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Lizanne Wilmot.jpg“Sydney is weird, there is a general hatred for cyclists”
A experienced competitive cyclist in Sydney has written an open letter to the city, saying its aggressive approach to cyclists has left her near breaking point.
Lizanne Wilmot, a UCI ranked track Sprinter, writes a blog about using a bike for ordinary journeys, but says ‘a series of incidents has broken my commuter spirit.’
She writes on her blog: “When I first started riding in Sydney 10 years ago, it was scary. Busses were my biggest concern, they seemed to pass with millimetres to spare. And cars, although careless and usually unaware of my presence, were not on a war path to see me off the streets.
“In the last 10 years, I have seen a lot of change. Numbers of cyclists have increased, cycleways have been built, new laws for my safety and protection have been put in place. But now, even more than never, I feel more vulnerable and fragile every time I ride.”
The cyclist, who doesn’t own a driving licence, but says she has learned the rules of the road, says that for her, cycling is a way to save money, get to places faster, and keep fit, but that “Sydney is weird, there is a general hatred for cyclists.”
She adds: “There seems to be a culture where everyone is that tightly wound and set in their ways, no one wants to give an inch of ground and the result is a simmering tension that is sitting at a rapid boil.”
She notes a few recent incidents that have given her a cause for so much concern.
In one, she said she was punched by a pedestrian as she passed him.
She wrote: “I stopped and angry said ‘you just f’en punched me! Why would you hit a girl?!!’ And he escalated it to how he would not respect me until I got a license and paid road tax.
“A few more expletives and he wished I would get hit by a car and die. It was a rapid escalation to a situation I needed to leave.
“This was a low point for me and cycling. As I sat on the side of the path in tears talking to the cops, not one person asked if I was OK.”
Another incident happened on a new commute to work.
She wrote: “One road in particular is uphill with a red light at the top. It is 1 lane, with cars parked on one side and a curb and gardens on the other. In the morning people are getting into said parked cars and flinging doors open.
“It is also not possible for me to ride in the door zone and a car pass me with 1m space. So, I take the lane. I do not do this to piss people off, I do this because I’m scared and I want to save myself from an accident.
“Then one day, this car was revving behind me. So I moved further into the lane to let them know I didn’t feel safe. At this point the car moved right inched closer, and hit me from behind while blasting me with the horn.
“It wasn’t enough to knock me off, but it was enough for me to wobble and move out of the way. 100m later at the red light I knocked on the window to ask ‘what gives’ I got a mouth full about how I always hold her up on her way to work and I needed to share the road and move out of the way. She said she wouldn’t have hit me if I shared the road.
“The cops were called again, they had a chat with her, and in the follow up I was advised that she was now aware of the law (although grumpy that she was at fault).”
The worst of all, though, was when she was hit by a truck.
She said: “I was cycling along one of the cycle friendly back streets bright clothing, reflectors, lights (and my bell) indicating I was turning right round a round about, when a truck failed to see me, I couldn’t stop fast enough, so I decked the bike and thank god, ended up between the wheels, under the truck.
“I saw the truck before the incident. I saw him slowing down, I though that was he saw me. In reality he was slowing for the turn, and was accelerating through the roundabout before he realized I was there. He said he didn’t see me.”
Just a week ago we reported how some residents of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, are selling their bikes and telling visitors not to cycle because “if it’s not the abuse from drivers it’s the fines” that make cycling too risky a prospect.
Fines for cyclists increased by up to 500% on 2 March, for misdemeanours such as not wearing a helmet (A$319), not carrying a bell (A$100), and ‘dangerous driving’ in a bid by Minister for Roads, Duncan Gay, to crack down on supposed dangerous cycling among anyone aged 12 and over.
Although the fines were, according to Gay, supposed to improve safety of people on bikes, academics believe it will make NSW the “worst state in the world” for cyclists.
One Sydney student who decided to sell her bike, said she couldn’t afford the risk of a fine, which would force her to choose between eating and paying up.
Natalie Synnott told ABC she preferred to ride on footpaths for safety reasons but was afraid of getting caught and fined, which would be a financial disaster for her: "I just know that I will get fined because I have terrible luck," she said.
"It would f*** me up... I actually live week to week. For the most part, I have $100 bucks a week to live and then the rest just goes to rent... I would just be f***ed".
Adrian Plius, a Sydney bar manager, sold his bike because he didn’t want to risk a $300-$500 fine for a 10 minute commute. He walks now instead.
He said: "A 10 minute ride has turned into a 40 minute walk so it definitely has changed my lifestyle.
“I don't mind walking but it is a bit sad not to have the option in a major international metropolitan city, to be scared to ride your bike for both financial and safety reasons”.
