NSW - Drivers and Cyclists - New laws March 2016

[alnjan]

NSW is coming in line with other States and then some more. 

http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/campaigns/go-together/index.html

Drivers must give bicycle riders at least a metre of space
From 1 March 2016, drivers who pass a bicycle rider must allow a distance of at least:

1 metre when the speed limit is 60km/h or less
1.5 metres when the speed limit is more than 60km/h
If drivers cannot pass a bicycle rider safely, they should slow down and wait until it is safe to pass the rider, leaving the minimum distance. To help drivers provide the minimum distance, some exemptions to the road rules will apply.

As long as a driver has a clear view of any approaching traffic and it is safe to pass the bicycle rider, the driver will be exempt from the following road rules:

Keep to the left of the centre of the road (two-way road with no dividing line)
Keep to the left of the centre of a dividing line - broken and unbroken lines
Keep off a dividing strip
Keep off a painted island
Driving within a single marked lane or line of traffic
Moving from one marked lane to another across a continuous line separating the lanes
Driving penalty
Drivers caught not allowing the minimum distance when passing a bicycle
rider face a $319 fine and a penalty of two demerit points.

Bicycle riders over 18 must carry photo ID
From 1 March 2016, all bicycle riders aged 18 and over must carry photo identification. If you don’t have a driver licence, you can apply for a NSW Photo Card. A 5-year NSW Photo Card costs $51. A NSW Photo Card is issued free of charge for eligible concession holders, people who receive a Centrelink Carer Allowance and NSW Seniors Card holders. The Roads and Maritime Services website has full details on the NSW Photo Card.

Increased penalties
Like drivers, the majority of bicycle riders have safety in mind most of
the time. The new penalties will only apply to riders who engage in
dangerous behaviour or break the law.

Fines for five offences will increase so that bicycle riders receive the
same fines as motorists for high risk behaviour. Increased penalties
will apply to bicycle riders who are caught:

Not wearing a helmet (up from $71 to $319)
Running a red light (up from $71 to $425)
Riding dangerously (up from $71 to $425)
Holding on to a moving vehicle (up from $71 to $319)
Not stopping at children's/pedestrian crossings (up $71 to $425)
Penalties for other bicycle rider offences will also increase from $71 to $106, including the offence of riding at night without lights.

Bicycle riders should provide pedestrians with a metre of space on shared paths
Bicycle riders are also encouraged to allow pedestrians a metre of space on shared paths, where possible.

[tk421]

You must like igniting wars by posting a bike thread?  😀

As a cyclist I don't have an issue with any of this. I already carry photo ID when I ride as I'm fully insured on my bike and an organ donor. If the worst happens if like them to know. I don't actually see the need for ID as the cops have been handing out fines to cyclists quite well without it. Minor thing though and I'll accept it as a compromise over rego. (Countless studies show bike rego will cost more to implement than it will make )

The only potential issue I see is for full carbon bikes not having enough metal to set off the induction coils at the lights.

The biggest argument against all this is for congested areas like Sydney where they should be encouraging more bike commuting, but the fines seem to be aiming at discouraging it.

I commuted by bike in London for 5 years and tried an experiment. I rode to all the rode rules including red lights and then ignored them the next day. My commute was 3 mins longer over a 8km commute when I followed the rules. I figured 3mins vs me dieing was a fair compromise and didn't break them again

[Jeepers Creepers]

Popcorn time

[tracker]

Popcorn time

      X2

[Homer_Jay]

The biggest argument against all this is for congested areas like Sydney where they should be encouraging more bike commuting, but the fines seem to be aiming at discouraging it

Those bloody fines, discouraging people doing the wrong thing. I just can't understand it myself. 
WTF 

[Jackdawg]

I like the Qld law, where if bike riders are riding abreast, you only have to give the clearance distance to the rider on the right. So if they are in the right lane riding abreast you can legally scare the bejusus out of the rider on the left   

Seriously though the recommendation on cyclists giving the pedestrians should be a law, not a recommendation and they could do with introducing it in Qld as well. Sick of being nearly run over by bike riders on shared paths because they cant wait 20 seconds for a clear path around pedestrians

[muzza01]

Great idea with the $425 fines and photo ID. Bring that to QLD. I see bike riders running red lights every day but I have never seen one be caught by the Police.

[D4D]

The only potential issue I see is for full carbon bikes not having enough metal to set off the induction coils at the lights.

Please explain?

[Hoyks]

At traffic lights you see those squares cut into the pavement and sealed with tar?
They are induction coils. Put a ferrous metal lump in them, on them or move it over them (like a car or a motorbike) it changes the the magnetic field which induces a current in the coil, the traffic light controller interprets this as a vehicle is waiting for the lights and the lights change.

The problem with a carbon fiber bike is that there is bugger all steel to induce a change in the coil, so the lights don't change. 


