Fact – car rego of about $600 does NOT go anywhere near paying for all the roads! Much of it is insurance and administrative costs anyway. Rego is only paying for PART of the State owned roads. Roughly half of the cost of state roads comes from general State revenue that even cyclists have paid state taxes for.

2nd Fact – Most roads are actually COUNCIL roads. They are paid for by Council rates. Even cyclists pay council rates either directly or via rent.

So cyclists HAVE PAID TO USE THE ROAD. Furthermore we actually save the comunity money because of the health benefits, reduce road costs, reduce congestion. How much time do you get stuck behind a cyclist compared to being stuck in traffic jams!

Quotes -
The NSW RTA valued the net benefit of cycling at 28.7c per bicycle
kilometre in urban areas. Even with the relatively low levels of cycling in
Sydney (less than 2% of all trips), the estimated economic benefit to
Sydney was $81m per year. (NSW RTA, 2003).

For every car trip replaced with a bike ride, the community saves 60 cents per kilometre. (Queensland Transport)

Cyclists are likely to argue that if they are going ‘at speed’ it is not unreasonable to be in the middle of the F(*CKING God dam road. But please stay over to the left and lose the attitude or you will end up injured or dead.

Road Rules 2008 (NSW)
15 What is a vehicle
A vehicle includes:
(a) a motor vehicle, trailer and tram, and
(b) a bicycle, and
(c) an animal-drawn vehicle, and an animal that is being ridden or drawing a vehicle, and
(d) a combination, and
(e) a motorised wheelchair that can travel at over 10 kilometres per hour (on level ground),
but does not include another kind of wheelchair, a train, or a wheeled recreational device or wheeled toy.
Note. Various terms mentioned in this rule are defined in the Dictionary

17 Who is a rider
(1) A rider is the person who is riding a motor bike, bicycle, animal or animal-drawn vehicle.
Note 1. Bicycle and motor bike are defined in the Dictionary.
Note 2. Ride, for the rider of a motor bike or animal-drawn vehicle, includes be in control of—see the definition in the Dictionary.
(2) A rider does not include:
(a) a passenger, or
(b) a person walking beside and pushing a bicycle.

19 References to driver includes rider etc
Unless otherwise expressly stated in these Rules, each reference in these Rules (except in this Division) to a driver includes a reference to a rider, and each reference in these Rules (except in this Division) to driving includes a reference to riding.

Part 11 Keeping left, overtaking and other driving rules
Division 1 General
125 Unreasonably obstructing drivers or pedestrians
(1) A driver must not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or a pedestrian.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
Note. Driver includes a person in control of a vehicle—see the definition of drive in the Dictionary.

(2) For this rule, a driver does not unreasonably obstruct the path of another driver or a pedestrian only because:
(a) the driver is stopped in traffic, or
(b) the driver is driving more slowly than other vehicles (unless the driver is driving abnormally slowly in the circumstances).
Example of a driver driving abnormally slowly. A driver driving at a speed of 20 kilometres per hour on a length of road to which a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour applies when there is no reason for the driver to drive at that speed on the length of road.

Division 2 Keeping to the left
129 Keeping to the far left side of a road
(1) A driver on a road (except a multi-lane road) must drive as near as practicable to the far left side of the road.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
Note. Multi-lane road is defined in the Dictionary.
(2) This rule does not apply to the rider of a motor bike.
Note. Motor bike is defined in the Dictionary.
(3) In this rule:
road does not include a road related area.
Note. Road related area includes the shoulder of a road—see rule 13.
130 Keeping to the left on a multi-lane road
(1) This rule applies to a driver driving on a multi-lane road if:
(a) the speed limit applying to the driver for the length of road where the driver is driving is over 80 kilometres per hour, or
(b) a keep left unless overtaking sign applies to the length of road where the driver is driving.
Note 1. Length of road and multi-lane road are defined in the Dictionary.
Note 2. Part 3 deals with speed limits.

(2) The driver must not drive in the right lane unless:
(a) the driver is turning right, or making a U-turn from the centre of the road, and is giving a right change of direction signal, or
(b) the driver is overtaking, or
(c) a left lane must turn left sign or left traffic lane arrows apply to any other lane and the driver is not turning left, or
(d) the driver is required to drive in the right lane under rule 159, or
(e) the driver is avoiding an obstruction, or
(f) the traffic in each other lane is congested, or
(g) the traffic in every lane is congested, or
(h) the right lane is a special purpose lane in which the driver, under another provision of these Rules, is permitted to drive, or
(i) there are only 2 marked lanes and the left lane is a slow vehicle turn out lane.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.