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65 comments
Great to hear from some people who have actually visited / lived in / cycled through Sydney. There's nothing like first hand experience to give a posting on an internet forum some validity.
I'm a Sydney sider born and bred (although been in London for 4 years now) and fortunately I hadn't caught the cycling bug whilst I was living there so can't comment first hand...however, I know exactly the attitude she is talking about. Sydney is an absolute powder keg of personalities. It's a very competitive 'alpha' culture (which can easily turn into aggression) combined with a high stress work and lifestyle environment like we get here in London. Trains are just as packed as the Tube, people work longer hours, rents are just as high, everything is expensive...beyond the weather and environment Sydney can really suck balls! Combine these things togethers and I can see the frustration being let out against whatever target is flavour of the month...which has been cycling for more than a few months now!
The really sad thing is the root cause of all this is bloody politicis. We had a very progressive Mayor of Sydney City (Clover Moore), who was also an independent MP in State Parlianment. She wanted to do all the good things you'd expect for a modern city, including green spaces, pedestrian areas, cycle infrastructure, etc. Up against her were State Government politicians (of both sides of politicis) who were hell bent on trying to get her out of the influential Sydney City mayoral position. What ensued was pure politics. Wrangling of funding and approvals, trying to hamstring the Mayor at every opportunity. Cycle infrastructure and laws were just one of the items on the political agenda they were trying to undermine her on. State government ministers effectively stoked the fire and ill informed citizens and talk back radio jocks added fuel to the fire. It's quite frankly ridiculous and I'm ashamed to be a New South Welshman.
To another readers comment though - all the above would make me fight even more.
The attack sounds like the guy was mentally ill or looking for trouble.
I'd avoid certain roads in Sydney especially the Highways and ended up using parallel roads.
The drivers are very defensive and drive too close at high speeds and I was nearly hit when a car drove into a KFC after losing control near Lindfield.
The U.K. has more infrastructure.
Sydney has a lot of mtb trail riders.
Brisbane is great for cycling.
I went to Sydney four years ago and, chatting to taxi drivers as you do, I realised that this place is like London was 20 years ago. The taxi drivers would say stuff like "they think they own the roads" and that cyclists were dangerous - all the usual redneck crap.
I'm really glad I dont live there but wish good luck to all those who persevere under the attacks!
Yawn... Oh, do excuse me, how rude. Yawn... I do apologise, I can't seem to stop them. Yawn... I think I need to go out and do something to get some air into my lungs. I know, I will go and ride my bike. Anyone else?
Funny.
Eventhough English isn't my first language I didn't have any problem whatsoever with understanding what "in her direction" meant.
I guess it's more about comprehension rather than linguistic perfection...
P.S.
1. I hope my grammar is ok...
2. Can we get a button with a big letter "D" for kicking out idiots from the forum?
I wouldn't give Willo the oxygen of a reply, he's just our current resident cycle hating troll, he'll get bored soon and crawl back to the daily mail.
@L.Willo
thanks for pointing out my spelling errors. I wrote this blog as a bit of a rant on friday afternoon. normally i only have a handful of people read it, so i didnt expect it to blow up like this.
first, yes i ride a fixie, you dont have to hate on us. I also ride a roadie, a cross bike, track, and a rather awesome vintage bike (check out my bikes section on my blog). On the day that i got punched i was riding my roadie with a rather loud free wheel. i also had a bell, and being from Canada i'm actually normally an over polite and patient girl.
what happened is i was coasting on the left side of the path. I was on the path because i was tired from a day voulenteeing as a lifesaver, so i dndt want to put any effort into riding on the road. the two guys i was approaching wer also on the left (their right walking towards me) there was also another bike riding in the corrct lane coming in my direction. i had to wait for him to pass before i could change lanes and pass the pedestrians. as i did this, one of the guys put his arm out, so i moved further, so he lunged and hit me.
yes i swore at him. wouldn't you if someone randomly hit you?
feel free to side with the pedestrians... but really who thinks it right to hit a girl. i dont care if i've sinned by riding a bike wanting to get home safely
Hi Lizanne,
Thank you for clearing up the confusion. In England, in my direction usually means in the same direction of travel, as in ... Dave asked the boss, "are you going in my direction this evening?", hoping to get a lift at least part of the way home ... I am sure you agree that in retrospect, "two guys walking towards me" would have been clearer in this context.
My original post which I stand by 100%:
Three unfortunate anecdotes is not evidence that the people of Sydney hates cyclists and I consider it irresponsible for a UK publication to misrepresent an entire city in this way based on one blog.
Far from condoning this alleged assault, I am the only poster who has explicitly and very strongly condemned the notion of a man raising his hand to a woman in anger. My subsequent posts reiterate this view. It is totally unacceptable.
