Pretty much all my driving is in city traffic.

Cyclists are everywhere, and the majority are a complete menace, to themselves and others. A law that defines a 1 metre or 1.5 metre clear zone would be impossible to observe here, simply because the lanes are too narrow to pass with that separation, and the chance of being able to take advantage of a gap in the oncoming traffic is as close to zero as makes no difference.

So the only course of action open to us townies is to stay behind them, cursing quietly. And there's no opportunity to catch up with them and curse loudly at them, because they don't bother to stop at traffic lights, as we motorists are obliged to.

And y'know, this has been going on for many years. There have been some attempts to put in cycle paths in various spots around town, but these tend not to be used. Given the slightest opportunity, the city cyclist (especially those lycra-clad "couriers", who are another breed entirely) will use the footpath, or the wrong side of the road, instead of the nice green cycle tracks that have been provided for their sole use. And heaven help the poor pedestrian, who inadvertently looks the wrong way first (they are mostly two-way) before trying to cross one of these tracks - these folk take a great delight in yelling obscenities in your ear as they go past, their speeding metal only inches from your ribs...

But strangely, I am at peace with all this. Instead of fuming behind the wheel when stuck behind their lurid behinds, I take solace from the fact that the average speed through Sydney is only slightly above walking pace anyway. Overtaking them - only to be overtaken again when they zip through the next red light - will get me to my destination no faster. So I become very relaxed about it all, and simply crank up the music another notch.

And as a bonus, I won't have to clean the blood off the car when I reach my destination.

I agree in general this law requires more thought. I live on the Sunshine Coast Qld. Two cyclists were riding abreast on one of the most popular drives on the Sunshine Coast, between Alexandra Headlands and Mooloolaba. There was a stream of traffic behind me, Easter Weekend. When I held back behind the riders, I got blasted with horns, and if I passed the riders I had to cross the double white lines to maintain separation. There was absolutely nowhere to pull over to let other cars pass me who obviously weren't so particular. The particular incline is south out of Alex and steep so consequently slow for the cyclists.

The traffic was probably backed up to Maroochydore CBD by the time the cyclists (still two abreast) reached the top of the hill.

I respect that the cyclists have rights, but where is the safety here?
The cyclists were not interested in riding single file to allow some distance between themselves and the traffic given the double white lines, and I didn't want to attract a fine by crossing the double white lines to maintain the required separation.

I would appreciate some comment from the Qld Police on this issue.

Ludwig
"If you find a cyclist right in front of you, you do NOT have time to slow down to ~25, unless you do it very quickly indeed. And if you’ve got traffic behind, you definitely don’t want to do that!"

Then you are not driving to the conditions and not driving with due care as required by the law. You deserve to lose your license.

To all the Rambos here who think as car drivers they "own" the roads - try reading the second last paragraph of the post by Pericles. Read it 100 times, maybe then you'll become more mature drivers.

If there's a bad road rule, then GET IT CHANGED. Don't do what Ludwig does, and make up your "own" rules to circumvent the real road rule. Doing that makes you a danger to all road users.

Motor bikes, trucks, cycles, pedestrians, cars, buses and trams ALL have to abide by the road rules.

Thanks Misanthrope for noting the antics of Nhoj.

……….

Divergence, I am pleased you can see my hypothetical and very plausible and dangerous example, and have put it in different words, I think somewhat better explained than what I have done.

<< Pointing out the dangerous unintended consequences of a road rule is not selfish or irresponsible. >>

I find it very odd indeed that three posters so far seem to think that this IS selfish and irresponsible!!

……….

Pericles, yes such a law wouldn’t be feasible in Sydney.

So how does this differ from Brisbane. Newman’s mob is surely familiar with inner city traffic, if not with the open highway or smaller towns. And yet the blatant unfeasibility of such a law in the city environment wasn’t enough to make them knock this stupid idea on the head instead of turning it into law. Xstrordinry!!

……….

<< I agree in general this law requires more thought. >>

Pleased to hear it, Kitten. This is the nub of this thread. New laws are needed as they concern cyclists and drivers and how they interact, but MUCH more thought needs to go into them than for this terrible example.

<< I would appreciate some comment from the Qld Police on this issue. >>

Yes...except that the Qld police are public servants and are beholden to the current government. They will tell us that it is there role to police the law and not to pass judgement on the merits of the law.

………

Mikk, do you drive? Please tell me you don’t. Please!

You seem to have no idea at all about driving conservatively, about minimising risk factors and maximising safety margins, about what you might do when you suddenly encounter a difficult situation, or about what sort of driving is lawful or unlawful, or about real-world driving practices which are often significantly different to the letter of the law. In fact, you seem to be completely at a loss on this subject.

One has got to wonder why you have commented on this thread!

Mikk "To threaten someone or put them in danger with your 2 ton killing machine is reprehensible and people like hasbeen should be forced to be servants to cyclists maimed and crippled by fat idiots in their penis enhancers."

Thanks for that sentence Mikk (and oh so true!) as I just arrived home from a long day at work and needed a laugh : )

Ludwig, you are a lost cause on this subject and I doubt anyone will change your mind.
You need to take a chill pill when you are driving...and slow down!