned on the radio
My Points
1. Its a horrible intersection designed to cause grief particularly between cyclists and cars – like Beach Road at Beaumauris the infrastructure just has to change – as do people’s attitudes on both “sides”
2. Personally I would not mind registration… but through work I see the vast number of hidden older and casual riders many of modest means – the paperwork, cost and bother of registration would keep these people from cycling. …. and that would be a crime!  One of the beauties of cycling is that it is accessible to all …. and that is seriously worth preserving
3. Most cyclists are allready paying road tax on the car they have in the garage while riding the bike .. Any reasonable additional registration cost would get used up in administration and other than providing a plate would do little else. Frankly I would expect it to cost the govenment lots – unless it could be included in an existing system say Myki.
4. I wish it had got this much attention when a car intentionally clipped me on an empty road – the police did not want to even know of it!
Great  thread to flush some issues out  

What a pity #2. The state of pro cycling in Australia has never been stronger. Cadel and others before him have inspired so many juniors into the sport. One of these juniors is my 15 year old son who nine months ago was struck by a tradie towing a trailer and almost killed. The tradie did not stop. To his defence he may not have known. It was the worst time of my life. We are fortunate that he has made a full physical recovery (went on to win his age group at the Noosa Tri last year) but is still mentally scared. The bottom line is that both parties are not going away and we need to chill out, co exist, obey rules and protect cyclists as many of them are juniors. The solution is the ATTITUDE not rules and regulations.

What a pity #2. The state of pro cycling in Australia has never been stronger. Cadel and others before him have inspired so many juniors into the sport. One of these juniors is my 15 year old son who nine months ago was struck by a tradie towing a trailer and almost killed. The tradie did not stop. To his defence he may not have known. It was the worst time of my life. We are fortunate that he has made a full physical recovery (went on to win his age group at the Noosa Tri last year) but is still mentally scared. The bottom line is that both parties are not going away and we need to chill out, co exist, obey rules and protect cyclists as many of them are juniors. The solution is the ATTITUDE not rules and regulations.

Takes one to know one. You bikers put on “lycra” and you think you are all above the rest of us. Grow up and obey the laws equally. The only sadness is that you disrespect a successful cricketer and the jealousy gets to you. Go back on your own dope and clear your own head!

Takes one to know one. You bikers put on “lycra” and you think you are all above the rest of us. Grow up and obey the laws equally. The only sadness is that you disrespect a successful cricketer and the jealousy gets to you. Go back on your own dope and clear your own head!

Shane Warne is an uneducated attention seeking human being. Enough said.

Shane Warne is an uneducated attention seeking human being. Enough said.

Looks to me like the report was accurate in the media and the AGF is backpedalling like mad to recover from a misstatement. A serious misstep on their part, I reckon.

Looks to me like the report was accurate in the media and the AGF is backpedalling like mad to recover from a misstatement. A serious misstep on their part, I reckon.

There may have been a time when a bloke was too scared to take a cheap shot at you, for fear you might crack an elbow over his nose. If the dude buckled my bike in such a manner, I’d be river dancing on his hood

There may have been a time when a bloke was too scared to take a cheap shot at you, for fear you might crack an elbow over his nose. If the dude buckled my bike in such a manner, I’d be river dancing on his hood

Look if you are trolling the correct term is Peloton not Bunch.

Look if you are trolling the correct term is Peloton not Bunch.

I agree.

Paying registration, even a nominal amount, will not solve cyclist/driver angst with one another.

I’m not sure why the AGF have taken this stance.  Then again, I’m not sure why the AGF, which looks to make roads a safer place, insists on ridiculous clauses in the rides they organise that absolves them of all and any responsibility if someone gets injured even if it occured through the AGF’s negligence.

As for Warnie, let’s just say he was a good cricketer and leave it at that…

Rego is a great idea TrailBlazer. Shall we say $1 a kilo as a flat rate across all vehicles? That will mean $10 a year for my bike and $2000 a year for your six-cylinder Aussie car. That would be nine or 10 times what it costs to register a car now (in NSW). Go for it mate.

Interesting that as soon as the other point of view appears, Warne immediately wants to move on. Sorry Warnie, it doesn’t work thay way – you can’t dismiss the other side of the story with a “whatever”. You were quick to share details – now stand up and listen to the other side.

Overwhelmingly the issue is about sharing the road. There are idiots out there on all forms of transport, but invariably they are the minority while the rest of us just want to get where we’re going, by whatever means that may be. But unfortunately the stirrers jump on things like this and ply their trade which benefits no one except their own interests.

Well done on taking a stand not only for yourself but all cyclists who obey the roasd rules.
Unlike the perpetrator of this incident your description of this event is totally believable.
As a sportsperson Shane Warne’s accomplishments are universally acknowledged, but as a person he reeks arrogance and self importance, as a husband he was a lying cheat….why would anyone believe him.
Matt in croydon

Just out of curiosity…is it illegal in Victoria as it is in NSW to use your mobile phone for calling/texting/tweeting when behind the wheel?

Just a thought…

He was following  the point between the bike lane ending and re-starting.

Guess he could have always gone under the road…

Warnies a big fat liar and considering all the shit hes been in before hes trying to make himself look good. Cant wait until a current affair get into this and find out the truth. Warnies going down like liz hurley on a saturday night at home.

Check out the road rules before making any comment, please.

http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2012/01/cyclist-versus-warnie-the-cyclists-story/

We were here first! :-P

Good grief! Hilarious…I cant believe the tripe that comes out of the readers of this; Australia’s top selling newspaper

Warne has form for misleading the public. Remember his first version of events in relation to his positive drug test in South Africa?

I like bunch! As in flowers, rather than “Pack” as in wolves. Peloton is for competition.

In theory, cyclist commuters should be given tax breaks as a means to encourage greater up-take of cycling as a transport option. The relative cost-benefit positions of cycling versus private car is so far in favour of cycling that the state would be in a much better position if cycling was the dominant mode of transportation. Hence, the government should develop a series of financial incentives to hasten the shift. From an economics perspective, the idea of taxing cyclists is devoid of facts and is therefore completely absurd. 

Warnie’s been a pillar of our society. Puhleeeezzzzzzzzzz.

Never quite got the Registration thing.
Every day when driving and walking around sydney i see cars driving illegally and dangerously. I see bikes doing dodgy stuff but definitely see more cars. (that includes driving through red lights, blocking junctions, illegal parking, blocking the street, illegal turns, driving the wrong way up one way streets all of which i see on a daily basis)Yet somehow i do not feel the need to record registrations and report them to police. Have not seen anyone else doing it either. So why are you going to suddenly report bikes.

if someone is an arse they are an arse whether riding a bike or driving a car. as for frustration of bikes passing cars (lets face it no one would care about bikes going on footpaths or through red lights if it was not for the fact that then they need to be passed again) do people really believe it is bikes that are slowing down the traffic in cities. DO you really believe if we took half the drivers on the road in this evenings rush hour and put them on bikes that the traffic would go even slower?

Here here, I’m self-righteous and a total moron and I have no reasoning behind anything I say or do, so I also agree with you Chris Palmer.

Here here, I’m self-righteous and a total moron and I have no reasoning behind anything I say or do, so I also agree with you Chris Palmer.

Keep in mind “Josh”. They are not YOUR roads. Cyclists pay taxes and have as much right as motorised vehicals to use the roads. Registration does NOT contribute to roads, its cost revenue going to administration of registation, and 3rd party insurance. A Bicycle is not a motorised vehical, like a box trailer, a horse and a pedestrian and therefore cannot be registered!
Dave Ryan
[email protected]@three:disqus m.au

Keep in mind “Josh”. They are not YOUR roads. Cyclists pay taxes and have as much right as motorised vehicals to use the roads. Registration does NOT contribute to roads, its cost revenue going to administration of registation, and 3rd party insurance. A Bicycle is not a motorised vehical, like a box trailer, a horse and a pedestrian and therefore cannot be registered!
Dave Ryan
[email protected]@three:disqus m.au

This is going to be huge, run by all the major networks (7pm project etc). Hopefully CT’s post assists with balancing out the media information and coverage.

This is going to be huge, run by all the major networks (7pm project etc). Hopefully CT’s post assists with balancing out the media information and coverage.

This is going to be huge, run by all the major networks (7pm project etc). Hopefully CT’s post assists with balancing out the media information and coverage.

Hey Trailblazer: here’s some free identification for you: my name is Darius Isaacs of Level 6 95 North Quay. Care to post your details?

Otherwise please f*ck off!

Hey Trailblazer: here’s some free identification for you: my name is Darius Isaacs of Level 6 95 North Quay. Care to post your details?

Otherwise please f*ck off!

Hey Trailblazer: here’s some free identification for you: my name is Darius Isaacs of Level 6 95 North Quay. Care to post your details?

Otherwise please f*ck off!

It’s not “lycra”. It’s Lycra. Deadset. It’s basic English.

How would that work for people that do not have cars. what about people with more bikes that Cars? what about your kids bike? if we are going to do this for bikes why do we not register pedestrians. why should pedestrians that jay walk not carry registration docs on their back to prove who they are? what about skateboards? Scooters? where do you draw the line

Think you’ll find it is not legal – a combination of not travelling within a marked lane, not maintaining a safe distance when overtaking, and (depending on the day, phase of the moon etc) overtaking on the left.

As a motorcyclist as well as bicyclist, I keep across this particular issue.  Despite the evidence from the US and UK regarding improved safety for motorcyclists and bicyclists who are able to filter to the front of traffic at lights, Vic Police doesn’t approve…

@fmaa_msn another good example of spelling.

Sorry Guys. I was road raged by a cycler last week after I gave way, because he was stuck in the middle of an intersection. Shane Warne’s right and there isn’t a driver that would disagree or disbelieve his story - we’ve all been there unfortunately. The registration issue is a small step in the right direction. Its about safety, not who owns the road – no driver wants to hit or cause a rider to fall. But there is only so much that one side can do – its has to be reciprocated.

Why. I rode 50km to and from work when 18. I only do 30km a day now, but 50yo.

Why. I rode 50km to and from work when 18. I only do 30km a day now, but 50yo.

Get Warne off the road.  Sounds to me like he’s due for another stint in rehab, with that fancy-named bimbo hanging off his arm.  His tweet shows he is desperate to maintain a positive spin in an already tarnished reputation. All he’s good for his booze, boobs, Benzes and bending the truth. Out damn spot!

So true. Frankly I can’t wait for cyclists to get mandatory registration. I will then be able to use the whole lane!! as a proper registration paying citizen is entitled to. I have had enough of being ridden into the gutter because some motor vehicle doesn’t want to pass us safely. I indicate just to go around a pothole and yet I can probably only count on one hand the number of cars that indicate to go around me in a whole month!! I ride 5 days a week to and from work 15km each way. I’m thinking of putting a sign on my backpack “YOUR PASSING ANOTHER FOX!”  I’ve been commuting for 7 years to inner city now and its just getting worse. If drivers did think off cyclists as big semi-trailers we would not even need to be discussing these issues! 

St kilda rd and Toorak rd corner is not near Kingsway. Why is he saying he was trying to get to the bike lane the other side of Kingsway? That’s at least a couple of hundred metres from the Torrak/St kilda rd intersection. A lot of the wording he uses seems a bit false to me…

please explain to all of us how registration is a step towards safety? doesnt seem to work too well in making cars safer.

Do you really want legislation based on people who break existing laws? Think carefully about how you answer this – because you may find what limited freedoms you so cherish now are gone within the blink of an eye.

Face it – some _people_ are dicks. Some of them drive cars, some of them ride bikes, some of them meander on footpaths. Categorising a diverse group by the actions of a few (on both sides) makes you look naive and foolish.

I’ve never been abused or had an altercation with a cyclist before and i drive every day. I think for all you people claiming that cyclists are a major hassle or problem, maybe you are doing something wrong in the way you drive????

shane warne wants to hit and cause a cyclist to fall

Warnie! ‘ken yeah mate. I
think he needs to ride down Smith street or Sydney rd at anytime of day
to see if he fears for an additional face-rearrangin’ by an the ever present and inattentive
car door opener! Carn Warnie!

What needs to happen here in Aust, is at major intersections where lights are, a seperate lite with a cyclist on operate, red stop, green go, and when it is green cars have red unless travelling in same direction. This is what happens  in Most if not all majoy European cities. Then car drivers learn to respect the cyclist. BUT it probably wont happen here. By the way I am a cyclist but also pay for 3 car rego’s and 2 motorcyle rego’s, and I agree there are morons on all sides of the fence

The fact remains that something needs to be done about that intersection, I ride it daily and there is always cars who queue across the intersection.  Not just for cyclists, it is frustrating for city bound drivers on St Kilda road who have to wait for the jerks queued across the intersection in front of them.

