Melbourne roads “too dangerous” for cyclists: survey

The survey, undertaken by comparison website Finder, found that two in five motorists had recently experienced at least one near-miss with a cyclist. (Photo: Valentin Jacquemin/ Flickr)

SYDNEY–Victoria’s roads are “too dangerous” for cyclists, a study published on Monday has found.

The survey, undertaken by comparison website Finder, found that two in five motorists had recently experienced at least one near-miss with a cyclist.

More than half of 2,000 Victorian motorists polled supported mandatory registration and insurance for cyclists with 70 percent believing roads were “too dangerous” for cyclists and 66 percent wanting more bike paths to improve safety.

Of 150 cyclists deaths on Australian roads since 2013, 39 have occurred in Victoria.

Dave Jones, traffic manager for insurance and roadside assistance company Royal Automotive Club of Victoria (RACV), said that laws needed to be changed to keep motorists and cyclists apart.

“Minimum lane widths for bicycles and cars should be mandated for all public roads in Victoria,” Jones told News Limited on Monday.

“Where space is constrained, on-street parking should be removed, making way for separated bike lanes and wider footpaths.”

The Victorian branch of the Greens party has campaigned for a minimum one meter distance between cars and bikes if going under 60 km per hour (kmph) and a 1.5 meter gap if going faster.

Julie-Anne Newman, a spokesperson for Victoria Police, said that cycling would be safer if road users had more consideration for each other.

“We do identify cyclists as vulnerable road users, as little is separating them from the road and other traffic and they don’t have the same protection as a driver in a vehicle,” Newman said.

Both the RACV and Bicycle Network have spoken out against mandatory registration and insurance for cyclists.