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ANNA VLACH and CHRIS SALTER
December 19, 2006

The scene of a recent fatal accident between a truck and cyclist on Grand Junction Rd.

THE recent spate of road deaths involving riders has renewed calls for better training of all road users.

Three motorcyclists and three cyclists have died across the state in the past month.

This year 22 motorbike riders and five cyclists have died on the state’s roads, compared to 18 motorcyclist and four cyclist deaths last year.

Police have urged bike users to be extra careful and be aware they are vulnerable road users.
However, Bicycle Institute of SA chairman Sam Powrie said yesterday that message did not tell the whole story.

The State Government, while eager to promote SA as the “Cycling State” through events such as the Tour Down Under, was failing to adequately support cyclists, he said.

For example, the “Share the Road” message was not being adequately delivered through driver training, he said. “There is a small component, but in some European countries motorists spend time on bikes as part of their driver training to experience the road from a cyclist’s point of view,” he said.

“Thorough driver training would include that.”

Training for cyclists should also be available through local councils, Mr Powrie said.

“You can’t make it compulsory, but there is evidence cycling proficiency training works well,” he said.

Drive to Live managing director Tony Hastings agreed greater emphasis must be placed on teaching all road users to respect one another.

“It cannot be one-off advertising - it must be ongoing,” he said. Mr Hastings said many off-road motorcyclists were also placing themselves at risk by failing to wear helmets when riding on private properties.

Mr Powrie said there was also a concern motorcycle technology was rapidly overtaking training available.

“Motorcycle riding is a highly skilled endeavour - more than driving a car,”he said.

Road Safety Minister Carmel Zollo yesterday said the State Government was committed to the safety of all road users, including cyclists and motorbike riders through its Share the Road and Motorcycle Road Safety Strategies.

“This Government is also serious about improving cycling networks - bike lanes and cycle paths - and provides councils with access to funding for planning and improving cycling networks through the State Bicycle Fund,” she said.

“This (financial) year the fund will result in projects being built to a total value of $830,000.”

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