Friday, 23 March 2012

Pedestrians, Cyclists and Drivers - The battle continues...

Observe the world around you and consider a problem to be solved

A quote I once heard:
"As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists."
We have been asked to observe the world around us and consider a problem to be solved. Not being a cyclist myself, this quote reflects my feelings about a modern day problem that is regularly experienced between motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. 

The findings from a Suncorp survey, revealed by the Courier Mail on 30 November 2011 showed that about four out of five Brisbane motorists believed roads were dangerous for cyclists. The research found 86% of Queensland motorists reported having seen cyclists breaking the law or riding dangerously and 70% believed drivers need to pay more attention to cyclists. The survey also showed that one in three drivers has had a close call with a cyclist and 6% have collided with a rider.

Given the benefits cycling can offer, such as being eco-friendly and enabling a healthy lifestyle, it is concerning that cyclists don’t have a safer environment to partake in this activity or fail to take more care when sharing the roads with cars and pedestrians.

Problem: What needs to be solved?

Between January 2000 and December 2008, 6328 crashes involving bicycles and motor vehicles were recorded in the Queensland Crash Database as being reported to police. In 44% of cases, the bicyclist was deemed to be the at-fault vehicle. Despite the benefits associated with cycling, many cyclists are injured in road crashes and significant conflict can develop between cyclists and other road users. In 2006-2007, cyclists made up 14.6% of all road users who were admitted to hospital as a result of a road vehicle traffic crash in Australia.
The problem that needs to be solved is minimising the number of accidents that cyclists are involved in, while promoting a greater level of respect between motorists, pedestrians and cyclists who share bike paths, footpaths and the roads with each other. When a cyclist impacts a vehicle, it is the cyclist that will receive the most severe injuries, just as when a cyclist impacts a pedestrian, it is usually the pedestrian that will receive the most severe injuries. More care needs to be taken by all sides to minimise the accidents and near-accidents that occur.

Context: Describe the problem space.

While a lack of available bike paths for an increasing cycling community is one issue that contributes to this problem, a combination of driver errors and traffic violations is another contributing factor. Cyclists who disobey road rules because they think they won’t be caught or that the rules don’t apply to them because they are not in a car, should not be exempt from the law.
Senior Researcher, Amy Schramm of the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland states that a lack of due care and attention was the primary cause for accidents, as reported to the Courier Mail on 13 September 2010. Research has found that most accidents occur because bike lanes exist on the left hand side of roads, however motorists have been taught to look right when stopping at intersections and roundabouts. This results in motorists acting on a learned behaviour, rather than deliberately causing accidents with cyclists. Additionally, while cyclists riding in groups is the main annoyance for motorists, this behaviour is considered to be one of safety for them, so as motorists are more aware of them. (Weston 2010)

Realities: Describe the practice space.

This issue occurs on all roads throughout metropolitan and regional areas, however given the larger populations in urban areas, the majority of accidents occur in these areas.
The highest age groups of cyclists involved in accidents were the 12-16 and 30-39 demographic.
This could show that increased education and road cycle practice may benefit the 12-16 age groups while increased awareness of safe cycling practices targeted at cycling clubs and recreational cyclists may benefit the 30-39 age groups who could have become blasé about such issues over the years.

Actors: Who are the key actors of this network?

The key actors of this network are:
*   Cyclists – recreational and cycling groups
*   Drivers – who encounter cyclists on roads
*   Pedestrians – who walk in areas that cyclists utilise
*   Governments/Council - responsible for developing new bike paths and infrastructure
*   Police - who investigate accidents that occur and govern adherence to road rules

Tensions: What are the tensions from the problem/practice space?

A lack of bike paths to accommodate the increasing number of cyclists is a main contributory tension point that is forcing more cyclists to use the roads.
The mindset of certain cyclists who either do not know or choose to ignore the road rules also adds to the tensions between cyclists and motor vehicles, in addition to cyclists and pedestrians on footpaths (cyclists are allowed to use footpaths but must give way to pedestrians).

Lack of cycling experience on busy roads for new cyclists may also add to this issue.
The main concern though, I think, is a lack of understanding and consideration by the cyclists, motor vehicles and pedestrians with regards to other road users around them.

Problem Definition: What would the problem look like if it were solved?
If this problem were solved there would be a decrease in the number of cyclists and pedestrians injured each year in accidents and a decrease in the number of cyclists killed each year in accidents. This could only result if cyclists, pedestrians and motorists showed increased consideration for other road users though. While an increase in the number of bike paths and bike lanes would assist this issue, it essentially comes down to the persons behaviour towards, and awareness of, others in their vicinity, as to whether or not accidents can be prevented. 

Concepts: What possible concepts might provide a solution?

Concepts that might provide a solution to this issue include:
*  Educational awareness campaigns that highlight cyclist safety and promote a shared road experience for all road users
*  Cyclist road rule tests, similar to tests undertaken to obtain a drivers licence, in addition to supervised cycling "probation" periods through different road conditions (peak, rural, urban).
*   Stricter police enforcement of bicycle regulations and adherence to road rules.
*   Increased bike paths or bike lanes on roads in metropolitan and regional areas
*   Increased lighting for bike paths at night
*  Lower speed limits on bike paths, foot paths and where cyclists, pedestrians and motor vehicles share the roads.
*   Increased mandatory protective wear that would make cyclists more visible and/or assist in protecting cyclists from accidents (reflective vests, knee and elbow pads).


 References
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