[rustynutz]

Ah, the Australian public....Why oh why is it that most of us seem to want more and more restrictive laws & legislation?   

I think you're living in the wrong country, Rusty.
Maybe if you lived in an Asian country you wouldn't be so scrutinised.

That's because they have a completely different attitude to bicycles and motorcycles, they know the benefits.
Unlike Australia (particularly when it comes to motorcycles) they have done their best to discourage their use.... 

[Surferdude]

Ah, the Australian public....Why oh why is it that most of us seem to want more and more restrictive laws & legislation?   

I think you're living in the wrong country, Rusty.
Maybe if you lived in an Asian country you wouldn't be so scrutinised.

That's because they have a completely different attitude to bicycles and motorcycles, they know the benefits.

Honestly Rusty, I think you'll find their attitude is/ has been driven (did you see what I did there?  ) by cost. Most can't afford a car and only recently in places like India and Pakistan are extremely cheap cars helping to change that.

[TheReaper]

Ah, the Australian public....Why oh why is it that most of us seem to want more and more restrictive laws & legislation?   

I think you're living in the wrong country, Rusty.
Maybe if you lived in an Asian country you wouldn't be so scrutinised.

That's because they have a completely different attitude to bicycles and motorcycles, they know the benefits.

Honestly Rusty, I think you'll find their attitude is/ has been driven (did you see what I did there?  ) by cost. Most can't afford a car and only recently in places like India and Pakistan are extremely cheap cars helping to change that.

agreed.... my ex fiance was vietnamese and when she use to live in vietnam when she was a kid, her mom would leave for a couple weeks at a time for work and only make $2 a day.

[FatBoy]

What about Copenhagen and Amsterdam.  Lots of bicycles, high incomes, less bicycle accidents. 

[Surferdude]

What about Copenhagen and Amsterdam.  Lots of bicycles, high incomes, less bicycle accidents.

Now, if Rusty had nominated them instead of SE Asia, I'd have agreed with him.
But totally different circumstances.

[rustynutz]

Trev, it wasn't me that bought up Asia...   

Honestly Rusty, I think you'll find their attitude is/ has been driven (did you see what I did there?  ) by cost. Most can't afford a car and only recently in places like India and Pakistan are extremely cheap cars helping to change that.

Your point is? 
Regardless of what drove it, the people see bicycles/motorcycles as legit transport, unlike so many car drivers (and bureaucrats) in Australia. 

[Surferdude]

Trev, it wasn't me that bought up Asia...   

Honestly Rusty, I think you'll find their attitude is/ has been driven (did you see what I did there?  ) by cost. Most can't afford a car and only recently in places like India and Pakistan are extremely cheap cars helping to change that.

Your point is? 
Regardless of what drove it, the people see bicycles/motorcycles as legit transport, unlike so many car drivers (and bureaucrats) in Australia. 

I didn't say you did. My comment related to yours about their different attitude to bikes and motor bikes.
And my point is pretty straightforward. If they had had the money to develop a car culture like ours, their attitude to 2 wheeled machines would be the same.
Humanity is the same the world over.
Circumstances influence how they act.

[rustynutz]

Yeah, you did... 

Now, if Rusty had nominated them instead of SE Asia

So why is it that most European Countries also embrace the motorcycle then?

Surely many of them also have a car culture? 

[Aussie Keith]

I've noticed we in Oz lack the same level of tolerance for many things compared to other countries. We seem to feel "entitled" rather than privileged or fortunate. We choose to ignore the rules when it suits us and everyone else who disagrees is an idiot or worse. There is an overbearing sense of self righteousness irrespective of ignorance. And most frighteningly, there are those who are drugged up or disturbed and feel the need to violently rage on others in one way or another. Lets call these things "behaviors".

Lets consider for example behavior on the roads. Instead of sharing responsibly, we complain about moron truck drivers, idiot cyclists, men with hats, volvo drivers, hoons, people driving too fast, people driving too slow, those who remain at the traffic light a millisecond after its changed to green, bloody pedestrians, maniac motorcyclists (temporary Australians)  etc.  Where's the tolerance?

Its an ailment of the times and its not pretty. Lets imagine a world where everyone was a bit more relaxed and considerate. Cyclists might do the right thing and on the odd occasion when they were legally two abreast on a road with plenty of space, the passing motorist might offer them a cheery wave instead of raging and trying to mow them down in his ute or actually run over them in his Mercedes.

Or motocyclists might behave like the high speed meatbag on wheels they are and not filter themselves into a dangerous situation. Motorists would show respect to heavy vehicles and in fact all other vehicles on the road. Those traveling at the speed limit on the motorway might choose to stay in the left most lane as a courtesy to their fellow motorists instead of doggedly clogging up the overtaking lanes. And pigs might fly. Unfortunately motorists are people and people are random. There's the problem right there.

Licensing bicycles is not addressing the root cause of the problem, its behavior of the broad spectrum of road users that's the issue. Licensing bicycles will not solve any of the issues faced, will not modify the behavior of serial offenders either cyclists, motorists or other road users. Period.

I am sure the NSW government will reach the same conclusion as everybody else on the subject in the fullness of time, assuming there are any left of course.

Anyone who does not agree with the government's findings is free to make a large anonymous donation.

[Surferdude]

Yeah, you did... 

Now, if Rusty had nominated them instead of SE Asia

Really?
You presume to read my mind as to what that's referring to?
How about you accept that I know my own mind.
I WAS ONLY REFRRING TO YOUR SUUGESTION THAT THOSE IN SE ASIA ........
"Thave a completely different attitude to bicycles and motorcycles, they know the benefits."

[Surferdude]

Great post Keith,
The only thing i would say in addition, or perhaps in opposition is that it's a human condition, not just an Aussie one. I know you've spent some time overseas, as I have and I find it the same everywhere.
Although, perhaps it's more of an Anglo Saxon (western) thing.
Unfortunately, it's not going to change any time soon.

[TheReaper]

What about Copenhagen and Amsterdam.  Lots of bicycles, high incomes, less bicycle accidents.

Now, if Rusty had nominated them instead of SE Asia, I'd have agreed with him.
But totally different circumstances.

lol

[rustynutz]

Yeah, you did... 

Now, if Rusty had nominated them instead of SE Asia

Really?
You presume to read my mind as to what that's referring to?
How about you accept that I know my own mind.
I WAS ONLY REFRRING TO YOUR SUUGESTION THAT THOSE IN SE ASIA ........
"Thave a completely different attitude to bicycles and motorcycles, they know the benefits."

This coming from the bloke that presumed to read my mind....
Townsville man fined 6 for doing 1km/h over speed limit

[Lakes]

the Heat is off Bicycles , as a few pedestrians have been killed in Sydney in the past few day's by Bus's, one unfortunate was outside a restaurant in china town and a bus ( out of control ) hit him. i think the bus's that drive in the CBD need some type of air bag bumper to save lives.

[Phil №❶]

Or a scoop with a net. 

[Surferdude]

Or one of these.

[Phil №❶]

That looks a bit nasty 

[The Gonz]

Or ANCAP 5-star crash friendly panels - oh we have those already - without the f#$%ing bullbars!

[TheReaper]

Video on possible licencing from a current affair last night

A Current Affair > Video Index

The title starts with bike fatalities. As of right now the video is third on the top row on the index page