I know this is petty: however, in the context of said arguments, it never fails to amuse me how lacking in basic grammatical skill anti-cyclists are.  Perhaps if they spent more time learning how to write properly, they’d have less time to be angry at false enemies?

See 
http://blogs.ft.com/undercover/2008/03/compared-to-what/#axzz1jmnWU4Gj for a great picture on the congestion of car vs. bus vs. bike.

How are your hits today wade?
Time to buy shares in CTips thanks warnie

Accountability, Daryl. I think that bikeriders might be more inclined to heed vehicles and safe routes if they are in a reportable position. The anger on this site about rego proposals is bizarre. You would like the same benefits of drivers, but without paying for it the way that drivers do.

It might go a small way towards ‘legitimising’ a rider in the motorists eyes?

Could you please provide me with these so called facts. So what do you do when there is a big truck next to you??? Pee you panties!

Allan, the cyclist in question wasn’t lane splitting. He was following the road painted bike bath which is “designed” to split between the left turning lane (into kings way) and the middle city bound lane.

Allan, the cyclist in question wasn’t lane splitting. He was following the road painted bike bath which is “designed” to split between the left turning lane (into kings way) and the middle city bound lane.

Allan, the cyclist in question wasn’t lane splitting. He was following the road painted bike bath which is “designed” to split between the left turning lane (into kings way) and the middle city bound lane.

Allan, the cyclist in question wasn’t lane splitting. He was following the road painted bike bath which is “designed” to split between the left turning lane (into kings way) and the middle city bound lane.

Cyclist!  WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR S. WARNE FANS TO SPELL CORRECTLY!

Cyclist!  WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR S. WARNE FANS TO SPELL CORRECTLY!

Cyclist!  WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR S. WARNE FANS TO SPELL CORRECTLY!

I think YOU need to check out the laws. Check above (it was discussed elsewhere). Its been discussed in detail within netrider (a motorcycle group) and when seeking legal advice, it was disclosed that it is illegal. The only time you can legally split lanes is where a car is parked on the side of the road and you use part of the parked cars lanes. This does not apply to traffic which is stationary at a traffic light. Thats the application of the law in Victoria where this incident took place. Could be different elsewhere.

If as described above then Shane Warnes actions were deplorable. Especially for a guy who has been in the public spotlight for decades and has had his share of controversy. You would expect he would know better. Perhaps the botox and plastic surgery are affecting him in ways never seen before.

That said the cyclists actions are not much better. Whilst I can appreciate the long delays at this corner, and the fact that weaving through traffic can cut that time, the risks are too great. As said earlier there are far safer ways to address the situation that what has been described.

As far as I can see there are faults all round here. It is this kind of behaviour from both parties that fuels the nonsense debate on the subject.

PS: If registration of bicycles is required then I can see a lot of children’s dreams of riding a bike crushed due to the registration fees.

i come across cyclists often on my daily commute in the car, some of them commuters, some of them ‘racer’ looking people in bright lycra. in the last 10 years i would say maybe once a year have i had to wait for any of them to take off from the lights or whatever. and by ‘wait’ i mean take my foot off the accellerator for about 2 seconds, not even having to touch the brakes, and let them be on their way. i have more issues with people who park in clearways. in heavy traffic the cyclists are moving faster than the traffic – they dont seem to hold anyone up? i have never seen any road rage in my travels to and from work involving cyclists. and in light traffic they might be going slower than me, but i manage to just go around them as if they were a car or bus or whatever, is it really that complicated? we are talking about warnie and the average aussie bogan with my family stickers though… so maybe it is quite complicated.

Thank you Amy Gillet Foundation for all the good work you do.
I am safer because of it.
I really should get off my ass and buy a jersey from you guys that states the importance of safety everytime I ride.

Maybe all cyclists should have one and we all wear them on ride to work day (or everyday) to make a point.

Thank you Amy Gillet Foundation for all the good work you do.
I am safer because of it.
I really should get off my ass and buy a jersey from you guys that states the importance of safety everytime I ride.

Maybe all cyclists should have one and we all wear them on ride to work day (or everyday) to make a point.

How many motorists are still in counselling, due to the fact they killed someone inconsequentially. No-one wins. All I can say is I’ll look after myself and do what ever I want on the roads. With 30+ years of riding on public roads, I have come to the conclusion that the only way to survive is to have 100% attentiveness at all times. Whether or not you are in the right or wrong, you as a cyclist will come off second best, as Mr Trailblazer has been kind to point out. I live less than 15km from work and I can ride, have shower etc, and be at my desk, in half the time it takes to drive to work on our exceptionally efficient road system here in Sydney. So, while your sitting in your car being scared by the intimidating lycra clad cyclist, I’ll be half-way through my second coffee.

How many motorists are still in counselling, due to the fact they killed someone inconsequentially. No-one wins. All I can say is I’ll look after myself and do what ever I want on the roads. With 30+ years of riding on public roads, I have come to the conclusion that the only way to survive is to have 100% attentiveness at all times. Whether or not you are in the right or wrong, you as a cyclist will come off second best, as Mr Trailblazer has been kind to point out. I live less than 15km from work and I can ride, have shower etc, and be at my desk, in half the time it takes to drive to work on our exceptionally efficient road system here in Sydney. So, while your sitting in your car being scared by the intimidating lycra clad cyclist, I’ll be half-way through my second coffee.

How many motorists are still in counselling, due to the fact they killed someone inconsequentially. No-one wins. All I can say is I’ll look after myself and do what ever I want on the roads. With 30+ years of riding on public roads, I have come to the conclusion that the only way to survive is to have 100% attentiveness at all times. Whether or not you are in the right or wrong, you as a cyclist will come off second best, as Mr Trailblazer has been kind to point out. I live less than 15km from work and I can ride, have shower etc, and be at my desk, in half the time it takes to drive to work on our exceptionally efficient road system here in Sydney. So, while your sitting in your car being scared by the intimidating lycra clad cyclist, I’ll be half-way through my second coffee.

have you ever been on a bike in traffic? #1 priority is self preservation. sometimes that comes at the expense of minor road rules (like dont ride on the footpath). good luck with making reports to the police about these things if they treat them as seriously as the various ‘aggrevated assault with a vehicle’ reports that they just ignore.

have you ever been on a bike in traffic? #1 priority is self preservation. sometimes that comes at the expense of minor road rules (like dont ride on the footpath). good luck with making reports to the police about these things if they treat them as seriously as the various ‘aggrevated assault with a vehicle’ reports that they just ignore.

have you ever been on a bike in traffic? #1 priority is self preservation. sometimes that comes at the expense of minor road rules (like dont ride on the footpath). good luck with making reports to the police about these things if they treat them as seriously as the various ‘aggrevated assault with a vehicle’ reports that they just ignore.

Hear, hear! The douchebag minority of cyclists are ruining it for people who behave appropriately on a bike. As a pedestrian I’ve been roared at for standing on a footpath, abused by cyclists who tear through Southbank at what must be well over 60km/hr for being in their way.  Too bad if a child accidentally wanders in to their path, because there is no way they’d be able to stop in time. I would also like to be able to park on the street at a legally in a paid parking spot without being yelled at by cyclists for being in their way as I was this morning. Grrrr.

Hear, hear! The douchebag minority of cyclists are ruining it for people who behave appropriately on a bike. As a pedestrian I’ve been roared at for standing on a footpath, abused by cyclists who tear through Southbank at what must be well over 60km/hr for being in their way.  Too bad if a child accidentally wanders in to their path, because there is no way they’d be able to stop in time. I would also like to be able to park on the street at a legally in a paid parking spot without being yelled at by cyclists for being in their way as I was this morning. Grrrr.

Hear, hear! The douchebag minority of cyclists are ruining it for people who behave appropriately on a bike. As a pedestrian I’ve been roared at for standing on a footpath, abused by cyclists who tear through Southbank at what must be well over 60km/hr for being in their way.  Too bad if a child accidentally wanders in to their path, because there is no way they’d be able to stop in time. I would also like to be able to park on the street at a legally in a paid parking spot without being yelled at by cyclists for being in their way as I was this morning. Grrrr.

Here are some arguments against cars, so for other forms of transport:
Driving is stressful and so undermines one’s psychological wellbeing.
Driving consumes time that is simply being used to solve the problem of distance, but could be used to generate real value (e.g. education through reading on the train) or create improved psychological well-being through relaxation and contemplation.
Driving requires a car, which is incredibly capital intensive to make, run and maintain – money that could either be invested elsewhere or not created in the first place (i.e. people wouldn’t need to take on so much debt or work as much for).
Driving requires roads that are very capital intensive to build and maintain as well as land intensive, compared with bicycle paths or train lines on a per person basis – this capital could be used to invest in hospitals, education etc. and the land could be used for some other purpose or left as natural habitat.
Driving requires a parking space at the end of it – usually the monetary return on a per metre square basis is pretty poor, so there are plenty of more productive things to use this land for or just leaving it as natural habitat.
Driving ultimate corrodes social capital as people don’t have the opportunity to mix with fellow human beings like they do on public transport.
Driving disconnects people from the environment as they don’t have the opportunity to taken in the air, smells and sounds like walking and cycling do, which makes people apathetic to the environment.
Driving discourages people from exercising as opposed to walking or cycling and even public transport – few people live as close to public transport as they do their car sot if they live within walking distance then they will walk. Obviously more exercise can only be a good thing in the increasingly obese ridden developed economies.
Driving provides so much mobility that it encourages urban sprawl, with sprawl being productivity destroying. Sprawl exacerbates the problem of distance that is then solved by transportation, but the magnitude of solution could have been avoided if the problem had been minimized (i.e. high urban density). Moreover, sprawl undermines the viability of share type business like laundromats, car share etc. as well as access to high fixed cost services such as telco services, public transport etc.. Also, from perspective of traditional economics the bigger problem bigger solution thing is not seen as a bad thing because it means more economic output and so higher GDP. The stupidity of this can be highlighted by the following: we count the economic output of the tobacco industry (from farming to cigarette sales) as part of GDP as well as the economic output from treating tobacco related diseases, and we do it because we assume people are rational, hence they know what is best for them, so attribute appropriate utility to the smoking of cigarettes and therefore the production of cigarettes represents a value adding activity!! That sounds a bit ridiculous.
And obviously the big one: driving and cars are incredibly environmentally degrading (energy intensive to produce, emissions etc etc).
And I could go on for a long time but will stop. However, for those that argue that driving provides great freedom and flexibility: well it does when few other people are driving their car, like in the middle of the night, but when everyone is trying to enjoy this utility of freedom and flexibility it disappears at the hands of traffic congestion.We need to smarten up and  kick our car addiction because in most circumstance cars just don’t make sense.

Here are some arguments against cars, so for other forms of transport:
Driving is stressful and so undermines one’s psychological wellbeing.
Driving consumes time that is simply being used to solve the problem of distance, but could be used to generate real value (e.g. education through reading on the train) or create improved psychological well-being through relaxation and contemplation.
Driving requires a car, which is incredibly capital intensive to make, run and maintain – money that could either be invested elsewhere or not created in the first place (i.e. people wouldn’t need to take on so much debt or work as much for).
Driving requires roads that are very capital intensive to build and maintain as well as land intensive, compared with bicycle paths or train lines on a per person basis – this capital could be used to invest in hospitals, education etc. and the land could be used for some other purpose or left as natural habitat.
Driving requires a parking space at the end of it – usually the monetary return on a per metre square basis is pretty poor, so there are plenty of more productive things to use this land for or just leaving it as natural habitat.
Driving ultimate corrodes social capital as people don’t have the opportunity to mix with fellow human beings like they do on public transport.
Driving disconnects people from the environment as they don’t have the opportunity to taken in the air, smells and sounds like walking and cycling do, which makes people apathetic to the environment.
Driving discourages people from exercising as opposed to walking or cycling and even public transport – few people live as close to public transport as they do their car sot if they live within walking distance then they will walk. Obviously more exercise can only be a good thing in the increasingly obese ridden developed economies.
Driving provides so much mobility that it encourages urban sprawl, with sprawl being productivity destroying. Sprawl exacerbates the problem of distance that is then solved by transportation, but the magnitude of solution could have been avoided if the problem had been minimized (i.e. high urban density). Moreover, sprawl undermines the viability of share type business like laundromats, car share etc. as well as access to high fixed cost services such as telco services, public transport etc.. Also, from perspective of traditional economics the bigger problem bigger solution thing is not seen as a bad thing because it means more economic output and so higher GDP. The stupidity of this can be highlighted by the following: we count the economic output of the tobacco industry (from farming to cigarette sales) as part of GDP as well as the economic output from treating tobacco related diseases, and we do it because we assume people are rational, hence they know what is best for them, so attribute appropriate utility to the smoking of cigarettes and therefore the production of cigarettes represents a value adding activity!! That sounds a bit ridiculous.
And obviously the big one: driving and cars are incredibly environmentally degrading (energy intensive to produce, emissions etc etc).
And I could go on for a long time but will stop. However, for those that argue that driving provides great freedom and flexibility: well it does when few other people are driving their car, like in the middle of the night, but when everyone is trying to enjoy this utility of freedom and flexibility it disappears at the hands of traffic congestion.We need to smarten up and  kick our car addiction because in most circumstance cars just don’t make sense.

Ha ha ha not a Warney fan, Dan - Just not blindly running with a losing stance.

Its always the weak blogger that resorts to the spelling comments – but you might be new to this (hence the capitalisation) – its ok – you’ll get better at it :)

Its important to try and see both sides of an issue, otherwise resentment continues to grow. I have a lot of friends who cycle and do it myself occasionally, but I can also relate to a lot of what Shane says. Its a problem that hopefully won’t result in injured cyclists and drivers. Get it now?

Here are some arguments against cars, so for other forms of transport:
Driving is stressful and so undermines one’s psychological wellbeing.
Driving consumes time that is simply being used to solve the problem of distance, but could be used to generate real value (e.g. education through reading on the train) or create improved psychological well-being through relaxation and contemplation.
Driving requires a car, which is incredibly capital intensive to make, run and maintain – money that could either be invested elsewhere or not created in the first place (i.e. people wouldn’t need to take on so much debt or work as much for).
Driving requires roads that are very capital intensive to build and maintain as well as land intensive, compared with bicycle paths or train lines on a per person basis – this capital could be used to invest in hospitals, education etc. and the land could be used for some other purpose or left as natural habitat.
Driving requires a parking space at the end of it – usually the monetary return on a per metre square basis is pretty poor, so there are plenty of more productive things to use this land for or just leaving it as natural habitat.
Driving ultimate corrodes social capital as people don’t have the opportunity to mix with fellow human beings like they do on public transport.
Driving disconnects people from the environment as they don’t have the opportunity to taken in the air, smells and sounds like walking and cycling do, which makes people apathetic to the environment.
Driving discourages people from exercising as opposed to walking or cycling and even public transport – few people live as close to public transport as they do their car sot if they live within walking distance then they will walk. Obviously more exercise can only be a good thing in the increasingly obese ridden developed economies.
Driving provides so much mobility that it encourages urban sprawl, with sprawl being productivity destroying. Sprawl exacerbates the problem of distance that is then solved by transportation, but the magnitude of solution could have been avoided if the problem had been minimized (i.e. high urban density). Moreover, sprawl undermines the viability of share type business like laundromats, car share etc. as well as access to high fixed cost services such as telco services, public transport etc.. Also, from perspective of traditional economics the bigger problem bigger solution thing is not seen as a bad thing because it means more economic output and so higher GDP. The stupidity of this can be highlighted by the following: we count the economic output of the tobacco industry (from farming to cigarette sales) as part of GDP as well as the economic output from treating tobacco related diseases, and we do it because we assume people are rational, hence they know what is best for them, so attribute appropriate utility to the smoking of cigarettes and therefore the production of cigarettes represents a value adding activity!! That sounds a bit ridiculous.
And obviously the big one: driving and cars are incredibly environmentally degrading (energy intensive to produce, emissions etc etc).
And I could go on for a long time but will stop. However, for those that argue that driving provides great freedom and flexibility: well it does when few other people are driving their car, like in the middle of the night, but when everyone is trying to enjoy this utility of freedom and flexibility it disappears at the hands of traffic congestion.We need to smarten up and  kick our car addiction because in most circumstance cars just don’t make sense.

Ha ha ha not a Warney fan, Dan - Just not blindly running with a losing stance.

Its always the weak blogger that resorts to the spelling comments – but you might be new to this (hence the capitalisation) – its ok – you’ll get better at it :)

Its important to try and see both sides of an issue, otherwise resentment continues to grow. I have a lot of friends who cycle and do it myself occasionally, but I can also relate to a lot of what Shane says. Its a problem that hopefully won’t result in injured cyclists and drivers. Get it now?

As for your point 2 – no.

You would be robbing someone, who could be perfectly innocent, of the assumption of innocence until proven guilty.  Yes motor vehicles cause injury and death, but in just the same way, cyclists can also flout the road rules.  The cultural habits you mention could simply be reinforced if a cyclist is killed and a driver has to prove their innocence at great cost.

As for your point 2 – no.

You would be robbing someone, who could be perfectly innocent, of the assumption of innocence until proven guilty.  Yes motor vehicles cause injury and death, but in just the same way, cyclists can also flout the road rules.  The cultural habits you mention could simply be reinforced if a cyclist is killed and a driver has to prove their innocence at great cost.

As for your point 2 – no.

You would be robbing someone, who could be perfectly innocent, of the assumption of innocence until proven guilty.  Yes motor vehicles cause injury and death, but in just the same way, cyclists can also flout the road rules.  The cultural habits you mention could simply be reinforced if a cyclist is killed and a driver has to prove their innocence at great cost.

a motorist is somebody who is operating a motor…. not peddling a bicycle.

a motorist is somebody who is operating a motor…. not peddling a bicycle.

a motorist is somebody who is operating a motor…. not peddling a bicycle.

Yes Graham. He’s after you personally, so I’d watch out.

Drivers don’t pay for it. That’s part of the problem – they think they do – but they severely underfund the resource they claim as their own. $16B raised, $4B from rego – to pay for $13B of “road works”. 

m a keen cyclist (400km a week) who drives to work rather than rides… getting home takes 40 mins in the car or on the bike. i prefer comfort and (relative) safety of the car at those times of the day. that said, i never see any car/bike problems at all on my daily commute. absolutely no issues at all, not sure what the big fuss about cyclists in traffic is all about to be honest.

Im a cyclist, and a car driver, and I must say I am fully aware that bike riders may do anything, but I don’t find it scary, as unfortunatly they will be the one to get hurt….maybe you mean scared for them?? – unless you are scared of grown men dressed in pink lycra

I use “the wave” a lot too Prestie. Seems to work. Also I find riding single file in tricky areas tends to draw less aggression. Being sensible, thinking like a driver, riding to the conditions and spreading the love goes a looooong way. Sure, it’s submissive, but I honestly don’t give a toss. I just want a happy hassle free ride.

‘Most cyclists are also motorists’ as in …. most cyclists also drive cars.

At the end of the day, it all comes to the individuals.
A bad cyclist is probably a bad driver also, and vice versa.  Similar to pedestrians who walks in front of a car to cross a road will drive a car to near miss other pedestrians.

It’s likely that good driver is a good cyclist as well as good pedestrian.

It is a human interactions afterall.  Have a heart and give ways to other people.

idiot

Did you know that defacing an image of Shane Warne is still considered an offence under Commonwealth Law?

Ha ha… wow, Mr Blazer, you’re trying so hard to get a rise aren’t you. Sorry fella, you’ve come to a cycling website. We are a civilised bunch, despite what old spinners say. But keep going… everyone needs a purpose…. however futile that purpose may be. :)

I think all drivers should go for a ride on a busy road to really appreciate how their driving affects cyclists (just as all cyclists should go for a walk on a busy shared path).

Being a lot more considerate and forgiving of other road users, no matter how many wheels they have, is the best start. On the flipside, respecting and abiding by all the road rules, no matter how many wheels you have, is equally important.

I do support bike rego, either for all bikes ridden on the road, or all cyclists who ride on the road (regardless of how many bikes they have), for one simple reason: the current situation creates a loophole where cyclists who cause an accident but are still able to ride away can do so and they are then pretty much untouchable.  A friend of mine was hit by a cyclist as she (legally) crossed a pedestrian crossing, resulting in broken bones, surgery, time off work, and physio.  Considerable expense, pain and distress.  The cyclist rode away, a classic hit and run, and the best she and the eyewitnesses could do was describe his bike and clothing (and that he was a “he”).  With a rego number the cops could have nailed him.

shane warne you are a dick.people dont change.liz is out of town and shane will be shane

what ever happened to cyclists riding indian file.he also said him and the ten or so riders weaving in and out of traffic.all the cars had to wait to turn why cant bikes wait to same rule to all

what ever happened to cyclists riding indian file.he also said him and the ten or so riders weaving in and out of traffic.all the cars had to wait to turn why cant bikes wait to same rule to all

Agree with you David – where would we draw the line on what is to be registered/levied? We all know that the various licensing authorities would dearly love to open new revenue streams to keep their money trees growing, so let’s not throw them an easy bone, eh? When will the majority start to understand that two-wheelers of the treadly and powered variety are THE solution to our traffic congestion woes! Modern motorcycles and scooters have a great deal to offer, saving space on the road – imagine if just one in five of the cars in front of you this evening had been a motorcycle or pushie – you would be home by now!

The appalling attitudes of road-users in Australia have served to prevent us from genuine improvement in our cities’ transport flows: as a car and motorcycle rider, I view cyclists as an integral part of the traffic. Sure, some break some rules – but then which of us hasn’t done so at some time, eh?

Warnie being a dickhead? Stop the press!

His head has been pulled so tight with botox and hair plugs he probably can’t turn his head to view his wing mirrors, the poor darling.

That intersection is where Toorak Rd Meets Kings Way at the cnr of St Kilda Rd – perhaps you should study your map http://maps.google.com.au/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hl=en&tab=wl 

But if Pedestrian A was knocked down by Bike X on a pedestrian crossing, who then kept going despite Pedestrian A needing an ambulance, police would be able to find Bike X if eyewitnesses could give them a rego number.

If Driver A and Bike X were involved in an accident, if Driver A thought he was at fault he might be tempted to drive away.  His rego number ensures he can be traced.  If Bike X thought he was at fault and rode away, what then? 

I AGREE WITH WARNIE ,I 2 HAVE HAD MY CAR THUMPED FROM IGNORANT BIKE RIDERS,USE THE BLOODY BIKE PATHS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT FOR U LOT THAT WAS DONE OUT OF OUR TAXES,IM 6OYRS OLD AND NEXT TIME SOME HITS MY CAR ,BE PREPAIRED TO RUN FOR YOUR LIFE………..

“Once I was through the gap I moved back into the centre lane…… to hear what he was saying.”

Riiiiiight, of course you did.

I was driving on Paynham Road Adelaide this morning, I was aware that there is a cycling event, but these cyclists in total 6 were nothing to do with the event and were riding outside the bike lane three abreast ! Such arrogance does not endear motorists, they blocked an entire lane and gave one figure salutes to anybody who used a warning horn. Don’t you guys realise that most of us do not want you hurt, cars are tougher than your bodies or your bikes. !! Just ride with some commonsense and there won’t be a problem.

Is that true, Josh? It wouldn’y suprise me in sports mad aus!

So, since we know it’s Warnie against who? “Cyclist?”  Is that really what you’d call “some people [saying or doing] anything to get their 15 mins of fame.” ??? 

Hey Winne, you say you were “road raged” by a cyclist?
What injury did you suffer from this unarmed person with nothing more than a bicycle to threaten you with?
Did you report this incident?

How will registration of bicycles improve safety? These drivers & their 15ooKgs of metal don’t care about such things. It’s just a coward’s excuse.

Living in that area, I can tell you now the reason they weren’t riding in the bike lane is because the bike lanes on Payneham Rd are absolutely terrible. They’re thin, full of junk, pedestrians constantly step in them trying to see if a bus is coming, and cars routinely stick their nose into them when waiting to turn onto Payneham Rd from a side street. In fact on that last point, a rider was even killed because of a car coming out from a side street (I’m sure you’ve seen the ghost bike marking the spot while driving through Stepney on your morning commute).

Besides, I’m sure the road works once you hit North Tce, Kent Town would have held you up far more than the cyclists.

Ahem, the *Romans* might have a bit to say about that little theory…

Oh dear. 

”
You don’t have a greater share of the road than anyone else” and then to say ”
Stay off our roads” 

When you say “our”, that includes cyclists and has done for much longer than it had for cars. Because the bike was invented before the car.

Tim, I think you need to re-read and digest Kemeka’s comment, before come across as a freaking nutbar. 

Kemeka is a cyclist and a driver and see’s the issue from both sides and was simply trying to offer a more complete opinion than the 400 rabid cyclists on here attacking angles such as: Shane Warne’s Partner? or Cricket Fans?

Motorists can’t afford to be one sided in this argument. They have to accept that bikes are on the road and try and always do their bests to ensure safe journey. Why do rider’s like you think this shouldn’t be reciprocated.

Try and see both sides of the argument, rather than careening around looking for someone to have a go at.

I love how non cyclists ie. Warnie have such an issue with Lycra. I don’t have an issue with cricketers wearing a box, or swimmers wearing a bathing suit…..

Even Cadel Evans would have trouble cycling at 60km/s on a flat road. Don’t peddle tripe.

