(from )
LAUREN NOVAK, TRANSPORT REPORTER
February 26, 2008

GREENHILL Rd is Adelaide’s most dangerous road for cyclists.

Latest Transport Department statistics provided to The Advertiser show the highest incidence of crashes involving cyclists occurred on the major road.

Between 2003 and 2007 there were 54 crashes on the thoroughfare stretching from Keswick, near the city, to Greenhill, in the Adelaide Hills.

Busy South Rd was second with 51 crashes. Third was Marion Rd with 44 crashes. Henley Beach Rd was the only road on the list to record a cyclist fatality.

In 2006, the worst three roads for cyclists were Marion Rd, followed by South Rd and Greenhill Rd, based on figures from 2000 to 2005.

Department director road safety Martin Small said there were no cycling safety funds specifically for the top three roads this financial year. He said the statistics would be considered in the next budget. Cycling safety funding was generally allocated in the context of the Safety in Numbers strategy developed by the Government in 2006.

Bicycle Institute of South Australia chairman Sam Powrie said SA had the lowest per capita spending on cycling safety in Australia and urged the Government to commit up to $8 million a year. He said establishing off-road cycling “boulevards” or “highways” was a solution to providing safer environments for cyclists.

RAA traffic and safety manager Rita Excell urged the Government to continue to improve cycling infrastructure on less congested routes parallel to main roads.

Road Safety Minister Carmel Zollo identified “dangerous behaviours” by cyclists, including riding more than two abreast, and weaving in and out of traffic.

In turn, motorists cut cyclists off when turning left.

(Victoria Police)

Police are concerned by a report of the deliberate use of road tacks in Mentone on Saturday.

A large number of tacks, similar to a drawing pin, were placed along Beach Road during an organised bike ride.

Police say it is lucky no-one was injured considering the tacks have the potential to cause a cyclist to lose control and swerve into the path of an oncoming vehicle or another rider, potentially causing serious injury or a fatality.

The act of placing tacks on the road is an offence and Senior Sergeant Hans Harms of the Kingston Traffic Management Unit warns anyone caught doing so will be dealt with accordingly.

“This stupid act does not assist anyone. I, along with other organisations such as the Amy Gillett Foundation, are trying to work together with bicycle riders to ensure all road users are safe including vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

“The person who decided to do such an act has more than likely assisted in creating a bigger problem, and must realise the danger he is putting the bike riders in.

“I can’t stress enough that it is hard to make progress and go forward to try and satisfy all road users, without people putting more stumbling blocks in our way”, Sen Sgt Harms said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au on the Internet.

Constable Kate Lawson

Strip down and ride on for the environment this March. The next World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) will commence at 2pm at the junction of Barton Terrace and Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide, on Saturday the 8th of March 2008.

The ride will be the first of 6 rides occurring in Australia on the same weekend, including Sydney, Byron Bay, Brisbane, Newcastle and Melbourne. Other cities across the world will also host rides as part of the southern hemisphere leg of WNBR’s global movement, including Lima (Peru), Golden Bay (New Zealand) Pretoria (South Africa) and Buenos Aires (Argentina).

The WNBR is an annual clothing-optional protest ride for naturism, environmentalism, peace and the rights of cyclists to use the road safely. It promotes environmental consciousness and practices at every level of society in attempt to save the planet.

The ride is not a race and goes at an easy recreational pace. The only competition is how creatively bizarre participants can get with decorating their bodies using paint, slogans and bits of costume.

Though the dress code for the ride is “Go as bare as you dare!”, nudity is not compulsory. It is not a ride promoting overtly sexual behaviour in public.

Many people still struggle to distinguish between concepts of non-sexual nudity and pornography. The WNBR encourages society’s need for a body-positive mentality, and protests against environmental damage caused by motorised vehicles.

Excessive burning of fossil fuels has instigated environmental damage in the forms of climate change, air pollution, acid rain and water pollution.

From the onset of pollution and cancer, to obesity – the burning of fossil fuels and car-addicted lifestyles are causing serious health problems, many of which are affecting humans on a widespread scale.

Violence stemming from wars fought over oil and road rage results in the deaths and injuries to innocent civilians from the former, and pedestrians and cyclists from the latter.

The WNBR is an active social movement for a peaceful and gentler world, which includes our roads.

“We face automobile traffic with our naked bodies as the best way of defending our dignity and exposing the unique dangers faced by cyclists and pedestrians plus all the negative effects of oil, cars, war, consumerism and non-renewable energy”, reads the WNBR mission statement.

