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Further implications
It is impossible not to acknowledge that Australia has a problem ensuring the safety of cyclists on our roads. Increasing fatality rates among cyclists, relative to Australian motorists' death rates and relative to cyclists killed in road accidents overseas, makes the extent of the issue plain.
Separate bicycle paths for cyclists may seem an attractively simple solution. It clearly works well in The Netherlands; however, there are those who argue that such a solution would not be feasible here. Australian topography is much more varied and the distances to be covered, even within cities, are greater. It is also claimed that making adequate separate provision for cyclists needs to be built into initial planning rather than tacked onto existing infrastructure arrangements. The awkwardness of some of the bicycle path networks added post hoc to existing roadways helps to explain why many of these bike lanes are under-utilised. Provision can relatively easily be made for the casual, non-competitive cyclist. However, serious cyclists and commuters who wish to use their bikes to travel to work need better provision than separate bike lanes often provide. Bicycle networks are rarely complete. They will take a cyclist so far along a particular route before he or she has to merge with full traffic, sometimes at locations that place the rider at particular risk.
None of this, however, means that cycle paths should be abandoned. Rather it means that they have to be better planned and their intersections with roadways need to be carefully considered and protected. There are other measures that can also be taken to protect cyclists. Reducing speed limits in built up areas may be of help. Speed reductions around schools have been successful in reducing the number of children killed in these precincts. Making separate provision for cyclists at light-controlled intersections so that they can enter the intersection in advance of motorised vehicles is also likely to be of benefit.
Better enforcement of the law appears to be needed, so that offences committed by cyclists and against cyclists are more likely to be prosecuted. This should improve the on-road behaviour of both bike riders and motorists.
The negative attitudes cyclists and motorists appear to have toward each other is also an issue. An extensive advertising campaign such as that directed against smoking, drink driving or domestic violence may help address this issue. Attempts to address the problem should be wide-ranging and multifaceted. The success different Australian jurisdictions have had in reducing the overall road toll suggests that it should be possible to save cyclists' lives as well.