I was waiting at the lights in Victoria Rd Sydney at West Ryde last year and a driver about 5th in the queue turned across me on green, then cut the corner and at a slow pace deliberately drove into me and and dragged my bike. Several drivers stopped to express their outrage at the driver’s criminal act. One drove around the block and came back with the rego. Like this fellow here, I was too much in shock to bother with taking the rego but I should have – not for me, but the next victim of criminal violence using a car as a weapon. I work as a lawyer. I am 47 years old.

Still should be rego for bikes to remove the no name to a face issue, regardless of who is right/wrong here, rego would be a good thing anyway.

It is different in NSW.  It is legal to pass up the left side of the road to get to the front of traffic lights.
“• You may overtake on the left of stopped and slow moving vehicles.”
http://www.bicycleinfo.nsw.gov.au/downloads/bicycle_riders_handbook.pdf

That Sarge is a lively one!

Allan, by your logic:
“Driving a car is dangerous” agreed?
Therefore,
Legal to do so – Yes
Smart and safe – No

You are spot on: nothing is perfect and safe.

In this particular case, if Shane had not been feeling so antagonistic toward the cyclist, this wouldn’t have happened.  Oh, it all comes down to human behaviour in the end doesn’t it?

Just as cyclists should give way to pedestrians (as cars are supposed to also), motorists should be more aware of the road rules for cyclists and therefore their own responsibilities toward them.  There is a duty of care, in my opinion, toward the more vulnerable.  But some people just like an excuse to vent their anger.

I think he’s too short on brain cells to really be humiliated.

Thankyou Winnie for taking the time in reading my post. Tim, people like you are the ones that just categorise people. I am not one of those people. And if you state that these are only several ocassions in which these incidents happen then you are wrong. I’ve lived inner city and outer city and the situation is the same. I see it week in week out.
I have no hatred towards cyclist. Why would i if i am one myself. All i am pointing out is that as much as there is a minority of drivers who think they are indestructable, there are just as many cyclists that think the same. However, the consequences of cyclists being hit is always placed on a driver even if the incident was a cyclists fault. Media portrayal over this issue has not been great.
And for crying out loud, my family has been touched by the road toll involving a biking accident. I’m not for just cars on the road and i’m not for cyclist getting a free ride, i’m in for all to be educated well.
And as for the eastern. I take it 3 times a week. I’ve never had a problem in it as such. The problem with traffic is that everytime i look over from the t2 lane to all the other lanes is that there are so many people who drive into the city on their own. Having more than one in a car has its benefits. Never being stuck in traffic. 

Today, as everyday, cyclists ride the wrong way up the one-way street we live on! Every day I point out that it is a one-way street and every day I receive verbal abuse.  These are not young children but mature people with foul mouths! Today, however, was the closest I came to hitting a cyclist whilst driving; and yes I received the mandatory verbal abuse! Why can’t these people obey the rules of the road? Are they challenging Darwin’s Theory? Afterall, I have never heard of a motorist killed by a cyclist! My conscience will be clear should a fatal accident occur; wake up cyclist!!

There are 9 million cyclists in Beijing, all registered, so why not here? The prohibitive cost argument does not wash.

Richard, does all ‘road rage’ have a physical manifestation? Are you aware of harrassment or verbal abuse. Your insinuation that as a driver I can’t be: cut off, verbally abused or harrassed is ridiculous and fuels debates like this. Its a two way street. I’m sorry if being screamed at by a complete strangerthat I was trying to assist, caused me to feel threatened and scared. Particularly as while ranting at me, he was putting both he & I, not to mention other ‘people’ on the road in danger.

Its self righteousness such as your own that aggravates issues such as this. I’m inclined to think not many drivers leave you with a love for bikes.

It’s the coward who thinks physical abuse is the only legitimate kind. I hope your able to see that yourself one day.

Actually, as a cyclist, you can overtake on the left (Road Safety Road Rules  2009 S141), and all the new bike boxes being marked at intersection are encouraging cyclists to move to the front of traffic at red lights. It’s safer, which is why VicRoads are putting in these bike boxes.

Absolutely Tim.  The idea that pretty much unprovoked maiming of other human beings just because you don’t like them being there is justifiable is nothing short of atrocious. 

im sure that this would be considered illegal because motorcyclists are not technically allowed to do this and cycles are treated as a vehicle

Comment of the year!

I wonder if registration would have saved Amy Gillett’s life…

This is pretty funny timing. Yesterday while cycling to work, I was actually attacked by two blokes in a car.

I moved up to the front between two cars at a red light, and as I did so two gentlemen in the car to my right started abusing me, which I ignored. I hadn’t come in contact with their vehicle, I guess they just took issue with me threading up between them and the car next to them (I don’t believe there is a road rule stopping me from doing that). When thelight went green, I took off, and after about 3 or 4 seconds, I heard a car red lining  and looked to my right, and the two guys who had been abusing me pulled up right next to me (we are moving), and the passenger opened his car door into me.

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Comments starting to come in now over Twitter,

Chiara - I would be very scared of meeting someone like @warne888 during a bike ride.His hate towards cyclists is worrying.Glad I only ride a little!
Dodger - Looks like Warnie can’t keep his chimp within under control.
Cooke - Very interesting that now it is obviously that Warnie hit the cyclist he just wants to “move on” and no longer want to talk about it.

Yep… and those lovely white pants…the grass stains must be a bitch to get out.

Did you miss the part about Shane Warne deliberately running into the cyclist to “teach him a lesson.”  Don’t think he would have been so vocal if he’d permanently maimed or killed the guy, do you?  Since when does knowing how to bowl a cricket ball make someone more important as a human being anyway?

They cancelled the registration scheme in Nov 2004 according to this article

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-11/11/content_390685.htm 

and 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-10/23/content_384941.htm 

does obeying the rules include famous cricketers too?  Or are they exempt?

i take it your friend received legal advice to let them know that they could make an injury claim for every cent of her medical expenses and suffering through CTP insurance against ‘the nominal defendant’?

Aiming a 2 tonne merc at a cyclist and accelerating for me is assault, and the driver in question should be charged.
There are some cyclists that are unable to return to their families, after some interactions with cars and trucks.
For the majority who do the right thing by each other, thank you.

hang on, you said before: “the road is for everybody?”  Which is it to be? 
If you are going to argue a point, at least be consistent about it.

My taxes pay for local cricket and footy ovals…… never used them in my life. 

But I certainly don’t feel ripped off by others that do.

“heed vehicles and safe routes if they are in a reportable position…”

What a stupid statement to make.

I’m sure that 99.9% of bike riders just want to get home to their family safely just like everyone else.  Thats the reason to bend the rules now and again…you are pretty vulnerable against one tonne plus vehicles travelling two plus times your speed after all. 

“…no driver wants to hit or cause a rider to fall.”

except that, that’s exactly what Warnie did…

In many countries, cycle commuters are legally allowed to cycle against the traffic on a one-way street. So why not here? Your argument does not wash.

I find it amazing that more bike riders are unhurt with the stupidity they exhibit in traffic.  I had a recent occurrence where at three lanes waiting on the lights, the left lane was empty.  The light changed whilst a bike rider was riding across the red from the right hand side.  A van travelling in the left lane to us saw the light change to green and accelerated through the intersection, only to collect the bike and rider crossing across the red.  He would never have seen the bike. Ambulance needed for the bike rider, bike written off.  Lucky he wasn’t dead! Yep, bike riders are good, eh?  Most motorists want the road for motors, as bikes are slow and in the way. I blame the councils/governments because they do not make bike friendly roads.  I also blame motorists for not being patient enough.  I also blame bike riders for being stupid enough to force their right of way against big steel monsters… just how dumb are you if you pit your frail flesh against a steel car!!  That’s like pulling in front of a B-Double in a Fiat 500 to force your right of way – technically you are right.  But you are still very dead!

I find it amazing that more bike riders are unhurt with the stupidity they exhibit in traffic.  I had a recent occurrence where at three lanes waiting on the lights, the left lane was empty.  The light changed whilst a bike rider was riding across the red from the right hand side.  A van travelling in the left lane to us saw the light change to green and accelerated through the intersection, only to collect the bike and rider crossing across the red.  He would never have seen the bike. Ambulance needed for the bike rider, bike written off.  Lucky he wasn’t dead! Yep, bike riders are good, eh?  Most motorists want the road for motors, as bikes are slow and in the way. I blame the councils/governments because they do not make bike friendly roads.  I also blame motorists for not being patient enough.  I also blame bike riders for being stupid enough to force their right of way against big steel monsters… just how dumb are you if you pit your frail flesh against a steel car!!  That’s like pulling in front of a B-Double in a Fiat 500 to force your right of way – technically you are right.  But you are still very dead!

I find it amazing that more bike riders are unhurt with the stupidity they exhibit in traffic.  I had a recent occurrence where at three lanes waiting on the lights, the left lane was empty.  The light changed whilst a bike rider was riding across the red from the right hand side.  A van travelling in the left lane to us saw the light change to green and accelerated through the intersection, only to collect the bike and rider crossing across the red.  He would never have seen the bike. Ambulance needed for the bike rider, bike written off.  Lucky he wasn’t dead! Yep, bike riders are good, eh?  Most motorists want the road for motors, as bikes are slow and in the way. I blame the councils/governments because they do not make bike friendly roads.  I also blame motorists for not being patient enough.  I also blame bike riders for being stupid enough to force their right of way against big steel monsters… just how dumb are you if you pit your frail flesh against a steel car!!  That’s like pulling in front of a B-Double in a Fiat 500 to force your right of way – technically you are right.  But you are still very dead!

Pshhh… Don’t believe this cyclists “version”

Because waiting behind a car breathing in exhaust is not exactly a healthy pasttime.  It is also safer to get in front of the cars so that you can be seen. 

You legend!  Why don’t you run over a few pedestrians who cross against the lights just to get double revenge! 
Do you ever ask yourself “why are people so mean to me?”  Life is a mirror lady.

should only be passing to the left of the traffic, but still, that doesn’t excuse their behaviour.  I hope you’re ok?

I believe the bike riders  version of this as warny believes  he is above the law  and the police would not  question him  well  news to you warny  if you can stop kissing yourself in the mirror  long enough  you do not own the road  you must obey the road rules jike others  have to  in your own words you clipped the cyclist  wheel you should have stopped to exchange names  that is the  law  if you did not know that you should not be driving  or  maybe you  do not have a driveing licsence  . So fess up warnie  and for once in your life and do the right thing .

You should probably read the rules before commenting Rossco

why?

Your comments in reply to this article appear to be condoning the actions of Shane Warne. I get frustrated often with poor driving when I’m driving my car but that doesn’t justify me going out and intentionally hitting one and then driving off. I suggest taking some of the emotion out of your comments and thinking about what you are saying before working yourself up.

If you make the mistake of visiting Shane Warne’s twitter page (like I did), you’ll notice that its sponsored by a gambling company.
Not that I have anything against that or the company, but as you continue this discussion and link back to Shane Warne, remember that his twitter presence and comments are ultimately promoting a company.

I should also add that the city bound bike lane is only a bike lane from 6.30am until 9am. Outside that 2 1/2 hr window the cyclists are 100% entitled to be in the car lane. (likewise, the lane out of the city is only a bike lane from 4:30pm until 6pm)

Everyday I see cars driving up my one way street as well, I would feel much safer if they were on bikes though

My, what an immature car-obsessed society we are.  We should all take a leaf out of Europe’s attitude to cyclists, but I guess it just takes time to re-educate the average Joe motorist.  I do have a secret little insight for Joe though – soon you will also need to plant your bum on a saddle because (as in Europe) you won’t be able to afford the scarce fuel for your car any longer. 
 
Just hope and pray that the general attitude towards cyclist will have improved by then otherwise you will find yourself on the receiving end of exactly that what you are now wishing on your fellow “velo” road users.  But just also think of the fringe benefits: save heaps of money; no more traffic jam stress; arrive refreshed at work; no need for silly diets, you will lose those extra kilo’s no sweat (well, maybe just a little); you will get fit and will feel good for the change.  Come to think of it, why not be brave, get off your lazy bum, and hop on a bike now to give it a try.  It’s life-changing and prolonging, that much I can guarantee you (but look out for those aggro motorists).          

The “Cycling City” award everyone keeps mentioning was for sports cycling only. Melbourne is a very, very long way from being an internationally recognised bicycle city for casual riders.

The “Cycling City” award everyone keeps mentioning was for sports cycling only. Melbourne is a very, very long way from being an internationally recognised bicycle city for casual riders.

Given how incredibly dangerous cars are you logic would suggest that nobody should drive.

Also, at many intersections like the one where this hit and run occurred it is impossible to get between bike path segments without crossing traffic at some point. Much better to do it when cars are stationary.

The bigger issue here is the absolutely appalling design of many intersections.

Given how incredibly dangerous cars are you logic would suggest that nobody should drive.

Also, at many intersections like the one where this hit and run occurred it is impossible to get between bike path segments without crossing traffic at some point. Much better to do it when cars are stationary.

