News Archive

Craig Pennell had more than 20 bones broken when he was hit by a car while cycling last October.

The first thing he did from his hospital bed, when was out of the high dependency unit, was to start a lobby group, Cycle Safe WA.

Associate Professor Pennell, from the School of Women's and Infants' Health, is appalled at how dangerous it is for cyclists on Perth roads.

He rides in an elite Masters team, recently representing Australia in the Masters World Championships in Italy. "I'm serious about making the roads safer for all the 400,00 people who cycle in Perth every week, not just the lycra-clad brigade, but the commuters and the kids as well," he said.

"I am one of a group of 50 who train under the same coach, and three of us were hit by cars last year. We are experienced cyclists who don't put ourselves at risk but I have been hit by cars three times."

Cycle Safe WA's first aim is to get enacted a road law about leaving space between a car and a bike. "Western Australia has this law on its books, but it is not enforced and we are working with politicians for systemic change, starting with enforcing a one or 1.5 metre distance between cars and bikes on the road," he said.

Professor Pennell said he was working with Police Minister Liza Harvey and that MLC Donna Faragher was very supportive, as was the RAC.

He and his group are aiming for 6,000 signatures on a petition to the State Upper House to put the law into practice.

His elite cycling group is trialling a miniature camera, installed in a bicycle's tail light, so drivers who act aggressively towards cyclists can be recorded. "On the first morning we tried them; two drivers tried to run some of the cyclists off the road, and were caught on film."

He said Monash University's bicycle injury research group had found that in 90 per cent of car vs bike accidents, the driver was solely at fault and it was almost always because the driver had not seen the cyclist.

"In only 10 per cent of car vs bike collisions, it is the cyclist's fault, and it's usually because of stupid careless cyclists riding without lights at night or going through red lights.

"For every bad driver, there are cyclists who are not doing the right thing.  This campaign is not about blame; it's about shared roads and shared responsibility."

Cycle Safe WA is also hoping to develop a smart phone app to make it easier for cyclists to report accidents. "Most cyclists don't report accidents, so we don't have good accident data. We are working with Bicycling Western Australia on this. Comprehensive data from cyclists would help local councils to identify black spots and do something to improve them."

Professor Pennell said cycling in Europe was a joy. "You always feel safe, outside of the big cities," he said. "There are always dedicated bike and taxi lanes and drivers respect you and give you space.

"When they beep their horns, it is to let you know that they are passing...not to tell you to get off the road!"

To sign the petition and to read more about cycling safety in Perth, go to

https://www.cyclesafewa.com.au/petition/