By Jeremy Rochow
Published: Thursday, February 11, 2021
Almost 3 quarters of cyclists on Adelaide roads have been the target of road rage, while 81% have been cut off by cars despite having priority, an RAA survey has revealed.
About 470 cyclists were surveyed in late 2020 as part of RAA’s inaugural Risky Rides campaign, with almost 2 in 3 saying they’ve had a car door opened directly in front of them. An astounding 39% have been knocked off their bike by a vehicle.
RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain said the survey responses were alarming.
“All road users need to be patient and obey the rules in order to arrive safely at their destination,’’ Mr Mountain said.
“Cyclists are particularly vulnerable, so motorists must do their best to be aware of them on the road.
“Cyclists should ensure they wear high visibility clothing and an appropriate safety helmet.’’
Top 5 casualty cyclist crash
locations 2015-2019
| Location | Casualty |
|---|---|
| Adelaide CBD | 272 |
| Norwood | 68 |
| North Adelaide | 46 |
| Henley Beach | 39 |
| Glenelg | 36 |
Tragically, 2518 cyclists were injured and 26 lost their lives in road crashes between 2015 and 2019, according to the latest SAPOL figures.
Since the introduction of road rules requiring drivers to keep a minimum distance when passing cyclists, the number of cycling crashes has fallen from 583 in 2015 to 498 in 2019.
While travelling up to 60 km/h, drivers must keep a 1m gap when passing cyclists. Above 60km/h, the required gap extends to 1.5m.
Most Risky Rides survey respondents said they actively avoid major roads without cycle lanes (85%) and avoid travelling during peak hour (58%). Almost half said they avoid large roundabouts.