The bigger issue here is the absolutely appalling design of many intersections.

A hell of a lot of people are getting sucked in by the “Spin
Doctor’s” SPIN! Don’t Vic Roads have cameras on that intersection – that should
show who’s full of spin on and off the field!

A hell of a lot of people are getting sucked in by the “Spin
Doctor’s” SPIN! Don’t Vic Roads have cameras on that intersection – that should
show who’s full of spin on and off the field!

Twitter user @SebKemmerer who claims to be a witness: “@warne888 just be glad that your brand new merc is still in pristine condition,as you so nearly hit us when overtaking that bike rider yday!”

Twitter user @SebKemmerer who claims to be a witness: “@warne888 just be glad that your brand new merc is still in pristine condition,as you so nearly hit us when overtaking that bike rider yday!”

It’s just not cricket, Shane Warne. Show your children and the people of Australia that you are a good sport, not a spoilt git.

It’s just not cricket, Shane Warne. Show your children and the people of Australia that you are a good sport, not a spoilt git.

you feel scared having a cyclist next to you ?  I’m not a cyclist but that my old bean is just stupid. What can they possible do to you ? I suggest you don’t leave the house  … there’s shopping trolleys, and skateboards and all sorts of dangerous stuff out there. Most cyclists cause no problems so stop generalising. Anyhow keep posting because you’re entertaining everyone.

The holier than thou attitude displayed by motorists in reply to the cyclist v car issue is bewildering. This incident aside, I am sure that each and every driver has never once exceeded the speed limit, texted while driving, lane changed without indicating, thrown rubbish out the window or driven through a red light. It’s a wonder there is even a need to legislate against these actions seeing as the majority on here would have you believe they never happen.

It is indeed legal for cyclists to overtake on the left or “filter through traffic”.  Indeed, VicRoads and Councils install bike storage boxes at the stop lines of signalised intersections for this very purpose. 
They are safer than cyclists starting in the traffic queue *where they are often not seen or are in drivers blind spots or become in conflict with left turn traffic when the lights turn green* and are a VicRoads, RTANSW, AustRoads, etc, approved design.

I’m not sure why people complain about cyclists taking up an entire lane. You’re supposed to overtake them like any motor vehicle, i.e. not by squeezing them left while you only go halfway around them.

This whine about how the cyclist shouldn’t “filter through stationary traffic” makes me laugh .. 
seeing as the cyclist shouldn’t need to if the drivers of the cars hadn’t entered an intersection when there are cars already blocking the road.. 
what happened to that road rule?? 
For them to “filter through” would mean there are cars only 1/2 way turning left (or even right) but unable to exit the intersection due to congestion.Maybe some (or even 99%) of the people posting on this blog (and the news items) should 1st do a search of their  states cycle rules (as well as maybe resfresh up on the road rules for cars whilst there?);)

I hope you reported them to the police.

Where is the rule?  In the Victorian road laws, same as all the other road rules.  You can look them up on the  VicRoads website if you like.
There’s a summary at http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/E314E1DB-613A-4167-A4CB-10E7790C0B5D/0/STRquest.pdf”Are bicycles allowed to pass other vehicles on the left?”
“Yes, except when those vehicles are indicating and turning left”.

So if there are cars that are not BOTH indicating and turning, it is legal to pass them.  If the cars are stuck in traffic and incapable of turning, then they are not turning so you can pass them.

Please don’t just guess.  Look up the road rules.  ”Road Rules – Victoria, Part 15: Additional Rules For Bicycle Riders”

PART 15—ADDITIONAL RULES FOR BICYCLE RIDERSNote 1 This Part contains rules that apply only to bicycle riders. Most rules in the Road Rulesapply to bicycle riders in the same way as they apply to drivers—see rule 19. Thereare some other rules that are for bicycle riders only, or that have exceptions for bicycleriders. These include—• optional hook turn by bicycle riders—rule 35• bicycle riders making a hook turn contrary to a no hook turn by bicycles   sign—rule 36• bicycle riders excepted from giving stop signals—rule 52• exception for bicycle riders riding in emergency stopping lanes—rule 95• bicycle riders entering and leaving roundabouts—rules 111 and 119• bicycle riders overtaking on the left—rule 141• riding alongside other riders—rule 151• bicycle lanes—rule 153• parking at a bicycle rail or in a bicycle rack—rule 166• stopping on footpaths—rule 197• stopping on a road with a bicycle parking sign—rule 201.

Well said, I use to ride in Brisbane but now ride a motorbike, too many close calls and a dollop of laziness. What is amusing is that on a motorbike, the gripe that cars have regarding push bikes (slowing down traffic) is equally applicable for 
motorcyclists towards slower cars. If a motorcyclist flashes 
her  /his lights at a car, the car should be compelled to pull over and allow the faster transport through. Self-righteous car drivers who bully other road users need to claim down, they’ll give themselves a heart attack.   

One thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA8gJoT5yl4

(Road Safety Road Rules  2009 S141) – it’s legal, read through the comments before you comment yourself.

next

If my only choice was to be the driver of a B-double or live a riskier life in a Fiat 500, I’d still take the Fiat!

It’s called living – not merely existing.

This law doesn’t rob anyone of innocence – it defaults responsibility to the driver – because driver are a far greater risk. Cyclists & pedestrians are still accountable. This acts as a useful deterrent. In a car-bike incident, the car driver is not the vulnerable party in need of legal protection.

As for cyclists who flout rules – they tend only to hurt themselves. That situation tends to take care of itself… And it’s not the case of relevance here.

No, you don’t need that scenario for cultural habits to change – look at Europe. All we need is less gutless bogan coppers (they are more MadMax than the average driver). When police start applying the law fairly, the situation for cyclists will improve. Police are not recruited for their intelligence – they’ll believe whatever Murdoch or talkback radio tell them, and they too are attached to their cars. Most of us who have reported incidents have experienced how unsympathetic & ineffective the police are.

This IS MadMax country – the bigger your car – the more rights you have. People don’t count, especially ones without cars.

get the pushie off the road … dick head

Good to see the other side of the story. Pity you dont hear it on the news.
Seemed like a massive coincidence that warnie had been ranting on about cyclists one day and then this happens the next day. I suspected the cyclists story would be very different to warnes.
Good luck getting the truth out!

I know you’re kinda joking, but you’re half-serious & half-right too…

In fact the problem is just that life for drivers has become ever more frustating. It’s not the fault of cyclists (in fact we’re part of the solution), but we are a nameless, faceless, defenceless group of victims for the dumb cowardly bogans to vent this frustration at. Like cyclists, there is only a minority who spoil it for everyone. (Only this “spoiling” on the car-side is infinitely worse than than on the cyclists-side)

Love the veiled threats masquerading as concern for cyclists.

You know what happens when I go riding? I obey the road rules and get harassed or threatened by a dangerous minority of violent, angry motorists who don’t know or choose not to follow the road rules.

Naturally as a cyclist, I am expected to share some collective guilt for the imagined resentments of honest, well-informed (cough, cough) citizens like Warnie.

So any aggressive discouragement they can mete out (and then drive quickly away from) is just them showing that they “don’t want anything bad to happen to ANYBODY but in the end , it will be
the cyclist who will have to live with the physical consequences.”

It’s so enraging that Shane Warne has lashed out the way he has, he has only made a terrible situation far, far worse, and I won’t be at all surprised if I read about some outrageous road rage incidents fuelled by his inaccurate, uninformed rants.
Yes, there are cyclists out there who are irresponsible and ride dangerously – and as (sometimes) cyclist, I can recognise their incorrect behaviour and shake my head at them too, but it’s dangerous when drivers then treat all cyclists as if they fall into that category. In the same respect, there are some terrible drivers out there who really shouldn’t be allowed behind the wheel.

But how often does a cyclist or a pedestrian actually cause fear to a driver? I’m a runner, I run competitively and am about to embark overseas to race, and I get harrassed by drivers…when I am running, on the SIDEwalk. Not crossing the road, in fact, I try to avoid anywhere near roads, but there’s always a stretch somewhere where I’ll wind up on a footpath, and it’s frustrating the harrassment and abuse I can cop. Some drivers don’t seem to be happy with anyone doing something that they’re not. Maybe it’s jealousy that they’re not doing what we are. I’ve never heard of runners or cyclists throwing glass bottles at passing drivers and causing serious injuries – but I’ve heard the reverse far too often.

I’m tired of hearing the argument, cyclists should pay rego to use the road, when will people understand that taxes pay for roads and infrastructure, not rego? And does rego do anything about the drivers who slow down and make eye contact with pedestrians already entering pedestrian crossings, then slamming their foot down and speeding through? How often do you read about a bicycle killing someone?

Finally, I think many people are forgetting Shane Warne’s (lack) of credibility. Diuretics anyone?

Next thing we will need to pay to walk on public footpaths or to play in the local park…. Where does it end? Personally I am sick of the ever increasing trend trend that the user shoul pay for public facilities we have already paid for

at the end of the day cyclists and drivers will never agree, so off that topic how bout we look at this case, if this wanst shane warne we wouldnt be talking about it, if you take in the specific details of the cyclist plus the photos i know who im siding with, lets face it shane warne doesnt exactly have the best track record with telling the truth, imagine the rubbish he used to talk to the mother of his kids after his many many affairs, sorry warnie, your morales were long left behind

at the end of the day cyclists and drivers will never agree, so off that topic how bout we look at this case, if this wanst shane warne we wouldnt be talking about it, if you take in the specific details of the cyclist plus the photos i know who im siding with, lets face it shane warne doesnt exactly have the best track record with telling the truth, imagine the rubbish he used to talk to the mother of his kids after his many many affairs, sorry warnie, your morales were long left behind

Hi Vitas, 

in NSW, at least, cyclists are allowed to overtake stationary traffic at an intersection to move to an area at the front of the intersection and to the left to allow safer passage through the intersection when the lights turn green. All very legal in NSW, and I have a sneaking suspicion also in Vic.

I missed the part where Warnie was explicitly named. Could be any celebrity ex sports person being a goose, why pick on Warnie, who should have captained the Australian Test side? In the other, unrelated mater, you like sheep?  

I’m gunna start a renegade cycling group and call it Road Shepherd. Some cock in a SUV vs half a dozen bad-asses wearing black wielding U-Locks.  It’s the only solution. ;)

Shane is great. He is skinny, has really white teeth, drives a merc, has blond hair, has a hot missus, wears pj’s at work and probably has boonie on speed dial. There we go 7 reasons to love warny.

Spot on JC.

The issue here is that it appears a crime may have taken place.

if the turning  traffic that was blocking the intersection wasn’t moving and the cyclist  had the green light then he had every right to move thrught the stopped traffic. It’s the car fault as they shouldn’t enter the intersection if they are not able to pass throught on the light cycle…common sense!

Cashed up bogan…what else can we expect?

Typical shitty response by the cops, I was deliberately hit 3 months ago and the St kilda road cops didn’t do anything even with a witness. Carry a bat and deal with it out of court, I will be next time

Maybe Warnie was running late for an appointment with his Plastic Surgeon???

Warne should’ve bowled him over.

Moving thru the traffic to position yourself in the centre lane in front of all the faster cars, is asking for trouble eventually.

Warne should’ve bowled him over.

Moving thru the traffic to position yourself in the centre lane in front of all the faster cars, is asking for trouble eventually.

The secret of great comedy is not timing…it’s morons not understanding the joke.

Do you want to tell him Marcus?

@Fmaa_msn “The Warney” is the Melbourne to Warnambool cycling race…

Here’s me guessing you might… be a muppet by your earlier comments and you go ahead and prove it…

Using your argument about cyclists wearing Lycra, I’m guessing you expect all swimmers to wear jeans, runners to wear jackets and heels, etc etc. I mean, they’re really just dressing up when they run in shorts, swim in speedos, etc. by your ‘reasoning’.

Fozzie Bear couldn’t be more of a muppet than you.

Tool.

Here’s me guessing you might… be a muppet by your earlier comments and you go ahead and prove it…

Using your argument about cyclists wearing Lycra, I’m guessing you expect all swimmers to wear jeans, runners to wear jackets and heels, etc etc. I mean, they’re really just dressing up when they run in shorts, swim in speedos, etc. by your ‘reasoning’.

Fozzie Bear couldn’t be more of a muppet than you.

Tool.

Explain how Shane Warne was in any danger.

Go on.

Nice to know you fund it though.

I bet he’s got a set of Bora’s though…

He was weaving through the stationary cars that were blocking the intersection after they were impatient and turned instead waiting for space on the road they were turning into. Have another read vitas.

Cyclist are allowed to pass on the left of traffic unless the vehicle is indicating for a left hand turn.

