BY KENJI SATO
Hundreds of cyclists will rally in Martin Place next Thursday February 18 to protest against the state government’s controversial new laws for cyclists.
Under the new laws, which will be enforced from March 1, fines for road infringements will more than quadruple, and cyclists must carry photo ID or else be slapped with a $109 fine.
Bicycle Network CEO Craig Richards said that the new laws “smacks of totalitarianism,” and will discourage people from cycling.
“Bike riding has been growing rapidly around Australia because it appeals as a healthy activity that everybody can participate in regardless of age or status,” he said.
“But now you need the official stamp of government approval—you can’t leave the house without your officially mandated, government issued ID card.”
“In a time where we need greater cooperation from all road users, these proposals will result in bike riders being seen as a fringe group that needs special rules to keep them in check.”
President of BIKESydney, David Borella, told City Hub that there was no evidence to suggest that harsher penalties for cyclists would improve road safety.
“The government has introduced a range of measures that in no way address or improve safety for cyclists on the roads.”
Mr Borella told City Hub the new laws were “political” in nature.
“If this were genuinely about cycling safety, the government would reconstitute its Cycling Safety Action Plan. The plan has 37 action points and none of which – not one – has anything to do with providing safe infrastructure.”
“I would call for an independent review of these measures, significantly improve spending on safe cycling infrastructure and have a long-running community awareness campaign.”
Mr Borella said that cyclists long been suffering under state government policy, and said the laws were one of many areas in which the government had clamped down on civil liberties.
“These new laws are highly disturbing, particularly in the context of other government initiatives that restrict civil liberties and undermine the democratic process – for example, the forced council amalgamations and the two-for-one business vote.”
“This is something of grave importance to the wider community that should be resisted and thwarted.”
“We’re encouraging people to talk directly to their members of parliament and sign our online petition and attend the cyclist rally on the morning of February the 18th.”
