Here’s a great first person perspective of the trials and challenges of cycling Northbourne Avenue:
A quick video I made with some of my tips for cycling on Northbourne Avenue in Canberra.
Please remember to set to 720p+. These are only my tips, so don’t get carried away
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Cyclists should also ride single file in the marked lanes, especially in windy weather. It is not wide enough for two, despite the idiots who do that.
There is absolutely no doubt that having headphones removes one of the key senses, and I am certainly not disagreeing. There are rides/events where you shouldn’t wear them.
However in the scope of the topic I find headphones on northbourne are ok because of the constant flow of traffic.
That should be “good” not “god”….
And I forgot to mention that you shouldn’t assume that cyclists with headphones are listening to loud music. It could be a low volume audio book or similar. That would be significantly safer than the blaring stereos I hear in many cars. As well cyclists are outside and can already hear a lot better than drivers inside a closed vehicle (have a look next time at how much earlier they hear a siren than surrounding car drivers).
And this road rage from drivers is frustrating. I wonder how many would get as riled up if they stopped underestimating the time taken to drive, park and walk to their appointment and also added another five or ten minutes to their trip time.
Very good video and is a god watch for budding Northbourne cyclists and other road users.
If anyone was going to do the video again, I’d suggest, try to get footage of a bus too close or in the cycle lane (which happens too often) and voice overs of the text so that viewers can concentrate on what is happening rather than reading the text. Also, the Morphett Street warning is a good idea but, rather than just an arrow, I’d suggest a red line showing the actual path of crossing traffic.
I don’t agree that cyclists should ever slipstream behind other vehicles or that cyclists doing less than 10km/h should be discouraged from using the cycle lane (they have to start somewhere and a bit of critical mass on Northbourne would be a good thing). Similarly, “faster”, shaved leg or lycra clad cyclists should pull over to the left at lights just like other cyclists – they can still pass when the lights turn green.
A similar video of the City loop would be very valuable too.
troll-sniffer said :
+1. You’re effectively disabling one of your key senses that identifies other traffic. Stupidity.
borizuka said :
Well done on your efforts to raise safety issues. I might respectfully disagree about the headphones. I race (mountain bike) long distance events and a vote is often held before the start about the use of headphones. More often than not, the vote is to not use them, as riders are immediately unaware of their surroundings once the music goes on. I know it’s different on the road, but if it was me-versus-commodores, I’d want to hear and see everything I could. The big noises made by police, ambulance and fire vehicles would suggest there is a role for sound for on the road.
borizuka said :
Bollocks. Rubbish. Shows a complete lack of commonsense. Cycling safely in traffic is more than visual, I’d say often it’s up to 30% or more audio. Take away that significant slice of your awareness and you are stupid. Justify it all you like but there really is no argument.
borizuka said :
When I wear headphones, I can’t hear them over traffic. I’m not prepared for the pain to drown it out.
Also, over the years I’ve encountered plenty of pedestrians who are oblivious without headphones.
Headphones are another cheap target.
I think more could be made of leaving the bike lane. ie Northbound @ Barry Drive, I will often pull out in behind drivers who are signalling left. Makes it quicker for them to turn left if they are alert to me, and stops the driver behind from turning over me without signalling. As soon as I enter the intersection I’m back left, out of the way.
This video was meant to be a positive thing that started people thinking – and despite that this topic is as always being derailed.
In regards to cycling with headphones. Once you are comfortable and do use a mirror or head checks they are in my opinion fine whilst commuting. If you are riding for example around the cotter loop then I usually would like to hear the cars coming.
The majority of people that go against headphones are the ones that are not comfortable in their cycling whilst on the road or do not cycle at all and just have something negative to say.
Aeek said :
I see your position, but it’s still breaking the law. If others drivers are coming up behind it could present a problem.
Solidarity said :
Me too.
Pitchka said :
Cyclists aren’t required to signal left, or stop, that only leaves signalling right.
Sometimes, I want to move right and rather than stick my arm out into the motor vehicles, I choose to wait until a safe opportunity presents. Sorry.
IrishPete said :
I can’t help but get mad that I share to road with dickheads who drive with headphones on.
If cyclists want to break the road rules then let them go. Although I will always try to avoid hitting a cyclist (or any other vehicle for that matter), if they decide to ride through red lights, or across pedestrian crossings, etc, then they run a much greater risk of getting skittled. My car might get scratched, but insurance will cover that and I can recover the excess from the cyclist who caused the accident.
When I used to be a cyclist, I figured it was prudent to consider my own safety above taking the moral high ground.
We’re all grown ups here. If you want to break the rules, or take big risks, don’t cry when things don’t work out for you.
Postalgeek said :
Dont use big words, they confuse me…
People who break the road rules, bike or car, should be the first to go… no doubt…
Pitchka said :
Indeed, cyclists are the only people who do the wrong thing.
Pitchka said :
So you think a entire group doesn’t deserve to use the road because individuals don’t indicate and go through red lights? So you agree then that drivers, who kill by a factor of several thousand times more people than cyclists when they ignore rules, should be the first to go.
Careful. Your out-group homogeneity bias is starting to show.
IrishPete said :
Cyclists wear earphones to block out the infantile, ill-considered and ill-directed verbal attacks on them by the occupants of horseless carriages.
aussielyn said :
I could be alone here, but with 30 years plus commuting experience in Canberra, Sydney and the UK I’d have to say that I feel much safer riding close to big vehicles than I do near tradies, P platers or taxis.
I’ve found that drivers of big vehicles generally know exactly how big they are, where they are on the road and where they’re going, and if you don’t do anything stupid you’ll be fine. I’m not saying it’s a pleasant experience, but it’s less of a hazard than you might expect.
The only exception to this rule seems to be government buses. Not every (or even many) government bus drivers are bad drivers, but if there’s a bad driver to be found on a large vehicle they’ll be behind the wheel of a government bus!
troll-sniffer said :
Why should you be given the same rights as a car, idiot…
Considering the amount of cyclists i see daily not using hand signals, riding through red lights etc (in comparions to cars, which out number bikes at least 100 to 1), they dont deserve to use the f’n roads.
Seems they are immune to the road rules, when it suits them.
Take your fat ass, your $200 bike and cheap lycra elsewhere.
Hope i havent hurt your feelings….. again….
If so, click here…. http://newblackwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tissues.jpg