The WNBR group was created by Conrad Schmidt (of Vancouver, Canada) in 2004 to help coordinate a large international naked bike ride between many different activist groups across the World. Since then, the WNBR has spread to over 50 cites in about 20 countries with the participation of thousands of riders.

visit the WNBR Adelaide website for more info about the ride.

In early August 2007, Leszek Wereszka died when hit by a truck while riding his bike on the Port Wakefield road 70 km from Adelaide. Leszek was on the last stage of a 20,000km ride around Australia
when he died. The Sunday Mail gave an account of Leszek’s ride and tragic death on August 19th.
When reading this story (August 19, pp 8-9), many South Australians were deeply moved. Leszek was the fifth cyclist killed on South Australian roads this year. Added to this of course, Leszek’s story seems even more tragic and compelling given he was killed on the very last day of such an epic journey
around Australia.
In the report, his Adelaide cousin, Janusz Wereszka, is quoted ‘We are just hoping one thing – we want to make drivers aware of cyclists on the road. If this can save even one life, then it is worth it…. Maybe one day someone can finish his journey – he only had 70kms left.”
In response to these comments a small riding group of friends based in Blackwood, decided to arrange a memorial ride for Leszek, beginning from the point where he was killed and finishing
in Victoria Square. 70 riders will complete the 70km journey, arriving in Victoria Square at 11.00am. The aims of this ride are to:

1. Honor Leszek and Celebrate his achievements (and cycling generally), by completing the last 70km of his journey for him.
2. Raise awareness amongst all road users about road rules as they relate to cyclists.

Janusz Wereszka, Anna Wereszka (Leszek’s daughter), SAPOL, Bike SA and other groups and individuals have joined together to plan for this ride.

The ride will be held on Saturday morning, December 8th, 2007.

A group of 70 riders will depart from the point where Leszek was killed on Pt Wakefield road and ride to Adelaide. This group will consist of representatives of cycling groups, sporting teams and other organizations and individuals supporting the ride.

Other riders who wish to support the goals of the ride, will be invited to join the 70 riders at 11am in Victoria Square where there will be speeches and other activities.

SAPOL will support the ride from the starting point 70km’s from Adelaide, ensuring the riders have police vehicle support and a controlled traffic / traffic light scenario through to Victoria Square.

Bicycle SA have offered to make available signage and a support vehicle for the ride, as well as their expert advice. They will also promote the ride.
Anyone interested in participating in the ride in any way should contact:
Leigh Cameron, lcameronadam.com.au, Mb: 0400 036 919

On 17 October, regular and first-time riders from all states and territories will join the inaugural National Ride to Work Day. Government and corporate organisations from around Australia have made the commitment to join this huge event. Estimated participation this year is:

• Over 60,000 participants
• Over 2800 registered workplaces, many hosting their own breakfasts
• More than 70 community breakfast events in CBDs and town centres

National Ride to Work Day will stimulate over 10,600 tonnes of Greenhouse Gas savings in the first three years - that’s more than 2,650 hot air balloons or 212,000,000 “black balloons” full of CO2!

For more facts and figures see the National Ride to Work Day Fact Sheet.

This Saturday May 19th at 9am, Adelaide has the opportunity to join the International Ride of Silence. In the first 5 months of 2007 there has been a significant increase in fatal accidents for cyclists and pedestrians – at least 5 cyclists so far!

Join us & help to raise awareness of the community’s ‘right to ride’ in safety on our roads! We will remember our fellow riders in silence while also enjoying the ride & celebrating all that is good about cycling.

• Where: Victoria Square, (immediately to the East of the tram terminus) to Glenelg.
• Distance: Approx. 12km.
• When: Adelaide’s ride will leave at 9.30am SHARP. All participants are asked to arrive by at least 9am to allow orderly assembly and departure.
• Support: The ride will be supported and led by SAPOL with a BISA `pick-up’ vehicle following at the rear.
  There will be several BISA Marshals at the assembly and arrival points and riding with the group.
• Route: Along King William St-South (in right-hand lane), turn right on to South Trc. (left lane), left onto Anzac Highway (left lane).
  At Glenelg we’ll turn right at the lights on Adelphi Trc, thence through the car park entrance on the left and straight onto the grassed area as directed by Marshals. We’ll have a short address to finalise the ride and then off for coffee or ice cream!
• Registration: No registration necessary! However it would be useful in managing nos. if you would let us know you are coming at chairbisa.asn.au. Participation is of course at your own risk!

