Post date: Aug 15, 2012 10:41:03 AM
Peter Campbell from Boroondara Bicycle Users Group, asked Ted Baillieu, Premier of Victoria, this question about cycling on the Jon Faine program on ABC 774 31/1/12:
What is being done to provide safe cycling routes for local trips and the many people who cycle from the eastern suburbs through Hawthorn to the city every day?
Ted Baillieu's answers were:
"I know that Boroondara have extended their cycle network in recent years.
"There are some shared paths and some dedicated paths and those paths connect to the bicycle network and its a fact that has increased over the years and that increase will continue.
"There are number of paths - dedicated bicycle paths - where I must admit I have been concerned about the pace at which some cyclists ride.
"You find some cyclists who are riding at 30 to 40 km/h which can be contentious in itself and that is particularly an issue around shared paths with pedestrians.
"But even on dedicated cycling tracks with there are opposing directions at work that is particularly dangerous, and I think its case of cyclists in their own right need to be responsible.
"We have seen that particularly down at Beach Road. They need to obey the laws that apply, and they have to make sure that they respect other road users as well, including pedestrians and other vehicles.
Link to audio http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/local/melbourne/201201/r887017_8859186.mp3 Comments start at time 12:24