A typology of laws in Australia affecting the safety of bicycle users

Cycling is becoming increasing popular across Australia, both as a means of recreation and commuting (Australian Bicycle Council, 2013). Cycling interest groups as well as government agencies, such as the Western Australia Department of Transport, promote the use of bicycles as a healthy and more environmentally friendly alternative to motor vehicles (Western Australia Department of Transport, 2015). However, survey-based research suggests that safety concerns remain a major deterrent for adults choosing to cycling (Rissel & Campbell et al, 2002). Unfortunately, those concerns are justified. A 2014 study shows that the incidence of high threat to life crashes involving cyclists has increased by almost 150% since 1999 (Harrison, 2014). During that same time period the incidence of high threat to life crashes involving road users in protected vehicles has remained relatively constant. In NSW, from 2012 to 2014 motorist fatalities reached record lows, whilst contemporaneously cyclist fatalities doubled (NSW Centre for Road Safety, 2014). Despite this disparity, comparatively few public resources are dedicated to improving the safety of Australia's road environment for vulnerable road users, such as cyclists.

• Record URL:
  http://acrs.org.au/publications/acrs-conference-papers/acrs-database/
• Authors:
  • Elder, S
  • Steel, A
  • Katz, R
  • Crennan, N
• Conference:
  • Australasian Road Safety Conference, 1st, 2015, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2015-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 3p
• Monograph Title: Taking action together: 1st Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC2015), 14-16 October, Gold Coast, Queensland

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Cyclists; Highway safety; Legislation; Modal split; Mode choice; Risk assessment; Safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Safe systems (road users)
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Bicycle facilities; Cyclist; Legislation; Modal choice; Risk assessment; Road safety
• Subject Areas: Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01591315
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 26 2016 9:16AM