You forgot “talking on their mobile phone”. Lately I keep noticing this disturbing trend and wish both parties (drivers and cyclists) would just put the bloody phone down until you cease your journey!

this is what i don’t understand about cycling-haters. it’s like “you bloody pooftas!” then you ask them why they don’t try riding.. “hell no, i wouldn’t join you guys if you paid me. i’d be too shit scared”

This is all very sad. All I want to do is ride my bike. In a rather serious life of work, kids and family obligations it is the one thing that makes me feel like I am 12 years old again. Unfortunately, given the current situation, I don’t think my own kids will ever have the same feelings of freedom that the bike offers. Imagine a 12 year old riding on our roads in the current environment.

This is all very sad. All I want to do is ride my bike. In a rather serious life of work, kids and family obligations it is the one thing that makes me feel like I am 12 years old again. Unfortunately, given the current situation, I don’t think my own kids will ever have the same feelings of freedom that the bike offers. Imagine a 12 year old riding on our roads in the current environment.

Register my son 12… or in fact his daughter 10 before she rides around Brighton agian…..

Register my son 12… or in fact his daughter 10 before she rides around Brighton agian…..

Abdu, that’s GOLD. This post mirrors my take on the situation

So mr cyclist, if u say Warnie was concerned about u damaging his car, then why would he lurch forward to hit your bike? Seems you’ve contradicted yourself there, therefore u have lost all credibility in my eyes.

I agree. Everybody needs to calm down, take their time and obey the rules as they are. You will eventually get to wherever you’re going on foot, on a bike or in a car so there’s no need for all the angst. 

I am a cyclist myself i cycle like 80-100km on w/e and always there will be some smuck telling u “Get out the road!”
But at the end you are in the right u cant go cycle on a gravel road with a racer and that guy doesnt have a clue how it feels to cycle 80km because his sitting on his A** chowing a mcdonalds burger. He doesnt see the mental and physical toll it takes on u. I mean after 75km u sometimes make a small mistake but why cant the car drivers be a bit liniant and just give a bit of gap i mean does it take so much effort to turn a steering wheel and turn? NOT REALLY! So why are they making such a fuss. The funny thing is how the cyclist always have something bad to say really.

very true Priestie. I’m aware that the Herald Sun is very biased against cyclists but what really worried me was the bile that most bloggers posted. Strangely, around 95% of the 540 bloggers agreed with Warne. The Herald Sun must really censor the pro cycling fraternity into oblivion. This ammounts to what I refer to as subliminal brainwashing. Either way, Melbourne has it’s share of cyclist hating imbeciles. I’m glad I live in Adelaide, although we have them here as well.

I don’t trust the Victoria Police and my wife’s Brother is one. I’ve heard some stories. Warne will be very unlucky if he is charged. The cyclist in question should press charges if there is a willing witness (or a few). Even if it’s just to shut the media up.

I don’t trust the Victoria Police and my wife’s Brother is one. I’ve heard some stories. Warne will be very unlucky if he is charged. The cyclist in question should press charges if there is a willing witness (or a few). Even if it’s just to shut the media up.

Hey folks, I can 100% say that I think Shane Warne is an oxygen thief and can’t believe he thinks he can get away with this sort of stuff… What a chop!

Same go’s in fact to anyone who feels the way he does about cyclists

I am a keen cyclist myself.
HOWEVER, I must say that I do feel that cyclists riding in big packs taking up whole lanes on the road is simply mental….. I have lived in 6 countries over 4 continents in the last 9 years, all of which had a single file road rule for cyclists and, you know what… I don’t remember ever experiencing as much friction between cars and bikes as there is over here.
Food for thought?

Hey folks, I can 100% say that I think Shane Warne is an oxygen thief and can’t believe he thinks he can get away with this sort of stuff… What a chop!

Same go’s in fact to anyone who feels the way he does about cyclists

I am a keen cyclist myself.
HOWEVER, I must say that I do feel that cyclists riding in big packs taking up whole lanes on the road is simply mental….. I have lived in 6 countries over 4 continents in the last 9 years, all of which had a single file road rule for cyclists and, you know what… I don’t remember ever experiencing as much friction between cars and bikes as there is over here.
Food for thought?

cyclists have no place on the roads. they get what they deserve – on ya warney!

where are you driving cos i would like to drive there where motorists never
make mistakes, never behave like douchebags,never  ignore red lights, never weave through traffic, and know their road rules so well

nice one jules.. I have started videoing my rides recently after going around a round about and having a b-double truck not stop to give way to me, was all I could do to drop the bike and stop in time without going under the trailer ….. 

I have been reading the relevant comments spread over the various media outlets, and all I can really say is that I’m embarrassed to say in live in the same town as these people, and can’t believe how uneducated they are towards cyclists . . . . . frightening 

Strange how you can recall what Warne said but you can’t remember what you said.

Hmmm …

 
1.     Why drive peak hour on a busy road?
2.     Why stay anonymous if you feel so confident that you are right?
 
I unfortunately do not have time for a cycler. They think that cars have to wait for them and that they own the road. They will not stop if they passed your car and scratch it?! And what is it about men in tight shorts that always try to intimidate a woman in a car? Shaving is for women, tight shorts, are for woman. So if you are a man and you look like this when you cycle, don’t try to have an ego!!!  

Quite frankley, a car is bigger than a bicycle, so you are the one that has to be careful and obey the rules.
  

Richard, I agree mate. Why does society allow cars (and motor-cycles) on the road that can do speeds of more than 300 k/h? WHY?? There is an inherent problem which runs deep in our society, and which most people choose to ignore. It would be awesome to have laws that require cars to have GPS activated while travelling, and which could be monitored. I do understand the administrative logistical nightmare involved, but it would be nice.
I use a motor-cycle, car and bicycle. I ride to work (20km each way) and like to think I’m doing my bit. I find 99% of drivers tolerant and careful when on my bike.

Actually, here in NSW rego and third party insurance two separately paid items, and horse floats and box trailers ARE registered ‘ vehicles’.

Why would that frustrate you? Perplexed!!

I think people still need to realise that a duty of care is owed to everyone on the road regardless of their type of carriage. I agree that there are cyclists who abuse the privilege of weaving through traffic etc. but the same goes for motorists. Simply because a motorist wants to get from A to B faster does not give them the right to attack or to use their vehicle as a means to admister aggressive or might towards slower moving vehicles (motorised or otherwise). I understand Warne’s point, he wants to report bad behaviour which is made difficult given no identification plates etc. on bikes…but that is the way it is. Whether provoked or otherwise, Warne has let his ego get the better of him and he should be responsible and admit his wrongs. In a neutral environment – a car makes contact with a cyclist – this needs to be dealt with properly, in complete contrast to what has actually happened here.

I completely blame that intersection for this.

ONE lane for all traffic from Toorak and St Kilda Rd to merge and turn left is ludicrous. It causes confusion & congestion. To add insult to injury the b@sta@rds have put a red light camera there.

There needs to be two lanes turning left and a better light cycle. But of course that would mean less opportunity to fine people for a fault that is all Port Phillip council & VicRoads.

Back to the issue though. It’s Shane Warne. Do we expect any better?

Biker sounds like a bit of a tosser too – likebutter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.

He probably saw Shane Warne & thought money spinner!

That intersection holds up all of St Kilda Rd in peak. It’s the worst.

Koshie has a long running thing against cyclists. I haven’t been in the country for a year but remember him ranting on about it before I left, so this isn’t a new point of view for sunrise.

At your age I’m guessing I’ll only have to walk to keep ahead of you. P.s. Do you know how you can tell I’m on the cyclist’s side and not Warnie’s? Easy. I can spell and construct a sentence properly. (-:

I cannot believe how ignorant and stupid most of the posts on this blog are. Please tell me this does not represent our society as a whole. PLEASE!!!

We should all be cycling! Would be much better for our health and the environment!
You would expect a great sportsman like Warne to be behind cycling!

If you are taxpayer, you are paying towards the building and upkeep of the roads, even if you aren’t paying fuel taxes and reg fees.  And it’s not like your bicycle has the same level of wear and tear as a vehicle

You won’t be alone there…

Maybe that’s why Warney is so upset, everyone has avoided the T20 cricket and watching him in droves.

Attendances and interest in him is abysmal, the T20 tournament is close to insolvent already.

Rather than bang on about this, I see an opportunity here: remember this:
http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2009/09/hats-off-to-wendy/ now, I know Wade is in Adelaide for the Tour Down Under, but surely there would be someone in Melbourne willing to take Shane out for a ride?Just an idea

The go to court for assault

I have no problem with cyclists, but get sick and tired of them (lycra clad cyclists) NEEDLESSLY riding two or even THREE abreast on a narrow road. The lack of consideration and danger they cause drives a lot of drivers wild.  

You say submissive.. but I think it’s also called being a grown up. Seems like we all need to get over our inner 5 year old temper tantrum throwing monsters. If only there was some way just to get everyone to relax on the road, to face the fact that pushing it as hard and fast as you can is just a recipe for being a dickhead. Cars, bikes and myself included.

unfortunately , u moron, bike paths are not so extensive.  its also illegal to drive a car on a bike path , not so for a bike to ride on the road. 

unfortunately , u moron, bike paths are not so extensive.  its also illegal to drive a car on a bike path , not so for a bike to ride on the road. 

In reading some of these comments it scares me to see how many people have no idea of what is and is not legal for cyclists on the road. It is entirely legal and in fact recommended as safer for cyclists to ride two abreast in a lane for one thing. It is also legal for cyclists to ride up the left side of traffic stopped at traffic light. I am a car driver, motorbike rider and cyclists. Everyone get over yourselves. No one has more right to the road than anyone else.

And it should be noted quite a number of cyclist do in fact have a licence with Cycling Australia.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-18/warne-wants-cyclists-registered/3780942
“Police say they have investigated the incident involving Warne and will not be pursuing it further due to its minor nature.”
I hope all of those who witnessed the accident have come forward to police and we see some different development. It would be a shame if it was not criminally pursued. If it is not and this story is true, including the number of witnesses, there is clearly avenue for a civil claim for assault at the very least.

The issue with these circular arguments about bike registration, insurance, lane splitting – I don’t care one way or another which way those things go, and will conform accordingly so as to not provoke any more frustration than I already receive on the road. Yes, cyclists can behave badly on the road, and I have seen plenty put themselves in severe danger. I am loathe to see a cyclist run a red light, move inappropriately over a road, etc. The reality is though there is a massive disparity between the damage that can be done by a cyclist, while recognising that is not none, and what a car can do when it is used to channel mere frustration as an intimidatory tool or a weapon. Frustration – it’s as easy to get over as having a beer or playing with your kids, but many drivers see it as reasonable and within their rights to point their cars towards an unprotected fellow human being who also enjoys a beer and playing with their kids. It can terrible enough when it’s done towards another car, and should be the target of absolute criminal and social reproach when it’s done towards a cyclist.  

CT, maybe it’s worth putting more emphasis on the distinction in the cyclist’s story that he was progressing through traffic blocking the intersection in front of him (as I understand it, and empirically understand it to happen at that time of night, turning right from Toorak Rd in the west into St Kilda Rd, largely directly to the Kings Way feeder lane on the far western side of St Kilda Rd) rather than lane splitting to beat cars off the line at the green light. I’m not sure of the legal status of this, but if the traffic blocking my progress through an intersection is absolutely static in front of me I would not hesitate to do the same thing. Further, even if the cyclist in this case was completely in the wrong as far as his riding choices went, there is no justification – least not frustration – for using a car as a weapon.

I travel the city roads a lot and constantly see cyclists flaunting the road rules that they are also supposed to be following. Red lights are only advisory to cyclists and since when was there a lane between vehicles? The cyclist in this incident hasn’t even got the guts to identify himself!!! Bring on registration for these menaces so that they can be prosecuted just like other motorists are for not following the rules of the road.

Top selling TABLOID newspaper. Produced by cretins for the consumption by cretins

Everyone, Cyclists and Drivers needs to just shut up right now…. 

All this ranting places the everyday rider like me at even more risk because now all the idiots, both riders and drivers will now be out there making the roads even less safe with their opposing attitudes….

Ok, I’ll bite…

Why does the victim need to identify himself to the likes of you? He has given his details and a report to police. Giving his name out would unleash abuse and violence from morons, plus there’s your tabloid media harassment. Same goes for assault, rape, etc. You (we) don’t need to know their name because clearly it doesn’t assist the investigation and there are many nutters out there.

Explain to me how registration would have helped here?

It appears a cyclist has been rammed by a driver. That cyclist has given his own details to the police.

Go back to your ranting on the Herald Sun…

The Herald Sun is tabloid fodder to the lower end of our society, a classic Murdoch paper.

Feed them scandal, hype up the bigotry, and watch ‘em go!

The morons who read it lap it up, while the journo’s and editors laugh at how stupid their readers are. The joke is on the readers, because they are being told what to think, etc. and get all angry and hyped up on command.

Pick a whipping boy, it might be an “illegal immigrant” one week, you know those bomb carrying disease ridden scum who actually are rich and come here to live in luxury? Don’t let facts get in the way, better stil create your own.

