Silly bike laws

I'm all for improving the infrastructure for bicycle riding in Perth but we also need a dose of reality, the new proposed laws up for review in regards to cyclists are totally absurd - it really makes your head spin.

The bike lobby is strong yielding considerable political influence yet this doesn't prevent poorly conceived ideas may actually pass into law. The first proposal for the vehicle driver to be in the wrong by default. In any accident goes against current laws where the accused is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This proposal seeks to totally bypass the justice system in what may be considered unconstitutional.

Naturally the bike lobby wants vehicle drivers to be guilty by default; bike riders are not registered, do not carry any identification on their bikes in the form of registration plates and are uninsured. Every vehicle on the road must be registered carrying compulsary third party motor vehicle insurance that is automatically deducted from the vehicle registration fee.

Furthermore, vehicle drivers must be licenced whereas bike riders do not. This is easy money for bike riders to tap into, they do not contribute in the form of payments to the insurance pool. But wait they argue, they already pay vehicle registration and by default third party insurance. But investigating further we see that each driver must be licenced and each vehicle registered meaning third party motor vehicle insurance is paid on each vehicle.

Then there is the proposal that bicycles are allowed to ride through red traffic signals, the absurdity now reaches a climax. By virtue of how traffic lights work, if you are sitting at a red light then a reasonable person may conclude that the traffic going the other way is on a green traffic signal. But don't be concerned as the bike lobby has this apparently organised.

Should you be struck by a vehicle and you survive the crash without dying, then the vehicle involved in the crash is guilty by default despite driving through a green traffic light. Now I used the term crash and not accident because an accident is considered a freak occurrence. I ride a bike and there is no way I would even consider riding through a red light under any circumstances - absolute lunacy.

So where to from here? Should bicycles be allowed on the road? Absolutely they should but we have to follow established road rules and principles. Such action leads to arrogance and unintended consequences and we need responsible riding and driving, we use the roads together and need to respect each other.