Commenting on the story: Has increasing cyclist safety increased driver road rage?

As a cyclist I’ve noticed many drivers that not only don’t try to give you a wide berth, they actually get closer to you to freak you out or run you off the road.

It happened yesterday on the Goolwa to Middleton Road, a local tradie in a van was third in line of three cars overtaking me. The first two went wide, he swerved in at the last second and missed me by about 5cm. I’m thinking of getting a GoPro and reporting future occurrences directly to police. – Darren Porter

I have taken to having two GoPro cameras due to the increasing aggression. I have submitted 30+ cyclist complaints on the Queensland police link. Two of these involved me being clipped by cars. Of the 30ish, two resulted in fines (not the two that hit me). Most have never been followed up.

I complained twice to the minister and still no action. The law is only as good as the enforcement. Vision showing a car making contact got the driver a warning. The police officer said he would not do anything else unless I was knocked off.

There is a lack of concern for how easy it is to kill a cyclist. If the police witnessed someone run a red light they would fine them. Clear footage of drivers putting lives at risk results in silence or a verbal warning on the phone. It is perplexing. – Kerry Hebberd

I fully support safer riding conditions for cyclists; indeed, they are legitimate users of the roads.

However, there needs to be consideration on both sides of this question. Many drivers are aggressive because the cyclists are also inconsiderate, on occasion.

In Adelaide there is a culture of riding in groups, especially through the Adelaide Hills. This is a wonderful healthy pastime for people. They create a problem though. Many of the roads they ride on are narrow, and steep, hence they are very slow.

Drivers, for the most part, will be considerate and wait for an opportunity to pass, but there are definitely times when the riders are deliberately blocking the cars from passing, even when it would be safe. This causes aggressive behaviour, from both the drivers and riders.

To suggest that a cycling culture can be established in Australia is a little far-fetched. A large percentage of the population are baby boomers, many of whom no longer work. They’re not going to the doctor’s office or shopping on a bike. Neither are a large number of people going to ride to work in hot or wet weather, especially since there are no facilities to accommodate large numbers of cyclists in office buildings in the CBD for example.

This article was a simplistic statement about how people feel on the roads without putting those feelings into a contextual explanation. Perhaps the full study is better, but I suspect it may not be. – Bob Sibson

Commenting on the story: SA heritage revamps and smaller scale architectural interventions

Thank you Stephanie for your enlightening architecture articles. It is all too easy to do the daily commute and sit in an office taking in the same view every day. 

Your articles are eye-opening and inspire readers to get out and see some of these wonderful changes that are enriching our environment. – Roger Coats

Amazing to think Futuro landed in Melbourne Street, North Adelaide all those years ago before its flight down south. – Richard Colley

Commenting on the story: Stout in a can to fuel Coopers winter surge

Coopers extra stout. Always a winter favourite either straight or as a porter gaff after golf or a winter long walk. – Donald Howell