The thing is, that all these are good things, but motorists who dont ride a bike tend to assume that cyclists usually only do it for fun, and dont see a bicycle in the fourth category, (as transport). Like motorists we, are useing our bikes to go to the places you go by car. We to are trying to get to work or to the post office or shops. We are someones father, mother, husband, wife, daughter, son, brother, or sister, and for the sake of your (often perception only) idea that we are using up your seconds, you are willing to put our lives and safety at risk.

Motorists who dont cycle dont know the benefits, and the risks we face. I believe that all motorists should have to cycle on the roads before obtaining their car licence. Do you know what its like having a car go past you within 30 cm, because they couldnt be bothered changing lanes, even though the other lane is empty. Equally you don’t know how good it feels to go somewhere in a similar time to a car trip, but feeling healthy, and knowing that you did not use any petrol, cause no pollution, and get there quicker then the car driver who is still trying to find a park.

I often have to carry alot of things or go a long distance, and yes, in that case I drive, and I know what its like to drive around cyclists. My experience on a bike has made me a more considerate and better driver. I must also say, that it is very rare that a cyclist has held me up when I drive. It is usually, other cars, traffic lights or trucks, but so what. That is what driving amoungst traffic is all about. All these other vehicles are just that, traffic.

TRAFFIC is TRAFFIC, and sure it can be frustrating, if you are running late, but think seriously about who or what usually holds you up. How many times usually is it a cyclist? REALLY. I cant remember the time I was seriously held up by a cyclist. I have been held up by traffic Jams caused by cars or car accidents between cars. I was once seriously held up by a horse and cart, but i have never been held up for more than about 8 seconds by a bike.

Going along the road the other day, ( in my car) I came up to a roundabout and saw a cyclist in front of me, he signalled to turn right, went into the right hand lane, then turned right, I had to slow down for a couple of seconds, as I would have for a car, he turned right, I went streight ahead, SO WHAT. I didnt go, BLOODY CYCLISTS they shouldnt be on the road, holding me up, I think ill run over or scare the bastard. I just simply thought another person legally using the road, SO WHAT. When I was held up by the horse and cart (probably taking someone on a tour of the vinyards), I didnt get up behind the horse and cart and abuse the driver of it and honk my horn at them.

TRAFFIC IS TRAFFIC, whatever form it come in.

I hear it often, that non cyclist car drivers want us to ride at a faster speed. This, according to them will make us hold them up less. If I had of ridden at a faster speed on a number of occasions, I would have been in hospital. I can do over 30kms an hour rof a while, but comming back from the shops, and riding in the bike lane at around 25 km/ h a car driver, I swear looked streight at me then proceeded to come out from a cross street, and I had to jam on the brakes and swerve to not collide with her, I had someone not give way at a roundabout, and cars routinely just overtake and turn in front of me.

If car drivers want me to ride faster, they need to show they can be trusted to obey the law, and give way when legally required to. Otherwise I have to ride defensively, which means riding defensively, which means slowing down a bit and holding them up.

I am not risking my life for their convenience, and if they could be trusted I would ride faster, and hold them up less.

I would also like to add that there are times when it is the cars that hold me up. It’s not a one way thing. In big cities bicycles are faster than cars, so why is this statement that bikes hold up cars said when it is just not true alot of the time.

There is times when at an intersection it is safer to go more out into the lane to prevent cars illegally overtaking and cutting you off, but this is an exception.

As a cyclist I can get charged for
Speeding (yes this is possible)
Drink Driving (riding)
Not giving way
Going through red lights
riding on the wrong side of the road.

THE SAME AS A CAR

I must also wear a helmet, and ride in a bike lane when one is provided and it is safe to do so.

I ALSO HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO TAKE UP A WHOLE LANE (although I dont do this out of courtesy).

AS A CYCLIST I have some extra rights

Pass stationary cars on the left, in the same lane (Lane splitting)
Ride to the front of traffic and into a bike box
Do a hook turn.

IT’s all on the RTA’s Website, and its not rocket science.

When non- cyclists quote this law they are missunderstanding it completely, they think it means that cyclists are required to ride on the very left, when what it really means is the same as for car(s).

It means, not to ride ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. JUST THE SAME AS FOR CARS.

I have seen some cyclists ride on the wrong side of the road and this is obviously agaist the law and it is what the law is talking about.
I had this checked with the RTA.
This is a FACT
It is a fine example of the ignorance of the road rules by non cyclists.