With race type light weight trailbikes it can also be an issue because they are mostly alloy and quite tall. Some claim that rare earth magnets stuck to the frame can help, no idea if it is true or not. If the thing isn't picking up the stator magnets and the spinning crank, then I don't think a little button magnet pilfered from a hard drive is going to cut it.

[tk421]

Please explain?

As Hoyks said. A full carbon fibre bike won't have enough metal to set lights off so a cyclist could be waiting a long time to get the lights to change in less busy streets.

A mostly carbon bike, like mine, should have enough metal to set it off (gears/chain/rims/pedals) but only if the coil sensitivity is adjusted correctly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[D4D]

Thanks for the explanation. Is this for going straight ahead or turning?

[tk421]

Great idea with the $425 fines and photo ID. Bring that to QLD. I see bike riders running red lights every day but I have never seen one be caught by the Police.

http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/police-crackdown-on-cyclists-catches-more-than-300-committing-offences-in-12-hour-period/story-fnpn118l-1227415192127

My commute in London had a major intersection where bike cops would hangout every 6 mths or so and ping the cyclists. Always made me chuckle seeing them pulled.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[edz]

Popcorn time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBYjZTdrJlA ther ya go !!!   

[gronk]

as I'm fully insured on my bike and an organ donor.

Does that mean if you run into the side of a car, your insurance pays for the damage ?

[gronk]

The problem with a carbon fiber bike is that there is bugger all steel to induce a change in the coil, so the lights don't change. 

If the pushy rider wears a metallic vest, he can jump off the bike and lie on the sensing pad.....sort of kills 2 birds with the one stone !!!   

[muzza01]

Common to see cars running a a yellow light late or a red one early but cyclists often run the red blatantly as soon as there is a gap in the traffic.

The Cairns CBD is the worst. I remember writing a post on MySwag a couple of years ago where I was crossing as a pedestrian on a green walk sign and got cleaned up by a cyclist halfway across.
I didn't see him or hear him coming just felt his arrival. He did say sorry and that he didn't see me. I said but your light was red, gave him a big shove and he took off again through the red light.

We all make mistakes and nobody is perfect but he would of had to ride between stationary cars to get to that intersection so he knew he was doing the wrong thing. He came off worse than me, he was bleeding where as I just good bruised. Nearly crapped myself as I thought I had been hit by a car.

[tk421]

Does that mean if you run into the side of a car, your insurance pays for the damage ?

Yup- I have Worldwide Comprehensive cover

Are you driving an Bugatti?

From the PDS:

$20,000,000 for Public Liability claims
$5,000,000 for Professional Indemnity claims

What is Public Liability Insurance?
Public Liability Insurance pays for costs you are liable for in the event you cause bodily injury to someone or damage their property as a result of negligence whilst riding a bicycle

Am I covered if I cause damage to a motor vehicle?
Yes. If the motor vehicle owner takes action against you claiming for reimbursement of the cost of repairs etc and you were at fault, cover under the Bicycle NSW liability policy applies.

[plusnq]

Cool. Good to know. Thanks for sharing

[gronk]

Yup- I have Worldwide Comprehensive cover

I'll be buggered.......one sensible pushy rider who has his own interests AND others taken care of ...

[cancan]

I am insured and so are the kids.... if they run onto someone or something they are covered plus all my bikes are insured... I have been hit by a 4wd on my $12000 bike... plus I carry ID... just in case I do get cleaned up badly

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[GeoffA]

I'll be buggered.......

Really??.....each to his own, but I wouldn't go that far Gronk.......

[tk421]

I'll be buggered.......one sensible pushy rider who has his own interests AND others taken care of ...

There's one or two out there if you look really really hard... 

I am insured and so are the kids.... if they run onto someone or something they are covered plus all my bikes are insured... I have been hit by a 4wd on my $12000 bike... plus I carry ID... just in case I do get cleaned up badly

Yeah it was having kids that made me think about doing it in the first place. Its more about protecting them if something happens to me.

[tracker]

I am insured and so are the kids.... if they run onto someone or something they are covered plus all my bikes are insured... I have been hit by a 4wd on my $12000 bike... plus I carry ID... just in case I do get cleaned up badly

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

     $12000 bike !!!!!!!.....i'm defiantly in the wrong line of work....
                         Cheers Tracker.

[time]

....... and how about number plates, so my crash cam evidence will be able to identify the nobs, like all other vehicles.

[alnjan]

The big issue I have with the whole issue of the alleged safety for all involved and the increased infringement notices, sorry revenue raising, is if the powers that  be were really concerned about safety instead of introducing new rules to 'share' the road and everyone will be safe, which we know is prone not to be the case, spend the revenue on infrastructure and build separate cycle ways off the main roadway and make all safe.