Adelaide's deadly bicycle routes

While providing some bike lanes around Adelaide, they frequently vanish around intersections and other choke points. The video shows an example of the extent to which Adelaide cyclists have to go to get from where one bike lane ends and the next starts. In this case the cyclist bolts as fast as he can for several hundred meters in the left of lane of 3 lanes of traffic. To minimize the risk of cars passing too close the cyclist rocks slightly from side to side and lifts the elbows to seem a little unpredictable to cars behind so they will not try and pass unless they can give him a wide berth. Other techniques such as riding normally close to the kerb or claiming the full lane are even more risky. The bottom line is there no sufficiently safe way to traverse this segment of road in traffic without a bike lane. To see other bicycle black spots go to http://users.adam.com.au/bowler/bike/reality/realitycheck.html

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• bicycle
• cycling
• Adelaide
• south
• Australia
• dangers
• bike
• lanes
• paths
• disappearing
• end
• infrastructure
• commuting
• road
• transport
• routes
• network
• safety
• risks
• government
• incompetence
• tour
• down
• under

[ehaakonssen]

This is rubbish. If you wiggle around like an idiot you loose the respect of drivers and they are more likely to have a negative view of cyclists. Just hold a line out from the curb and look confident while riding.

[bicyledave]

mate I have been knocked off and had numerous close shaves doing just what you and others suggest as drivers think they know exactly where you are on the road and squeeze real close, whereas by rocking a little and lifting my elbows, cars always give me more room. If it helps me survive on the roads, what drivers think of me is very secondary. At the end of the day the point of the video is that this segment of road is too hazardous not matter how you ride it and it needs a bike lane.

[bicyledave]

While some may not agree with the technique used in this video, suggesting for example that one sit in the center of the lane, that is not the point of the video. An inexperienced rider may not use this technique, but neither will they have the confidence to sit in the middle a lane of heavy traffic.

The inexperienced rider will either turn around and go home or hug the gutter and hope they don't get side wiped. The point of the video was to highlight the need for uninterrupted bike lanes.

[tallmantim]

If there is not a bike lane, simply ride as if there is one - about a meter out from the gutter. No need to make yourself look bigger - you just need to ensure you are seen.

I have never had a problem with cars trying to squeeze past me - only with hoons that get upset and decide to buzz you in traffic.

Cycle lanes help avoid this type of behaviour, but this is the major advantage of them. Cyclists riding predictably should not overall slow down traffic flow.

[bicyledave]

Unfortunately being seen is not enough, at least in Adelaide. Impatient drivers do try and squeeze past cyclists and I know people who no longer ride because they have been side swiped. Indeed I myself have been knocked off by the trailer of a driver who forgot about the extra width of his tow (this is quite common).

[Therobdog1000]

Sorry Bicycle Dave, I'm not discounting your experience or your belief in the statements made. However I don't see how "acting" in what can only be deemed as an unpredictable manner can lower the chances of injury to you. Not to mention causing further accidents with other road users trying to deal with you actions.

[bicyledave]

Please note, I was not all over the road - as stated previously, my actual line was basically straight and I don't actually do anything unpredictable that may cause an accident or that would cause other users to have to suddenly take avoidance action. The lifting the elbows and rocking signals to the drivers behind that I am using up more road space than would otherwise occur and if I create some doubt about my stability, I create a safety buffer zone with drivers which drivers steer clear of.

[blomquvist]

This video demonstrates absurd and apparently inexperienced riding in traffic, and seems to assume that a bike lane is safe place. Do some research before going public and making yourself look and sound foolish.

[djhughey]

It seems people dissing the cyclists have clearly never ridden a bike or been knocked off. The chance of getting seriously injured or killed it real. Of the 3 main times I've been knocked off (2 where the driver noticed actually noticed and stopped!) the drivers acted like they couldn't care less. They basically saw no broken bones protruding and said "you'll be right mate" and got back in and drove away, while I picked up the shattered pieces of my helmet/bike :P

[adelaideguy100]

Driving in Adelaide is bad enough. So cycling is just madness. Cyclists are hard to see too and when you have terrible drivers who don't indicate or pull out without looking or throw open their car door you are going to end up getting seriously injured or killed. When it comes to commuting in Adelaide its a car or the infrequent public transport system. Cycling. No Way. Maybe you're in to the environment or your health or saving money but its not worth the risk.

[riz44]

I'm normally a driver but I'm interested in getting into some road cycling just for fun. I've had bad experiences with a lot of bad drivers in Adelaide even whilst I've been in a car. You can see in this video why a beginner cyclist would be intimidated to ride on this kind of road. Drivers just don't give a crap.

[Jayar74]

I feel your pain, also being an Adelaide cyclist (and car driver who hates how there is barely enough room to overtake cyclists) but frankly, I just ride a good metre or more out on the narrow intersections (ie travelling north along hackney road just over the Nth Terrace intersection) where there's barely enough room even for a car.

[fatlady1ac]

this is stupid its called a foot path, just near North Haven there is a specially built bike track with even cycling signs intended for people who want to ride a bike but they still ride on the road. They still ride 3,4, 5 abreast.They still ride on insanely busy roads which even to drive is dangerous. They act as boss, they make us overtake them which puts us as drivers in danger on the otherside of the road. Roads were designed for CARS not Push Bikes

[Theperiperi132]

@bicyledave its true that adelaide has a reputation for poor motorists but I have no problems riding with no bike lanes even when riding in the hill where there i only enough room for one car. The y have to wait for us and we have legal rights to take up a lane. i am 15 years old and if i can do it so can you. If u try and make your self seen u will just look like a goober(no offense) if u encounter a angry motorist then smile and wave. Or if they are really angry throw a drink bottle at them :P

[85Duckstar]

I understand both sides in what seems to be a friendly disagreement. If I'm riding around town I stick to my line no matter what. But then again I tend to drag race people through lights whilst I'm on a mtb to make sure they don't try to run me into the gutter. I don't have many bad experiences riding in cities but some sections of roadreally make you consider walking along the footpath

[koshua]

Adelaide may indeed benefit from more bicycle lanes. However they offer a false sense of security and in the video the description "safe zone" given is, as every experienced cyclist knows, bogus.

I'm all for more cycling advocacy but flapping along like a retarded chicken is counterproductive. I'd be embarrassed to share the road with you.

[BeltUpAustralia]

It is dangerous riding on the road it is up to us the cyclist to make ourselves as visible as possible, have a look at the you tube video; belt up reflective sports belt. I manufacture this product here in Australia in the videos we mearsured the distance of the single rider in DUSK to over 500m as she turned the corner and notice how much distance the driver of the car gave her. It is a simple idea that can will keep us safe on the road. In the meantime we need to lobby for safer roads.