Latest news with #PeterMcLean
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Calls for change as deteriorating roads expose big 'risk' to Aussies
Aussie road users are growing increasingly fed up with the deteriorating state of the tarmac across the country. New data reveals reports of sub-par roads and bike paths have tripled in the past three years, with "no signs of slowing down". While the number of reports correlates with an uptick in Aussies opting to travel on their bikes, the state of roads poses an "increasing risk" to the wellbeing of cyclists, according to Danny Gorog, CEO of council reporting app Snap Send Solve. Cycling advocacy group Bicycle NSW's CEO Peter McLean has called on authorities to pay attention to the complaints, telling Yahoo it's critically important "all three tiers" of government acknowledge that there are more cyclists than ever on the roads. "We need to evolve and react to managing our assets and infrastructure more appropriately," he said. "People want better, more consistent infrastructure, and where they're not seeing it, they are reporting it," he said. Since 2020, cycling has seen a "massive uptake", according to McLean. Now, over five million Australians are riding a bike every week, particularly with the advent of e-bikes. With that, has come a rise in complaints on the state of infrastructure meant to serve cyclists. Last year, there was a "record-breaking" 5,235 reports of issues in bike paths including crumbling tarmac, regular debris in the way, as well as overgrown nature strips across the country, according to Snap Send Solve data. 2025 looks like it's going to be even worse with 3,153 reports already recorded between January and May this year. "This rapid growth strongly suggests that conditions on the ground are deteriorating year over year," Gorog told Yahoo News Australia. While the Snap Send Solve app itself is increasing in popularity among responsible citizens, he believes the rise in complaints is "unlikely" to be explained simply by reporting behaviour alone. "It signals worsening infrastructure conditions, poor repairs, ageing bike lanes, and potentially inadequate maintenance cycles," he said. He warns the current pace of deterioration could "undermine broader mobility goals and pose increasing risks to cyclists." Gorog hopes the insights will guide smarter investments and ongoing upgrades from authorities. 🚨 Drivers warned major road rule change with $961 fines 'just weeks' away 📸 Cyclist's heated exchange with driver over 'deliberate' roadside act 👮 'Unbelievable' moment cyclist swerves in front of driver draws police response It's not just the quality of the roads putting cyclists at risk, but also fellow road users like car drivers. A disproportionate amount of crashes involve cyclists on Australian roads despite them being a small percentage of overall road users. Last year, cyclist deaths jumped from 34 in 2023 to 38 in 2024, an 11.8% increase, with motor vehicles involved in the majority of crashes. Footage shared earlier this year shows a scary near-miss between a driver and a cyclist in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick. Cyclist Rory Meister told Yahoo News he thought it was "absurd" the driver didn't see him despite having flashing lights on his bike. He said incidents with drivers are alarmingly frequent. McLean previously told Yahoo education and awareness are the first port of call for improving safety for cyclists. "Fundamentally, we need better awareness at an early stage of when people are getting their licenses," he said. "There's lots of great drivers out there and we just need to equalise everyone on the road." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Teens risk $320 fine in 'extremely dangerous' act on busy Aussie motorway
A group of teenagers have stunned motorists in Sydney with their 'unacceptable' behaviour on a major motorway. Riding e-bikes and scooters through a tunnel alongside cars travelling at 70km/h, several of them ride one-handed as they record each other on their phones. The shocking vision was filmed on General Holmes Drive in a tunnel outside Sydney Airport. While seven boys can be seen on the mobile phone footage, the woman who recorded it said there were 'about 30' teens in total. 'I was honestly just gobsmacked,' she wrote online. 'Maybe it's legal, but it just seemed soooo dangerous in that very moment of driving next to them. 'A few had phones out, cars were beeping, kids were flipping the bird… just thought how wild, who do they belong to.' Another woman who saw the group as she was driving in the other direction said she also 'could't believe' what she was seeing. While e-bikes are usually safe and legal, it's the illegally modified versions that have become a point of frustration for drivers and pedestrians alike. These modifications pose a 'real issue' and mar the reputation of electronic bikes, Peter McLean, CEO of Bicycle NSW, told Yahoo News. 'Some of them do go extremely fast. Some of them are geared to do 60, 70, 80 and even, in some cases, over 100 km/h,' he said. 'With something that's basically very little design, quality construction or quality materials, it's terrifying to be honest." "When they're not wearing a helmet they've got pretty much a 100 per cent chance of a fatality. It's pretty serious."Peter McLean, CEO of Bicycle NSW In NSW, riding a bicycle or e-bike in motorway tunnels is illegal. The penalty for bicycle riders disobeying road access rules is $320, with a maximum court-imposed penalty of $2,200. McLean said tunnels should be avoided by cyclists and pedestrians, as it's simply 'not designed for anything other than motor vehicles'. 'There's no safe separation or safety alternatives designed in those tunnels for pedestrians or bicycle users, and therefore they're extremely unsafe environments for those as modes,' he said. 'It's one of the reasons why Bicycle NSW is advocating pretty much every day on safe infrastructure options for bicycle users, to make sure that they've got safe alternatives.' While he praised 'safe and responsible' e-bike riders who follow the rules, McClean said the biggest mistake being made by many cyclists was the lack of etiquette and respect on the road. 'They're certainly, in some instances, riding irresponsibly and unsafely and not really considering other road users. Our roads are there to share, and it makes our job at Bicycle NSW harder when you've got irresponsible people out doing the total opposite and not considering all the road users,' he said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
