HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Subject Index
House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-10-27 Daily Xml
Contents
Pdf Xml

Cycling Citizens' Jury

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister provide more detail to the house about the public consultation process that occurred before the introduction of the new cycling laws?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning, Minister Assisting the Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:35): I thank the member for Colton for his very topical question. I know he has a keen interest in the safety of all road users, particularly cyclists.

Members would be aware that the government announced in January it would implement minimum distances for motorists passing cyclists and allow more cyclists to ride on footpaths. Members would also be aware, following this announcement, that in March over 1,500 submissions were received from members of the public and from stakeholders regarding these and other recommendations of the citizens' jury. Of course, it is also worth putting on the parliamentary record that not one was received from the opposition. However, many residents across the state made a submission to the consultation process.

These submissions were received through a variety of means—via an online feedback form and via letters and emails. The consultation process was promoted through a departmental media release, issued on 3 March this year; a ministerial press release, issued by me on 19 March this year; letters out to individual stakeholders and organisations; extensive social media campaigns (including on the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure's social media portals); an email announcement out to departments and all public servants; SA government YourSAy community engagement consultation processes; and, also, through organisations who have a keen interest in this, including Disability SA, the National Heart Foundation, Bike SA social media portals, the Motor Accident Commission, the Amy Gillett Foundation and, of course, the department's Transport Accessibility Advisory Group.

Accompanying all of these invitations was a fact sheet outlining the current relevant road rules, proposed regulatory amendments, Q&As and feedback mechanisms. The feedback was supportive. Ian, from the Dunstan electorate, said he agrees with allowing cyclists on footpaths because 'there are times when the roads are too unsafe'. He also thought that the metre rule is 'an excellent rule'. Tom, from the electorate of Adelaide, said he 'fully supports' the new laws and he went so far as to say a cyclist should be 'forced to use a footpath for a short distance as it is dangerous to be on a very busy road. It is necessary and it is safer.' Of course, these are but two of the more than 1,500 submissions, over 70 per cent of which were supportive of the two measures I referred to earlier.

Statistics were critical in helping advise the citizens' jury and inform consultation respondents, and the statistics are sobering. The Motor Accident Commission provides data that between 2010 and 2014 there were 366 reported crashes where cyclists were either killed or injured. Since 2005, 38 cyclists have been killed on our roads (three of them this year) and every year about 70 cyclists are seriously injured. It is incidents like these, and many others, that prompted the citizens' jury to consider what we can do to make everyone safer when sharing our roads.

It is what prompted this government to take action and introduce these measures to provide safe alternatives for cyclists. We have seen them successfully implemented in Queensland, with cycling on footpaths also allowed in this and three other jurisdictions. It is why this government undertook public consultation on those changes (and we have had groups such as the RAA and the centre for automotive studies support these recommendations) and it is why we are embarking on an education campaign to help the public understand these changes.

These sorts of changes are always controversial. Nearly every South Australian uses our roads, and changes to how we interact with each other on our roads are always controversial, but we should be clear this is about improving safety, and I would hope that the progress we have made in recent years in reducing injuries and deaths on our roads is further assisted by these two changes.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for Kavel, Stuart and Hammond and I call the Treasurer to order for such loud private conversation as to impede the Speaker's hearing the minister's answer. Deputy leader.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT