Better Roads For Cyclists

Given the current issues of climate change and unhealthy lifestyles(1), I am wondering what can be done to improve country roads for cyclist?

I have an electric powered, road racer that I ride all over our country roads here in the Bega Valley (some weeks I travel up to 200km going to both uni and work).
Just recently I had a very close encounter while riding to work. A truck, a car and me all on the same road at the same time, the truck driver, who was travelling in my lane failed to give way, but instead sounded the horn as it sped by, almost taking me with it. This is not the first time this has happened on these narrow roads. I don't blame the truck driver any more than I blame the roads for this deadly re-occurrence.
The road surface is really severe and far too narrow for cars, trucks and cyclists. The roads that have shoulders, if you dare to ride on them without suspension is like riding down a set of stairs (unbelievably bumpy, not to mention the potential danger of hitting pot holes).

It wasn't that long ago that the road was re-surfaced, but not repaired, which I really don't understand. It seems when the road is really bad the RTA/council either change the speed limit or chuck another bumpy layer of bitumen over it (see Sapphire Coast Drive, between Tathra and Merimbula or Arthur Kaine Dr, between Merimbula and Pambula, for some good examples). This definitely does not fix the bumps and holes, it just makes them less obvious and gives you a heap of fresh stones in your face.

I know many people who would leave their cars at home and cycle to work if the roads were safer. Improvements to the roads would be a good incentive for people to get out on their bikes. This would benefit local towns such as Merimbula that have issues with traffic congestion.(2)

I think if we are going to be serious about climate change, and improving public health with activities such as cycling to work, we need to make some changes to our country roads, a smooth half metre hotmix shoulder would be a good start.

(1) Norton, Kevin 2007 Lifestyle is the Key, posted Tuesday, 9 October 2007, online accessed (9/10/07) http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=6460

(2) Moulton, Marea, 2006 Traffic Flow 2006, Merimbula Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, MACCAT, online accessed (10/10/07) http://thebegavalley.org.au/8920.html

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[brettchop]

u fkn pricks should all pissoff and ride on bike tracks. we build bike tracks for saftey of all but u think u own the road no rego cant keep up to speed limits i think u people r to bloody dangerouse everything is saftey today but what u arseholes do think about it!

[Saamy11]

Who's we? where r ur bike tracks? the only ones I know of r shared with pedestrians... VERY UNSAFE 4 all, especially @ 50km/h (even if u ring a bell like a mad man : ) Really it's a lot safer & faster on the road. But my point is that the condition of the roads r bad & they don't encourage cycling. It seems that u have a problem with sharing the road with cyclists, that it's not safe... I agree, I think bike tracks would be nice, but bike lanes would be better... thanks for your comment. Sam

[Dershnof]

I ride on roads just as narrow sometimes, but one of them is my only way to a friend of mine's house..which I really dont like to take most of the times.

[loottus1]

whoah.. thats sucks

[Dershnof]

Yeah no kidding. Not very wide either.

[InterestedInWatching]

Wow, how do you even ride on that safely?