Cyclists open to legal action

ROADS AND DRIVING

AN unregistered cyclist could lose their house if they injured an overseas visitor. With 309,000 overseas visitors last year, the likelihood of such accidents, especially with shared footpaths and pedestrian crossings, is substantial. Consider the American travel insurance companies’ potential litigation recovering damages from the cyclist. An annual registration fee, say $195 including the MAIB coverage, is currently only an option in conjunction with a Bicycle Australia membership of $185. This would afford the cyclist, on whichever cycle they rode provided the registration was displayed, the liability coverage similar to that we pay for each motor vehicle. For the smallest motor scooter, registration including MAIB is $295, obviously easily collected. Children under 16 would be endorsed on a parent’s policy. Denmark requires cyclists to be registered.

A big plus for cyclists is that registration data will be invaluable for councils and governments when assessing cycle infrastructure. The social benefit is that the cyclist takes responsibility for their action on roads, footpaths and cycle trails, as do motorists. I note that in 2018 only one motorist per month was fined for not giving the “1.5m”. Well done by them. It is not unreasonable to expect that the registered cyclists will also lift their responsibility to safer and more courteous practices. so they can be identified when they blatantly disobey road rules ( Mercury, January 15). This morning a recalcitrant cyclist riding down Elizabeth St from North Hobart rode through every red traffic light at every intersection to Liverpool St. Please Paul Bullock, push hard and don’t give up.

Slow learners

GREEN drivers? Interesting thought Greg Norris, but too lenient (Letters, January 16). Watching the police roadside shows, it’s alarming to see how often drivers either never had a licence, were driving when suspended or not showing L or P plates. Since they are such slow learners (I’m being generous here), why not go further and withdraw their licence, issue L plates and schedule a driving test in, say six months? The super-slow learners might need 12 months!

Of course the good teaching of driving is the quickest way to become a competent driver. I hope the shortsighted attitude in driver teaching has changed from when I learnt to drive in 1967 when being told to just pass the test and when on the street, you can do anything you want. And I am still learning. Happy driving! ers were to be tested when renewing their licence, some type of control could be achieved on the ability of the person to drive. The complaints are real and dangerous because it is obvious that some on the road are no longer in a fit state to drive for health reasons. We once had a transport commission that would check the cars for roadworthiness yet the bureaucrats decided they had better ideas. Tasmania is renowned for aged and un-roadworthy cars.

The frustration of many drivers, more so the professional drivers, can be loudly heard. As it is not a vote winner once again government will take no action. The situation will continue to escalate until a serious multi-fatality arises as a result of them ignoring the calls for safer cars and drivers, then the hand wringing and promises of action followed by more delays of consultation and planning.

Danger on mountain

WHOEVER has responsibility for the road to the summit of Mt Wellington should consider putting a white continuous line to the Pinnacle from the Fern Tree turn-off. I took my grandkids for a drive to the summit and by the time I got back to the turn-off my nerves were severely rattled from near-misses from drivers hogging the middle of the road. Drivers seem to forget there are other vehicles on the road travelling both ways and appear to not have consideration for other drivers. A white line should keep vehicles on their side of the road.

Taxis clog parking spaces

IT is of course right that it is not against the law for taxis to park in a parking spot, but it is certainly an anti-social act (Letters, January 16). On Monday, when hoping for a park for a quick visit to Northgate, all eight parking places behind the three taxi parking spaces were occupied by taxis waiting to move into the three spaces! This is surely not how it is envisioned parking should work.

Cricket heartbreakers

I HAVE been watching cricket forever and now it’s at the lowest point. If it’s not for the many bats that break in modern cricket, it’s the Australian team breaking their supporters’ hearts, but you can never stop supporting our team because that would be un-Australian.

Paying for tourism

IMPROVEMENTS to tourism infrastructure are the responsibility of government departments concerned with tourism and of private enterprise, so the Hobart City Council should not even be considering a levy to fund them.

Last refuge

PATRIOTISM is the last refuge of a scoundrel.