Phone tap, steal from rubbish bins, print inaccuracies, etc. then create a story. When the subject reacts to the story even better, look at what a nutter they are!

This week they will target the evil menace of cyclists, then move on.

In NSW it is legal to move to the front at red lights. also i am happy for rego. they say it is used for road repair. if i pay $1 then a car should pay $5000 and a truck $100000 per year. i think that everyone should also have to ride a motorbike for a year before they get a car licence. it will make them more aware

That clears that up then.

No assault, etc. The cyclist is making this all up, doctored his photos and made a false report to Victoria Police.

Nothing to see here, move along.

Making a false statement to police would incur a fair penalty, but then not as much as assault, leaving the scene of an accident, etc….

TrailBlazer has hit the nail on the head for (I’m guessing) 90% of the population who hate cyclists.

People often ‘hate’ something they don’t understand or don’t find enjoyment in.

I hate AFL, but it doesn’t make me scared of footballs because it’s easy to understand that many people get enjoyment from watching the game.

I’ll also agree that driving along Beach Rd alongside a pack of cyclists can feel unnerving because you can be concerned about accidentally clipping someone or a rider falling in front of you and you running them over.

But we all need to take 5 seconds to think about our emotions, and wonder if we generally hate something, or just don’t understand what it is or how to act around it…

1. Because you have to get to/from work.
1. Because you have every right to.

2. Because you rightly fear threats and violence if you did.
2. You haven’t remained anonymous to the police, which is all that matters.

Thanks for showing us the moronic mind of the Cashed Up Bogan, and dragging our world down just a little more today…

He’s not a great sportsman. He plays a sport that is played seriously by about five countries, it struggles to get a World Championship event lasting longer than 3 or 4 matches.

The stupid thing is Warney claims to be a father (although we all know what a cheat he is), not sure if he even lives with them or just minds them in between visits to the Casino, etc.

I wonder if he thinks his kids might ride a bike, or are they fat little buggers like him too?

I could not agreee more with the last 3 comments @CA , @Rob , @over it

Yep.

A cyclist gets abused, rammed, and his bike badly damaged.

The perpetrator gets away with it, even gets to rant on about how dangerous cyclists are, basically confirm in many drivers’ minds that this is acceptable, and proves you can get away with it.

Move on as he says.

Melbourne – where the Cashed Up Bogan rules. Can we have that as the slogan on our new bike rego plate?

How come in heavily populated countries in Europe where the traffic is dense and the speed limits high there is so little road rage towards cyclists… actually, not much road rage in general.

Maybe Australia needs some higher speed limits…

Actually it does.  By defaulting responsibility to the driver, to your words, the law would be creating a presumption of guilt that the driver would have to rebutt.    This is not fair, irrespective of the question of vulnerability. 

I think you will find that a cyclist that flouts the road rules is of relevance.  Your scenario would enable a cyclist to run a red light, get him or herself killed, only to have responsibility default to the driver, who in turn would have to prove they were not at fault. 

I’m a cyclist and I’m well aware of the moronic behaviour of some drivers and also the moronic behaviour of some cyclists.  That said, the type of law you are suggesting is patently unfair.

People please, can we stop feeding the troll?

Go jump on a bike Warnie!!!

Now that the police have backed out of this, does anyone know a bike riding high profile lawyer? Lets take this through a civil action and determine the truth. I would be happy to contribute to the cause. Just want the truth.

It’s to cover up how much of a financial charlatan he is. He has no idea on economics. His views and advice border on criminal (though it makes for some interesting counter trades).

I totally agree.
There are drivers call out abusive words to pedestrians walking on footpath, for what reason?
I also witness far too many drivers approach pedestrians crossings so fast, where zigzag lines on the road means approach with care = no speeding!  For that I “wish” EVERY crossings to have lights installed – but I know that’s not reasonable/practical.  Anyway, there are also pedestrians who thinks they wear a crown on their head.

Hi there,
I also witnessed another incident with Shane Warne as driver, when he ran down a photographer last year.
I assisted the guy and also went to the Victorian Police with him and made sworn statements. NOTHING was done.
Fortunately the photographer was not badly injured.
Warne ran his car directly into him and it was both witnessed by others and captured partially on video.
The failure to act by the officers on the scene is a disgrace and I believe it has everything to do with Warne being a celebrity.
Should you wish to contact me, I am available on 0412280166.
Concerned.

TrailBlazer, like I said worst idea ever.

Read and weep: http://davidjohnstone.net/blog/2012/01/shane-warne-vs-cyclists-registration-and-number-plates

This high profile example of human conflict demonstrates a problem we are all responsible for. That of biasing our transport infrastructure toward motor vehicles, while the road law actually gives rights to pedestrians and cyclists. 

Who did what to who and belief in the versions of reality is based on individual value systems. Have we had been manipulated to back a version of reality? Our culture decided to absorb the big three US vehicle corporations propaganda over sixty years ago, we now suffer the consequence of dehumanised cities and literally many hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies propping up our failing Auto Industry . [1940s automotive propaganda]  http://youtu.be/aIu6DTbYnog 

Is it surprising we have conflicts between people when the system just isn’t built for humans, but for motor vehicles? 

This is an opportunity to get behind humanising our cites, taking back our transport system, learning how others have succeeded where we failed. We can’t expect the “Baby Boomers” to get behind this, or the older “Silent Generation” as they bought into the whole ‘Freedom of the Car” dream and on the whole can’t see past it. However those more evolved and younger could change there mindset and many have. It really is simple, “think differently” and that works. We have seen civil rights change in Australia and in the US, the Vietnam War stop, Apartheid crash in South Africa etc.etc. The cultural and political centre of gravity changes with awareness very effectively. Are you ready to think differently and change your value system? Or are you suffering the “fear” of change? 

Video on successful transport systems and the humanising of cities;

http://youtu.be/aK-ESyajHLY

http://youtu.be/XuBdf9jYj7o

One simple design concept that could have avoided this current incident;

http://youtu.be/ki-kUVaPLvc

If you want to learn more – Humanise Cites playlist; 

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1BE9A8FAB3FDA95D&feature=mh_lolz

When a truck driver tailgated a motorist, despite there being no actual contact, the threat was perceived to be so traumatic that the truckie was charged with menacing ultimately he lost his licence for a year and received an eight-month suspended prison term.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/truck-driver-handed-suspended-sentence-for-terrorising-female-motorist/story-fn7x8me2-1226059023673

However when Shane Warne apparently acts in a fit of road rage to hit a cyclist it no crime.

Here is a simple solution for those cycle commuting regularly and facing Warne;
https://theconversation.edu.au/helmet-cam-captures-bike-accidents-and-could-make-cycling-safer-3540
The technology is cheap and robust;
http://goo.gl/0aoEo

Why do motorists constantly harp on about the troubles associated with driving “beside” cyclists… A novel approach would be to treat cyclists the same way you treat other vehicles moving at a slower rate. You do not drive ‘next to” a slow motorcycle or car or truck… you sit behind it, until you can pass safely and then you travel ahead of it! Cyclists, (alone or in groups) should be treated no differently.

People need to stop thinking that cyclists are something to be squeezed around… Motorists may just have to adjust their speed and use their brakes occasionally. It’s like…ummm… traffic!

Having said that, it also seems timely to mention that Melbourne cyclists are generally, in my experience as someone who has cycled on pretty much every continent over the last 20 years, the rudest, most unfriendly and arrogant cyclists I have ever encountered.

Spend two hours on Beach road waving at other cyclists… you will be lucky if you are acknowledged by more than 4 or 5 in return (and often you will not be responded to at all. 

I make a point of waving to acknowledge the consideration of motorists who have acted thoughtfully and it is very rare that I do not receive a wave back or a smile. I see my fellow cyclists fail to acknowledge the same motorists in any way whatsoever and then complain at every opportunity that motorists have the attitude!

While I concede that there are any number of ignorant or even aggressive motorists that cyclists have to contend with, a little acknowledgement of consideration would likely encourage motorists to give a little more!

Lastly, re Mr Warne… It is the law that every motorist be able to stop in half the visible distance ahead of them. There is, therefore no excuse for ever hitting anything, or anyone ahead of you… PERIOD! One would therefore assume that charges of some description will follow!

Tig, I agree with most of your comments and feel the coldness you speak of as a new driver and cyclist in Melbourne. But not from everyone, it tends to be better where I live in Brunswick. 
My take on that is the mindset or value system of most who pass through and live here is different. More evolved, but that is anecdotal. 

I have experienced pockets of belligerent drivers / cyclists in many cities and feel it really is a value system issue. Also why raising awareness about “Humanising Cites” is important to me. Thanks for your perspective : )

Tig, I agree with most of your comments and feel the coldness you speak of as a new driver and cyclist in Melbourne. But not from everyone, it tends to be better where I live in Brunswick. 
My take on that is the mindset or value system of most who pass through and live here is different. More evolved, but that is anecdotal. 

I have experienced pockets of belligerent drivers / cyclists in many cities and feel it really is a value system issue. Also why raising awareness about “Humanising Cites” is important to me. Thanks for your perspective : )

What I don’t understand is why cyclists ride on roads that are 60km/hr – 100km/hr yet there is a dedicated bike path adjacent to them. The response I get is “the pedestrians are a problem, and if the cyclist is riding at 40km/hr the pedestrian will get hurt”Well take a bit of care, as I would, I can’t do the same speed as the cars, and I don’t want to be seen as a nuisance when riding my bike, so I get out of the way. Bike traiing should be done on a track. Why don’t cyclists go to a track if they want to ride that fast, councils can fund them, and if there is not enough facilities, build more. My point is, cars and bikes are not made to share the same road! It is the same frustration a slow driver on a highway, casues congestion and accidents. Registering bkes is not the solution unless they are to be registerd to fund the building of cycling tracks. Bike riders have taken advantage of a transport process which is really a sport. If it is to ride fast like a sport then go to a registered track. Find a solution it is frustrating and dangerous. 

What I don’t understand is why cyclists ride on roads that are 60km/hr – 100km/hr yet there is a dedicated bike path adjacent to them. The response I get is “the pedestrians are a problem, and if the cyclist is riding at 40km/hr the pedestrian will get hurt”Well take a bit of care, as I would, I can’t do the same speed as the cars, and I don’t want to be seen as a nuisance when riding my bike, so I get out of the way. Bike traiing should be done on a track. Why don’t cyclists go to a track if they want to ride that fast, councils can fund them, and if there is not enough facilities, build more. My point is, cars and bikes are not made to share the same road! It is the same frustration a slow driver on a highway, casues congestion and accidents. Registering bkes is not the solution unless they are to be registerd to fund the building of cycling tracks. Bike riders have taken advantage of a transport process which is really a sport. If it is to ride fast like a sport then go to a registered track. Find a solution it is frustrating and dangerous. 

This was published in the Herald Sun this morning, interesting how they have put a ‘spin’ on the real/actual issues.
The bias is disappointing. Has the Herald Sun also neglected to remember they sponsor cycling?

I guess from some of the ‘unfriendly’ motorist comments, it’s fortunate they didn’t publish the CT URL.

Jason.. In an ideal world there would likely be separate tracks for cyclists, runners, power walkers, roller bladers, skateboarders and families just going for a walk with the kids… but unfortunately these facilities do not exist and are unlikely to ever do so.

As a result, we all have to co-exist in less than ideal circumstances and it makes a lot more sense for cyclists to be on the side of the road than the centre of the footpath. A child or an elderly person is more likely to suffer greatly if they accidentally step into the path of a cyclist at 40km/h. Over a certain speed (i.e. walking speed) footpaths should be the exclusive domain of pedestrians I think.

Jason.. In an ideal world there would likely be separate tracks for cyclists, runners, power walkers, roller bladers, skateboarders and families just going for a walk with the kids… but unfortunately these facilities do not exist and are unlikely to ever do so.

As a result, we all have to co-exist in less than ideal circumstances and it makes a lot more sense for cyclists to be on the side of the road than the centre of the footpath. A child or an elderly person is more likely to suffer greatly if they accidentally step into the path of a cyclist at 40km/h. Over a certain speed (i.e. walking speed) footpaths should be the exclusive domain of pedestrians I think.

I pay my Car Rego and my car is used occasionally.
I commute to work on my road bike for economic and fitness reasons and fail to
see why I should have to pay twice.  I would however be willing to pay
bike rego if there was a Guarantee that the money would be spent on improving
cycle lanes but let’s be honest the money will not be used for that and we will
be left with unsafe bike lanes suddenly coming to an end , drains and potholes
which never get fixed.

Strikes me that Warnie should have got on his bike instead of going to Harley street
to get the fat removed. I also believe the cyclists account as a victim of
someone who is so arrogant that he thinks he is above the rules. Let’s face it
all cyclists could recount several similar stories of their commute. Car
drivers should be aware that it’s a 2 tonne Killing machine they are driving
whilst being so aggressive to cyclists.

