Bike ban call

By CASEY NEILL
HILLS motorists are calling for a peak-hour cyclist ban and ‘single-file only’ rules to combat road rage and prevent casualties.
VicRoads has vowed to address the issue while Bicycle Network Victoria said that for the most part, motorists and bike riders happily co-existed in the Dandenongs.
Road laws currently state that cyclists must not ride more than two-abreast and when side by side must be within 1.5 metres of each other.
On the Mail’s Facebook page Julie Howard-Whale said this was “antiquated” and “ridiculous”.
“Take into account the potholes and piled up debris and stones washed down from driveways and roads on the edges of many hills roads … and that means the cyclists virtually take up one side of the road,” she said.
“My kids often said the bus was very late to school as the bus couldn’t pass cyclists on the road.”
Janine Rigby said cyclists riding three-abreast on roads was a disaster waiting to happen.
“I come across this happening quite often on the Mt Dandenong Tourist Road on the way to Olinda,” she said.
Jessica Lynn said single-file should be mandatory in the Dandenongs.
“I’m surprised there haven’t been more casualties,” she said.
“I often meet cyclists around a corner unexpectedly.”
Colin Capon said a ban on cyclists using certain roads during peak hour would be a great idea.
“As much as we have regard for each other it is hard to stop a car when you come around the corner and cyclists are three-abreast,” he said.
VicRoads acting regional director Anita Curnow said it would meet with interested parties including Yarra Ranges Council, Victoria Police, and Bicycle Victoria to discuss possible actions to address the issues.
She said VicRoads had received complaints from both motorists and cyclists regarding behavioural attitudes in the hills, particularly on Mt Dandenong Tourist Road and Mountain Highway.
“Following previous discussions, road signs were installed to advise cyclists to ride in a single file to aid in traffic flow, however these are not regulatory signs so cyclists may continue to ride two-abreast,” she said.
Bicycle Network Victoria spokesman Scott Whiffin had done a lot of riding in the Dandenongs and said that for the most part, motorists and bike riders happily co-existed.
“For the simple reason that many motorists also ride bikes and vice versa,” he said.
“There’s no doubt sections of the roads up there are tight and steep and from time to time there are altercations, but you can take it from me that the last thing riders want to do is hold anybody up or put anybody at risk and they ride accordingly.”
Mr Whiffin said the key thing was for motorists to recognise that riders were vulnerable and legitimate road users and modify their behaviour in terms of speed and passing distances.
“Likewise riders need to understand and respect the laws that govern the roadways,” he said.