Why are police turning a blind eye to cycling safety?
On Saturday night a young man came off his e-bike on Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay (see p4) and has since tragically passed away. I have watched in amazement as police absolutely refuse to do their jobs in regard to cycling safety in this town.
It is more common to see riders without helmets than it is to see someone wearing one, that goes for both children and adults alike. With e-bikes now more common we see riders on the roads going much faster than they should be, we have often driven alongside riders doing 50km/hr, I have anecdotal knowledge of riders doing as much as 80km/hr on a modified bike. No helmet, no lights (even at night), on their phone, on the wrong side of the road, weaving in and out, texting away, and as many as three on one bike.
I have personally witnessed police completely ignore such dangerous cycling, overtake the rider, and continue on their merry way. I was stunned just a couple of weeks ago to see three girls under ten years old on a single e-bike on busy Ewingsdale Road at dusk, it is terrifying to observe. How can the police turn a blind eye? More than I, they would have first-hand knowledge of the impacts of severe head trauma and other injuries which can occur when something goes wrong.
As residents we have stopped into the station to discuss this with the local police, we have posted about it on all the social pages, we have contacted ministers, local members and the council, to no avail, we are treated like ‘Henny Penny’s’ for raising the issue and the deaths and injuries mount up. What will it take? If not this young man’s life… who’s? Are they waiting for the three little girls under ten to all be killed at peak hour in front of the police station before they act? I implore you, police, please do something about this issue before it gets to that point. Rest in peace to the beautiful young man who lost his life this week, and my heart goes out to his family and friends.
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