[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Bike licensing not the answer to making NSW roads safer: Greens MP (Greens NSW Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC)

[Mehreen Faruqi]

Media Release
2.05.14
Bike licensing not the answer to making NSW roads safer: Greens MP
Greens NSW MP and Transport spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC has criticised Roads Minister Duncan Gay's suggestion of introducing a bike licensing scheme.

Dr Faruqi said: "This is simply a thought bubble from the Roads Minister, which distracts from the primary solution for making our roads safer for cyclists: a comprehensive bicycle infrastructure strategy for New South Wales.

"A bicycle registration scheme would be costly, difficult to enforce, and enormously damaging to accessibility.

"There's no evidence that bike licensing schemes help in reducing accidents and tragic deaths. In fact, in places like Los Angeles and Switzerland they have been abolished a short time after being introduced.

"We should be encouraging people to choose sustainable and healthy forms of transport, not discouraging it.

"In NSW, we need to improve infrastructure, raise awareness of the rights and responsibilities of sharing roads, and also introduce laws that improve safety and protect cyclists.

"Greens MP Jamie Parker has a bill ready and waiting for the government to pass to ensure drivers leave at least one metre when overtaking cyclists."

Media contact: Matt Hilton 0423 106 247

More information: 'Duncan Gay considers licence for cyclists, bans from certain roads': http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/duncan-gay-considers-licence-for-cyclists-bans-from-certain-roads-20140502-zr2zf.html


Website: http://www.mehreenfaruqi.org.au/bike-licensing-not-the-answer-to-making-nsw-roads-safer-greens-mp/
Matt Hilton
Legislative, Policy and Media Adviser

Office of Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC
Legislative Council | NSW Parliament
E: matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au<mailto:matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au>
P: (02) 9230 2625 | M: +61423106247|F: facebook.com/mehreenfaruqi | T: @MehreenFaruqi | W: mehreenfaruqi.org.au
Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

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