I pay my Car Rego and my car is used occasionally.
I commute to work on my road bike for economic and fitness reasons and fail to
see why I should have to pay twice.  I would however be willing to pay
bike rego if there was a Guarantee that the money would be spent on improving
cycle lanes but let’s be honest the money will not be used for that and we will
be left with unsafe bike lanes suddenly coming to an end , drains and potholes
which never get fixed.

Strikes me that Warnie should have got on his bike instead of going to Harley street
to get the fat removed. I also believe the cyclists account as a victim of
someone who is so arrogant that he thinks he is above the rules. Let’s face it
all cyclists could recount several similar stories of their commute. Car
drivers should be aware that it’s a 2 tonne Killing machine they are driving
whilst being so aggressive to cyclists.

you got that right, it was a cracker of a joke!  pity you didn’t get it and went on a rant instead.  Jokes on you then.  Why do you anti-cyclist crazies even come on here?

What a weird statement…… looks like it could be also written “Car drivers often break the rules to go faster and it is dangerous. People in cars should be more careful”

Cars kill people, last time i heard “bikes” havent killed a person in the last couple of years.

Both cars and bike riders need to be more careful!!!

Dear Shane,

Here’s a great opportunity for you and a TV channel to work together for the progress of cycling and driving in this country. Shane – get on a bike and have a go, mate. Witness first hand the other side of the story and report to the nation your findings. Cycling’s only going to get bigger. It’s great sport. It’s great for fitness. It frees up busy roads – yes, imagine if all those cyclists you see were driving cars instead! If the roads are congested now, imagine how slow progress would be without the city cyclist commuter.

Me? I’m 47, a car owner for many years and I took up general fitness cycling about 4 years ago. I live outside of a major city on the beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland of QLD. Whilst on my bike I’ve had plastic bottles thrown at me by passing drivers, been dangerously cut up by motorcycle riders, car drivers and truck drivers (dumpy gravel carrying trucks) amongst others, and been shouted abuse at on a fairly regular rate for… well, I don’t know what for because I’ve been a foot or two from the edge of the road. I’ve nearly died twice as a result of vehicles driving by at speed far too close to me. It’s not a nice feeling. I have no idea how bad it is in the cities. BUT – all those incidents I’ve just recalled and it’s probably 0.01% or less of the traffic that has passed me to date, so to put a perspective on things, it’s not all bad – unless you count the two near death experiences. Up here we also have dog owners who insist on leaving their driveway gates open and their dogs to roam onto the road – yep, got chased and almost bitten last week by three of the little buggers!

Go on Shane. Make a difference. Improve a nation’s respect for the softer vehicles on the road without the protection of airbags, seatbelts and metal armor. It’s all too easy to rant and rave from the comfort of our own lounges – we’re all guilty of that at times – but really hit (an unfortunate term, perhaps) this argument full-on and cycle the cities, the towns and the countryside. Witness first hand how a pot-hole or fallen branch on the least repaired or cleared part of the road is reason enough to swerve suddenly or risk serious injury or even death.

If (Sir) Ian Botham can walk from John O’Groats to Lands End in Britain (1985) and continue to do various walking campaigns for charity, perhaps you might like to consider moving up the scale of appreciation and get onto our roads with a bicycle – create awareness, save lives and raise some money for much needed charities of your choice.

Kind regards,

Paul

You over simplify my logic.

A Car hits another Car @ 20kph – some paint is swapped the people involved are inconvenienced.

A Car hits a Cyclist @ 20kph – the cyclist hits the ground, skin is removed, possible head injuries, broken bones, life in a wheel chair or even death.

A Cyclist hits a Pedestrian @ 20kph - the cyclist and pedestrian hit the ground, skin is removed, possible head injuries, broken bones, life in a wheel chair or even death. 
 
As a cyclist we have a responsibility to reduce risk to ourselves by cycling smart, keep out of the way of cars where possible, To trust ~2tonne of motor car to do the right thing is incredibly ignorant, be it under the control of a good driver or a total idiot this is totally unknown and unfortunately there are no laws to remove idiots from this world. 

Regarding registration for bikes, It should be free or a small once off fee for plate and test, but require cyclists do the same written tests as a car driver if they do not have a car licence so both parties have the same understanding of the road rules (and there should be more on sharing the road with cyclists in the licence tests for any rider / driver)

I think for a lot of the “problem” cyclists that give the others a bad name use the anonymity of just being another cyclist this promotes the blanket discrimination towards cyclists and this would be addressed with bicycle registration. 

It has empowered abuse – and shown registration does not work!!
One of our team was cycling to work this morning on Baeconsfield pde (quite close to the Warne incicdent) and she was repeteadly crowded, abused, and cut off/ blocked by a car. The car only backed off when Lisa took a picture with her phone – causing an immediate improvement in behaviour
Messages
1. This discussion has empowered others to take agressive bogan action
2. Registration of the car clearly did not stop him – he felt anonymous until she took his picture. Then suddenly his behaviour improved. A registration tag does not address the issues being raised

 If the cyclist was making his name public then I’d be more open to believing his full account of the events especially since he is claiming $.. Goodluck out there to all the cyclists and I admire your courage to do so, but shake my head at times when I see blatant acts of risk that they seem to forget when on that occasion they are not driving the car!

So if the cars in their lanes have not allowed very much room for you to pass (which I might add is probably not on purpose, just how the traffic stopped and perhaps they were planning to change lanes prior to stopping)  - ie: there isn’t much room to move thru and inbetween the traffic, then wait!    It isn’t always going to be convenient for you to lane split / filter or any such manoeuvre to gain the advantage to which riding can offer you, that’s life and high time riders take a moment to relearn some patience.     I don’t own a merc, bmw or Audi – I only own a holden but I wouldn’t appreciate my vehicle being touched or potentially scratched either by a cyclist that believes that they have some right of passage between traffic, if your on the road then just like the motorcars you too have a lane to use, not parts thereof to which suits you for your own convenience.  
If there is a cyclist path to use then use it, if there isn’t a bike lane then share the road and respect the motorcar drivers a tad more and don’t push on thru where or when it isn’t safe to do so on any particular day, one day differs from the next so read the traffic and ride accordingly. 

So again, put your name out there mate or have you only partly done so because you noticed the driver was someone recognisable and who for his own reasons tweeted ( no surprises there, he does tweet! ) and your going to milk it?  you were anonymous but where there is $ there is motivation..  

Anny Sydney.

Tig, I have to pull you up on this one. : /
“In an ideal world there would likely be separate tracks for cyclists, runners, power walkers, roller bladers, skateboarders and families just going for a walk with the kids” – Tig[Our collective mindset miss matches actual law.  - see my comments earlier for clarity.]Australian cycling infrastructure is rolled out as ‘shared paths’ and ‘cycle only’. It is well marked where cyclists are not allowed with signs, in the US that means ‘sidewalks’ and here in Australia ‘footpaths’. [with one exception - a parent of an under 12 yo cyclist may use footpaths]  In law, cyclists must to give way to pedestrians, as motor vehicles must to cyclists and pedestrians. It is the mindset of road users that needs altering, you may be justified in being negative. However, time will deal with the numbers of poor drivers and cyclists as our transport infrastructure continues to model Europe’s best.  http://youtu.be/aK-ESyajHLYIf you feel at risk from drivers or cyclists, use a GoPro. I put links below in previous comments. 

Didn’t know you owned the roads. Wealthy guys, you and Shane.

Didn’t know you owned the roads. Wealthy guys, you and Shane.

Didn’t know you owned the roads. Wealthy guys, you and Shane.

Do you understand how roads are paid for? They are paid with Federal Grants, made up of corporate and income taxes; by State Government with revenue from GST and registration; and from local governments our of rates payments. I don’t own a car, but I ride a bike. I pay plenty of income tax, my business plenty of corporate tax, I pay GST and my rates. ‘Your roads’ are not that, they are the taxpayers roads and as that includes me, they are every part mine as they are yours.

It seems to the cyclist  just wants the damage to his bike repaired – regardless of who’s at fault – as far as we know he only wants to make an insurance claim or ask Warnie for a few hundred dollars to get his bike fixed. Do we know where Warnie was going? Was he trying to turn left on to kings way or continue straight along St Kilda Rd. 

True or false he should stick to one story - http://www.partypoker.com/blog/tony-g/on-your-bike-shane-warne.html

You can be a right as you like, maybe Dead right under a car !
I really dont care how some people ride on the road because I’m not the one who is going to
get hurt.
Maybe your friends can talk about your rights to ride on the road at your funeral.
You people seriously need to take a good long hard look at yourselves, your own selfish belief that
the road is there for you is causing traffic problems & the reaction of drivers towards you.

another point to this, imagine if just 50% of motorists left there car at home and road to work, less traffic, less congestion, roads would last longer, people would be healthier, reduced crowding on ;public transport, etc etc., also to my point before having 3 car reg’s 2 motorbike rego’s and ride a bike, should I get a reduction on rego? I can only drive/ride one at a time!!!

PS I’m not suggesting you should wear Lycra on the TV program, in case the mere thought has scared you away, although the TV channel operator may insist you do to boost ratings, I suppose. Just for the record – not all cyclists do wear Lycra!

Klaa2
like your work : point 8? possibly at spin story to raise the awarness of the lack of uniform and enforced laws govening both cyclists and motorists , pedestrians,etc, are the parties in colusion? just saying’

based on the comments here, it seems pretty clear that there is a strong positive correlation between hatred of cyclists and stupidity.  Really, some of the bike-haters here make a hammer look smart.

Cranky because hair plugs were giving him headaches?

oh thanks Winnie…. cheers. now I get it. haha

I think what Everyone needs to remember (both car drivers & cyclists) is that neither of us are angels!
I dont believe in ‘bike bashing’ nor ‘car bashing’.
There are valid points for both car drivers against cyclists and cyclists against car drivers.
Ive seen as many bad drivers as ive seen bad cyclists.

I work on St Kilda Road and  nearly everyday i encounter an idiot in a car or on a bike.

Just like 90% of the population are good drivers, i too believe the same goes for riders.
Its the minority hoons/rogue riders that give a bad name to the driver / cyclist.
Im sure that Cyclists would show more respect for Drivers if the same respect was given in return and vice versa.

I  think it would be a great idea if cyclists had a rego plate attached to their bike;  so they could be identified in the event that something went wrong on the road.

Good reason there should be dedicated bike lanes on the road, OR, motorists should be more accepting. I’m sure you wouldn’t have been yelled at for being in a paid parking spot. Did you open your door at them?

you are right Slavko about the censoring at the Herald Sun. My friends and I entered in a whole heap of letters today about the issue from a cycling perspective and not one has gone up.

Agree. Do kids have to register? At what age? Who pays for the increase beauracracy (we already have enough public servants to administer the endless rules). It’s a lose lose.

However if it must happen I’ll happily pay rego and insurance based on km driven in car. And receive a nice rebate for strava proven km on the bike. That’s fair? 

Who is this guy ? Do not know this man from here (Québec, Canada)…

I’m posting this via my mobile while out riding at the TdU…    Isn’t that agaist the law

I know what you are writing Chris sounds far fetched and paraniod about drivers getting pay back. But reading the comments in the Herald Sun it is true. One bloke talked about having a get cyclist day every second Thursday. (Nicely he said kids should be exempt)  So very sad and scarey that your fears are quite justified

Forget registration – how about a Tax break; a carbon tax credit; or the ability to salary sacrifice or claim the cost of my bike & accessories if I ride for transportation purposes.

When ever this issue raises its head there is always a lot of ignorance about the road rules.  There are lots of assumptions made by people about what cyclists can and can’t do on roads.  I have just looked at the NSW  ( http://www.bicycleinfo.nsw.gov.au/get_riding/nsw_road_rules.html )and Vic ( http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/SafetyAndRules/RoadRules/Bicycles.htm#rule) websites and for instance neither of them says that cyclists can ‘filter’ through traffic at red lights or stop signs or any where else.  The NSW rules are quite clear.  A bicycle is a vehicle and is subject to all the rules of the road.  The only special rule I can see is that cyclist can pass a stationary or slow moving vehicle on the left.

On the road taxes debate lets get one thing clear rego and license fees go no where near covering the cost of roads, everyone who pays taxes pays for the roads. 

Which part of shared carriageway do you not understand?
 Any motorist should be happy to share with bikes – as 15 bikes take up the space of one car, freeing up space, keeping the air clean and leaving more parking space, helping roads flow.
We all need to obey the rules and respect eac other but seriously – my roads?! Not really

Wallace, you are yet another f**k knuckle who thinks it’s ok to run down someone coz you don’t like them…  Let’s just hope for your sake no one takes exception to your existence because by your own logic, they ought to chin ya and be done with it, right?

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