The Hindmarsh Drive cycle lane approaching the Tuggeranong Parkway. Not just for bikes, apparently. Photo: Wikipedia.
Approaching the Cotter Road turnoff from Adelaide Avenue during peak hour requires patience and extra attention at the best of times, especially if there are any cyclists around.
Earlier this week, there weren’t any, fortunately, because as I prepared to veer left, there appeared a looming black image in my rearview mirror travelling at speed in the cycle lane.
The SUV whooshed past me in an instant and disappeared down Cotter Road, leaving me ashen-faced and appealing to the heavens, “Unbelievable!”
“That’s a first,” I thought, cutting the possible maniac some slack by musing that he was perhaps confused by the lack of line marking after recent resealing.
The next day, I am stuck in the usual morning logjam out of Molonglo on Cotter Road approaching the servo when, low and behold, it happens again. This time, a white SUV roars past me in the cycling lane.
Yesterday morning, it was crawl-time out of Weston on Hindmarsh Drive approaching the Parkway when not one but two vehicles, and yes, one was an SUV, sped past.
Three times in a week is enough for me. I’m calling it. Using the cycle lane for an inside run is now a thing.
It’s illegal, it’s unsafe and it’s a tragedy waiting to happen.
These episodes of motoring madness come just after police issued another warning to drivers to be careful when passing cyclists and observe the law requiring separation of 1 metre when the speed limit is 60 km/h or less and 1.5 metres if greater.
I’m sure the drivers would argue there wasn’t a cyclist in sight, but that’s hardly the point.
Did they know if a cyclist emerged from the verge or footpath to take their rightful space in the designated lane?
A separated cycleway in Sydney. The government has committed to building these on priority routes in Canberra, but Pedal Power ACT says it is taking too long. Photo: Bicycle Network/Facebook.
Were they that desperate to save a minute or two or meet an appointment time to break the law, terrify drivers doing the right thing and potentially cause a major accident?
There was not much chance of a cyclist surviving a collision at the speed at which these wannabe F1 drivers were going.
I’m hoping police are reading this and decide to check any CCTV that might be available to identify the offenders and have a not-so-quiet word.
After all, with the number of cameras now populating our major roads to catch drivers fiddling with their phones, they should be able to pick a couple of these idiots.
No wonder the cycling lobby wants the ACT Government to do more to extend separated cycleways to keep people safe.
Like many Canberra drivers and walkers, I’ve had my issues with the lycra-clad, but it’s hard to argue against the case for more spending on such infrastructure when such lunacy as this week’s antics are witnessed.
Obviously, simply laying down a white line and bit of green paint isn’t going to guarantee anybody’s safety.
The government recently launched its Active Travel Plan and some infrastructure announcements, leaving Pedal Power ACT nonplussed and saying it was just a wish list without targets.
A bit hyperbolic, perhaps, and the government pushed back, listing a number of projects.
But after this week’s experiences, the government should review its program and demand the police at least launch a crackdown on such dangerous driving before somebody is killed.
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