Rant about ignorant Perth drivers!

This post has nothing to do with food - just want to let off some frustration. Honestly, some people need to relearn their road rules! Many times we have followed the road rules while riding our bikes, and we've had really close calls with drivers or have been abused by them for simply following the rules (see a previous post for just one example).

This afternoon, Rob was on his way on his bicycle to pick me up from work (this is our daily routine, which ensures that he gets his daily exercise), and he was riding along Stirling Street on the bicycle lane clearly marked between the parking bays and the road (we've been doing this almost everyday for a year now). A driver in her car indicated to turn, then promptly ran into him (for a detailed explanation on what happened, read his blog entry here). Now, if you have two lanes on the road, and two drivers in two cars are driving alongside each other, one car cannot simply indicate and then turn into the lane that the other car is in without first checking to see if it's okay to turn, right? If that first driver did so and caused a car accident, it would clearly be the first driver's fault. That's basically the situation here. The worst part was the fact that this lady driver and her friend employed an intimidation tactic and yelled at Rob saying that he should have looked where he's riding. I mean, hello?

I am only thankful that Rob was not more seriously hurt. This is not the end of the matter because the driver is still insistent that Rob was in the wrong, and would probably refuse to pay for the damage done to the bike.

On behalf of all cyclists in Perth (and anywhere else where this rule applies), I plead with all drivers to be aware that we cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers and motorcycles on the road. If you doubt that statement, you obviously need to re-learn your road rules. That statement is clearly stated in the "Part 6 - Ride Safe" (click here to download that document) section of the "Drive Safe" book published by the Dept of Planning and Infrastructure, WA.

Honestly, Perth drivers are probably one of the worst ones I've encountered in the different countries and states I've been in. I agree with Rob - there should be campaign ads on television to give people more awareness of our rights on the road.