[Greens-Media] One year of inaction on bike blackspot ends with cyclist in hospital

[Guthrie, Shane]

One year of inaction on bike blackspot ends with cyclist in hospital 
Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, Lynn MacLaren MLC. 23 May 2013.

More than one year after warning Transport Minister Troy Buswell to fix a Perth cycling blackspot, a cyclist has been hospitalised after a crash at the very same site.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam developed the bike blackspot smartphone app used to report the site to Minister Buswell. 

"Cyclist Travis Dean told the Minister in writing that this cycling blind-spot needed mirrors on May 3rd last year.  Today there are still no mirrors and he broke bones in a front-on collision with another cyclist," said Senator Ludlam.

"More than one year ago Mr Dean did the right thing by the community by raising the alarm about this hazard, but the State Government has failed the community with its inaction on cycling infrastructure and safety."

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren asked Minister Buswell why the Perth Bike Plan has gone missing from the government's agenda. 

"Cycling is attracting more and more people who are frustrated with congestion and seeking a more healthy lifestyle. It's a cruel irony that they find themselves at great risk due to poor maintenance of infrastructure.

"Today I am asking the Transport Minister serious questions over his performance. Where is the final version of the Perth Bike Plan? The government has been languishing on it for over a year now."


Mr Dean is available for comment and photographs.

The bike blackspot app: http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/bike-blackspot


Contacts:
 
For Scott Ludlam and Travis Dean: Giovanni Torre - 0417 174 302
For Lynn MacLaren: Shane Guthrie - 0428 207 007