Any queries? Contact Sam Powrie at chairbisa.asn.au or 0414 307 413

Promote the RoS ride:

• Invitation Adelaide Ride of Silence.pdf
• E News Adelaide Ride of Silence 07-4.doc

The Mercury Cinema presents three days of short films about cycling:

Program 1
Friday 25 May, 07
6.00pm to 8.00pm

Program 2
Friday 25 May, 07
8.30pm to 10.30pm

Program 3
Saturday 26 May, 07
6.00pm to 8.00pm

Program 4
Saturday 26 May, 07
8.30pm to 10.30pm

Program 5
Sunday 27 May, 07
4.00pm to 6.00pm

Program 6
Sunday 27 May, 07
6.30pm to 8.30pm

for more info go to: http://www.celluloidcycles.com.au/

(From RoS website: http://www.rideofsilence.org )

DATE: May 16, 2007
TIME: 7:00 pm
WHERE: Hundreds of locations world wide

Join cyclists worldwide in a silent slow-paced ride (max. 12 mph/20 kph) in honour of those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.

WHY DOES THIS SITE EXIST?

• To HONOUR those who have been injured or killed
• To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here
• To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD

THE RIDE OF SILENCE™ WILL NOT BE QUIET

On May 16, 2007, at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence™ will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honour cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn’t aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride Of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed.

The Ride Of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph and remain silent during the ride. There is no brochure, no sponsors, no registration fees and no t-shirt. The ride, which is held during Bike Safety month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured.

Please check the resources on this site. If there is a Ride of Silence in your area, we encourage you to join them. If there is not a ride planned in your area, please consider adding your city to the ever-growing list of sites. To get information on how to organise and host a Ride of Silence, please click HERE.

http://www.rideofsilence.org/howto.php

(from )
BEN WAY
March 27, 2007

A CYCLIST was last night in a serious condition in hospital after he was hit by a car near Mt Lofty Summit.

It is believed the victim, aged in his 30s, was riding down Summit Rd about 7.30pm when a Nissan Silvia travelling uphill crossed both lanes and knocked him “metres into the air” before the car
came to rest against a tree.

A friend who was riding less than a metre behind him at the time said he thought the cyclist had been killed.

“It was so quick and all I remember is seeing him get hit and then flying over the top of me,” he said.

“By the time I stopped and looked around the car had hit the tree and stopped and he was just lying there.” The driver, who did not want to be named, said he “became confused” when he saw the bike lights coming towards him and slammed on the brakes.

“The brakes locked up and the car just kept going straight on,”he said. “It wasn’t until my girlfriend said something that I realised I’d hit a cyclist.

“I’ve never driven on this road before, so I was trying to be cautious but just got disorientated by the lights.”

Police have pleaded with road users to be wary following the death of a cyclist at Truro on Sunday - the fourth road cycling death this year.

March 15, 2007

The Amy Gillett Foundation and Mark Webber Unveil Ground-breaking InitiativeDetails were today announced of a ground-breaking initiative that plans to target Learner drivers throughout Australia. Developed by the Amy Gillett Foundation, with the support of the Australia Driver Trainers Association and State/Territory licensing authorities, Road Right is the first program of its kind designed to heighten Learner driver awareness of bicyclists on Australian roads.

Formula One motorist and Amy Gillett Foundation Patron Mark Webber believes the program will help influence Australia’s emerging generation of motorists.

“Road Right tackles from a grass roots level the issue of bicyclists and motorists sharing the roads. It acknowledges that in order to reduce death and injury resulting from bicyclist/motorist interaction, we need to start educating our youth well before they start driving without supervision. Road Right helps to communicate that becoming a responsible motorist is more than just knowing the rules; it’s about entering an environment that demands heightened awareness for the safety of all,” said Mr. Webber.

With 370,000+ learner permits issued nationally each year, the Amy Gillett Foundation General Manager Melinda Jacobsen regards Road Right as an essential element for promoting safe and responsible driving.

“Until recently, road cycling was not an intrinsic part of our recreational culture like it is in some overseas countries. As such, drivers and bicyclists are still relative strangers to one another, although this is changing. Road Right introduces a fresh generation to this new landscape. We hope that through the program a new wave of young motorists will be more aware and therefore more tolerant of bicyclists.”

“We’ve also been extremely encouraged by support given from state and territory licensing authorities and the ADTA to the concept, suggesting to me there is a gap in the provision of this information,” said Ms. Jacobsen.

Road Right will be a compilation of printed material and website links detailing information and scenarios involving bicyclist and motorist interaction. It also includes a series of questions pertaining to bicyclists and motorists sharing the roads, one or more of which may be used randomly during the compulsory licence test all learner drivers are now required to sit to obtain their provisional licence.

Learner drivers will be directed to the AGF website to answer a series of questions and, if answered correctly, will be placed in a prize draw for instant, monthly and yearly prizes. It is anticipation the program will commence in quarter two this year with updates available on the AGF website for more details.