G'day folks

Last year I was on the Koonung Path/Bulleen Rd intersection and noted
the number of cyclist that jumped the red light to cross Bulleen Rd.

I counted 144 cyclists all up and of those 57 committed the less
serious offence of crossing the filter left lane against the light
and 29 the more serious offence of crossing the whole intersection
against the red light. In effect 86 (60%) were committing an offence
:)

Following on from this, I made the suggestion to BV that the bike
counting form be modified so this sort of data could be collected as
appropriate. As I understand it, one of greatest complaints by other
road users is the degree to which cyclist break road rules (namely
red light jumping) and hence the call for rego plates on bikes :( The
data I felt could be used for seeking funding for developing an
education/program or safety/campaign.

Further to this I am now doing a training ride before breakfast into
the city and back so on the way home I am riding against the city
bound commuting flow along the Gardiners and Yarra. My experience is
that behaviour of a large number of cyclists is appalling -
overtaking in-appropriately, riding in long trains at speed with no
room for error, cutting off other users, not warning when approaching
walkers/joggers, skimming passed walker/joggers by millimeters at
speed, down on tri bars, and the like, so another suggestion I have
made is that poor cycling etiquette be another bit of data collected
on the counter form.

In some places the volume of cyclists may mean the need for a couple
of volunteers - one counting bikes the other cylist behaviour

IMHO - having a band of volunteers on bike routes once a year
observing/counting cyclists is too good an opportunity to be missed
to collect other data as I reckon good data is the precursor to
sourcing funding/resources for developing 'education'/'change'
programs to promote "More People, Cycling More Safely, More Often" :)

Another thought - if the count started at 6am it would also pick up
in some areas the groups of cyclists out doing dawn training rides
and being dark, the use of or lack thereof of lights :)

C'ya
Alan