As for what to do in such a horrible circumstance, my advice would be, don't waste time swearing at your assailant, ride as fast as you can to get away, then give a clear description to the police. A bloke who decides to punch a random woman without warning for no apparent reason (not that there can ever be a good reason, unless she is Rhonda Rousey on the warpath and you are Mr Muscle) is clearly not well in the head. Escalating the situation with a complete nutter wasn't smart IMO.
Thank you, I did check out your bicycles on your blog. You have a nice collection. Congratulations. I don't hate fixies. Riders of them in Central London tend to ride like absolute dicks but that isn't the bike's fault.
Your cycling has been rather unfortunate lately. I wish you an event-free cycling future.
Regards
(another) L.Willo
Hang on: is "L. Willo" actually a group of people all posting under the same username?
No.
I commuted in London and rode with a club at the weekends in the Surrey Hills for many years before moving to Sydney in 2011, where I've continued to commute (into the CBD and to Parramatta) and ride out into the National Parks at the weekends. I can safely say that Sydney is not a cycling friendly city - I can't keep count of the number of times I've been sworn at and close passed just for being on a bike.
Evidence of the general attitude can be found in negative editorials and comment pieces in Murdoch rags such as the Daily Telegraph, and in regular rants from shock jocks such as Alan Jones.
Err, no. If something is "travelling in my direction", then it's coming towards me. If Dave asked the boss "are you going in my direction this evening?", then the boss would say "Why would I drive my car at you, Dave?"
I guess what has happened is that someone else saw a brick flying in your direction, and shouted to you "there's a brick flying in your direction". This didn't cause you any alarm, as you don't understand English, and it hit you on the head. This left you very confused, and prone to writing ignorant rubbish on websites.
She's not after your advice. Nobody is. What is your major malfunction?
Pardon me for providing a full and clear response to Lizanne's direct question.
Actually, now that I think about it, your pardon is not required.
Love this site below the line! The only place in the English speaking world where "collides with" = "crashes into" and where when I am travelling south people travelling in my direction are unambiguously going north!
Amazing!
Oh for shit's sake. That was clearly a rhetorical question (that means you don't need to answer it).
Also, there's a difference between asking someone at the office if they're going in your direction on the way home (future tense), and saying walking in my direction (past tense), with the latter clearly indictating that they were coming towards her. Hence, a deliberate act by the bloke in question.
I think the only place that sounds worth going to in Australia is Tasmania. You've got crocs up North, rednecks in the middle and angry city dwellers everywhere else. Never been to Oz and have no intention of going there.
New Zealand on the other hand is amazing. The cycle infrastructure is improving no end.
I skimmed through the two pages of irrelevant and increasingly detailed focus on who had back brakes fitted, helmet mentions, etc, as if that stuff matters. No doubt there's some "house in order" talk along the way too.
I'm just back from a veeeery pleasant finnish city, where my friend's pals, parents etc, all use bikes to get around, though none of them would identify as cyclists, and none had any interest in the topic. That's success. They've got great infrastructure, and it's well-funded, doesn't seem contentious. I come back less eager to persuade my idiot countryfolk to change their ways, oddly - I don't want to be their face-against-the-wind rambler in an anorak against society, though I've become more of a one-issue voter I think.
Btw, I've discovered handlebar height correlates directly with quality of cycling infrastructure. Over there they are pedaling around in little mobile armchairs!
I actually felt my heartrate rise when I read this article.
I wish that we had a bit more of the "lagom" thing going on, either that or respect for each other.
If it's not on strava, it didn't happen
Given Australia produced 'Durianrider', I'm not surprised some of them hate cyclists.
I like that guy. Good fun, always travelling and trying new things. Gets inside new scenes and has a really grounded take on them.
He he surprisingly well rounded for a guy that's really off the hook. What's your issue with him by the way?
She says they were walking in her direction ... I took that to mean travelling in the same direction as her.
Granted, her command of spelling and grammar is so abysmal it is entirely possible that she does not know how to use the word "towards".
I also find it interesting that no one tried to help her and there is no information about whether or not the police took action.
So we only have her word that this happened at all and no other perspective, which renders this article utterly pointless.
But I guess it is a slow Sunday and road.cc need to print something to get the punters watching the adverts ....
Hang on, and Plasterers Radio calls *me* pompous???
Maybe if the Australian olympic cyclist choose to represent a different country it might have an impact.
@ L.Willo
Ignore anyone who says you should be silenced. I completely respect your right to be a cunt saying cuntish things.
Cheers. Much appreciated.
LOL.
Anecdote #274. I went to Australia and the hatred for cyclists expressed by your average bloke was striking. But it's not much better here.
Austrailia is so unionised that the average bloke is striking!
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