Herald Sun: Bike ride rage taking over

Rage against bayside cyclists is out of control, angry riders say. Cyclists are often pelted with beer cans and fruit while the number of cyclists taken to hospital after road rage incidents has risen sharply.

Cyclists want the State Government to establish designated bike lanes and finance safety advertisements.

Police yesterday stepped up the hunt for a hoon driver who deliberately rammed a group of riders on the way to start the Around the Bay In A Day ride at the weekend.

“Riders are routinely pelted with anything from beer cans to apples and other foods,” Beach Road Cyclists’ spokesman Marcel Lema said.

“We have been saying all along the data available simply does not represent what is happening on the roads.

“There needs to be a study to find out how many riders are being injured as a result of irresponsible drivers.”

In the past 12 months Sandringham Hospital has dealt with 150 injured cyclists, including three who required surgery. Another 15 injured cyclists were sent to The Alfred hospital.

Sandringham director of emergency services Dr James Taylor said there had been an increase in road rage incidents involving cyclists since the death of 77-year-old pedestrian James Gould, who was struck by a cyclist on Beach Rd in August 2006.

“There is a level of intolerance in the community and it’s getting worse,” Dr Taylor said. “Cyclists have to improve their code of conduct and motorists need to learn to share the road.”

Thirteen riders were hurt when a car veered into them at Mt Eliza about 3.50am on Sunday. Cyclist Geoff Oxford said it was a deliberate act.

“This guy did a U-turn and came back with the intention of hitting us,” Mr Oxford said.

“He wasn’t some drunken idiot who swerved into us . . . this was somebody trying to hurt people on bikes.”

Mr Oxford said he hoped the incident highlighted the dangers and would prompt the Government to consider additional bike lanes and safety strategies.

“The car-versus-bike mentality is something that has to be tackled . . . we need to stem this bike rage,” he said.

Sen-Constable Danny Lean of Mornington appealed for more information about the weekend incident.

“This was an irresponsible and stupid action by the driver and others in the car,” Sen-Constable Lean said.

“Presumably they thought it funny, but it this could have been far more serious.”

Three cyclists were knocked from their bikes after the car swerved into the bike lane and clipped the lead rider, who in turn felled two others.

The car was described as a dark-coloured EA or EB Ford Falcon with a licence plate starting with EVQ or EVK.

“There is a lot of animosity towards cyclists but we would urge motorists to show respect to others on the road,” Sen-Constable Lean said. “On the flipside, cyclists need to ride responsibly too.”

Bicycle Victoria CEO Harry Barber said it was an example of the dangers riders faced.

“There are people who want to use their vehicle as a weapon against riders,” Mr Barber said. “We need the use the full force of the law against those responsible.”

Bicycle Victoria would support any moves to increase awareness on the roads.

“Anything that reminds us of our mutual responsibilities is good,” he said.

“There is a duty of care on the driver and for the cyclist.”

Fiona MacRae, spokeswoman for Roads Minister Tim Pallas, said the Government worked closely with road safety committees to co-ordinate cycling safety campaigns to raise awareness among cyclists and motorists.