Some roads look safe. Quiet streets, residential neighbourhoods, the kind of suburb where nothing much happens. But for cyclists, even the most familiar routes can turn dangerous in an instant, and this UpRider knows that better than most. He also has a simple rule he rides by: never leave home without your Fly6 or Fly12. Here is his story, and why that advice matters more than ever.
UpRide turns daily rides into data that drives change.
Every UpRider has a story. Here is James’s.
What happened prior to this incident and why do you record your ride?
We were having a perfectly normal ride in slightly damp conditions, along quiet residential streets that are used frequently by the cycling community, including commuters from the Western Suburbs. It would be no surprise for a driver to see cyclists here, particularly at that time of day.
When do you feel most vulnerable as a cyclist?
I ride around 8,000km a year, the majority of it on the road, there is simply no alternative. I feel vulnerable any time I am riding on the road without a dedicated cycle lane. 99% of drivers are very respectful of vulnerable road users and provide plenty of space. It is the 1% that I am always wary of, the commuter trying to shave a few seconds off their drive to work, the idiot on their phone, the angry person lashing out for whatever reason.
What do you think are the most important things that can be done to improve safety for cyclists on the road?
Better infrastructure, particularly in areas of high use such as city centres. More enforcement of road safety legislation. Politicians taking the lead on this conversation, because the more people who ride bikes, the less congestion and pollution there is for everyone. But most importantly, a broader societal conversation about mutual respect, about all of us sharing the road, both motorists and cyclists, and about our shared desire to simply get home to our loved ones safe and sound.
Did you report your incident? What was the reporting process?
I did submit it to the police as it was a particularly close pass and totally unnecessary given the circumstances. To be honest, I submit reports very infrequently these days, the majority of the time they are either ignored completely with no response, or no action is taken even when the evidence is irrefutable. For example, I captured footage last year, crystal clear front and back, of a car coming directly at me going the wrong way down a one-way street. You could even see the driver’s face, and still nothing was done.
Until WA Police change their approach and start enforcing the legislation designed to protect vulnerable road users, such as the one metre minimum passing distance, driver behaviour will not change, and we will continue to be put in harm’s way.
What is your advice for other cyclists?
Always be alert to possible dangers, never leave home without your Fly6 or Fly12 just in case, and always be respectful of all other road users.
