Charlie Pickering and Victorian Government take aim at bicycle rider safety
Charlie Pickering, Ambassador for the Amy Gillett Foundation and the Hon. Terry Mulder, Victorian Minister for Roads today launched Sharing Roads and Paths.
Sharing Roads and Paths is a guide for all Victorians that focuses on the road rules and safe behaviours when sharing spaces with bicycle riders.
Amy Gillett Foundation Chief Executive Officer Tracey Gaudry said the guide was an important step in creating a safer environment for bicycle riders. “Sharing Roads and Paths is a fantastic initiative for all Victorians. The guide is for everyone. We all use roads and paths whether as a driver or passenger, a bicycle rider or a pedestrian. Often we get about in many of these ways throughout the day,” said Ms Gaudry.
“The guide consolidates over 25 codes of conduct and guidelines across Victoria to provide consistency in raising awareness of the key road rules and behaviours that directly improve bicycle rider safety in a shared environment. Sharing Roads and Paths underpins our collective vision to reduce serious injuries and fatalities resulting from avoidable collisions on roads and paths.”
Sharing Roads and Paths is the achievement of a major collaboration facilitated by the Amy Gillett Foundation with Victoria’s major transport, motoring, cycling and pedestrian groups. The project was funded by the Victorian Statewide Community Road Safety Partnership.
Victorian Minister for Roads, the Hon. Terry Mulder said “I am pleased to see this new code of conduct released today. As the name implies, Sharing Roads and Paths, brings the key cycling related road rules and responsibilities together into one easy to use guide.”
“Not only is it a handy reference tool but it is a reminder to us all as road users, whether it be as cyclists, drivers, motor bike riders, or pedestrians, that we all have a role to play in respecting each other on the road and making the roads safer,” Mr Mulder.
“Knowing the road rules and your responsibilities is just as important as cyclist and driver etiquette. Simple things such as being alert, predictable, courteous and visible can go a long way.”
Supported by RACV, Sharing Roads and Paths is an important tool for drivers to better understand their responsibilities when sharing the road with bicycle riders.
Dave Jones, Manager, Roads & Traffic at RACV said ”we expect all adult road users, whether walking, riding or driving, to know the road rules. Sharing Roads and Paths goes that one step further to explain courtesies and behaviours from drivers and other user groups, beyond the road rules. If we all apply them whenever we’re walking, riding or driving on roads or are on shared use paths, our experience will be much safer and more pleasant. There will be less frustration and anger.”
Sharing Roads and Paths is a guide for all Victorian road users on all Victorian roads and shared paths. It will help everyone understand what each of us can do to make our roads and paths safer for everyone.
Sharing Roads and Paths is a collaborative project involving the Amy Gillett Foundation, VicRoads, Victoria Police, City of Melbourne, RACV, Cycling Victoria, Bike Safe, Monash University, Victoria Walks, Bicycle Network Victoria, Cycling Promotion Fund, Retail Cycle Traders Australia, Baw Baw Shire Council and Mornington Peninsula Shire and was funded by the Victorian Statewide Community Road Safety Partnership.
