For those that didn’t see it, Jill Singer this month produced an article for the Herald-Sun ‘Lycra louts a law unto themselves’ (Herald-Sun 08 April2010) supporting the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) call for Cyclist licensing and bicycle registration.

It really is a worry that apparently intelligent and experienced journalists can put together such puerile rubbish as Singers article. What is even worse is that the article was actually published after passing any sort of editorial process; this does not reflect very well on the Herald-Sun.

Singers’ rant about irresponsible cyclists whilst calling for licensing and bike registration has all the hallmarks perhaps of a desire to seek confrontation and conflict as a means of self promotion. Perhaps she has been taking lessons from Andrew Bolt, that doyen of polarised opinions who writes for the same paper.

Jill, the Minister (Tim Pallas) has already written off the ideas espoused by yourself as ‘having merit’ and has stated that we don’t want to be the only place in the world to impose yet another level of bureaucracy through bicycle registration. Yes Jill, riding your bicycle to work benefits both riders and the environment but if increased rider numbers are creating ‘havoc’ perhaps we need to provide better infrastructure and more room on the roads for them. [Read more →]