The Greens are making a push to improve cycling safety in Australia, with a year long inquiry into the safety of cyclists, pedestrians, and motor cyclists.
What action, if any, this inquiry will result in is unknown, but I’m all for making cycling safer.
“Every year in Australia an average of 35 bicycle riders are killed and more than 9,500 are seriously injured. In the ACT we’ve had three cyclist deaths in the last three years and hundreds of injuries,” said ACT Greens Member for Molonglo, Shane Rattenbury.
“There are Greens in all State and Territory Parliaments except for Queensland and the Northern Territory, and they are all taking action to improve safety for cyclists and other vulnerable road users.
“In several States, the Greens are introducing legislation requiring drivers to leave a minimum distance when overtaking bicycle riders.
“Here in the ACT, the Greens have already initiated a year-long committee inquiry into improving the safety of cyclists and other vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and motorcyclists.
“The inquiry will gather evidence from the community and experts, and examine best practice approaches to protect and encourage vulnerable road users. This could include better regulation, infrastructure, design, education and funding arrangements.
“Taking measures to protect and prioritise vulnerable road users and improve their safety has the benefit of encouraging more use of sustainable transport and it’s the Greens that are leading the way on this around the country,” Mr Rattenbury concluded.