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Gee Crikey ...<br><br>
This following (and correct argument BTW) might stir some thought ...
hopefully useful thought .. given it seems BCC and MR (no longer sure
where QT stands or sits in relation to cyclists and motorists "Share
the Road" campaigns) is determined to build off-road paths and even
build bike lanes where arguably unnecessary ... in order to at least
imply that cyclists should comply with the following edict (and I quote)
"... responsible cycling is to use bike paths where possible and if
it’s not possible, to be extra careful on the roads ..." completely
ignoring the fact that cyclists are legitimate road users under
Australian road rules and in most cases, it is the motorist that is not
complying with the law aka ARRs.<br><br>
It is clear that pedestrians don't enjoy cyclists overtaking or coming in
the opposite direction at 20, 30 or 40 or more km/h ...far too close ...
yet "shared paths" by design, permit this. Clearly there should
be NO shared paths and footpath cycling should be banned ... as in most
of the rest of Oz or subject to a condition that places the onus on
cyclists.<br><br>
For Queensland, perhaps the solution is a "10km/h speed limit within
20m of a pedestrian on a shared or any other footpath" such that in
the event of an injury collision, the onus is on the cyclist ... so the
cyclist can try to explain how a collision occurred and could not be
avoided.<br>
<br>
MY...................<br><br>
Subject: Crikey today: "Footpaths are danger zones for
pedestrians"<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 13:45:03
+1000<br><br>
<br>
<font size=4 color="#000077"><b>15 . Footpaths are danger zones for
pedestrians<br>
</b></font><br>
<font size=4><i>Ava Hubble writes:</i><br>
</font><br>
<font size=4>It's<i> Walk to Work</i> and <i>Walk to School Day</i>
tomorrow and no doubt politicians will be out and about supporting the
enterprise.<br>
</font><br>
<font size=4>Yet the authorities have allowed Australia's footpaths to
become danger zones for pedestrians. Despite a law that prohibits anyone
over the age of 12 from riding a bike on a footpath, that law is
blatantly and increasingly flouted by many cyclists. Meanwhile, despite
this law, the chairman of the Pedestrian Council, Harold Scruby, reports
that local councils are converting more and more footpaths into
"shared pathways" for the use of cyclists and pedestrians. The
trouble is many cyclists seem to ignore the "Give way to
pedestrians" signs and proceed at speed, dodging and weaving along
shared pathways as though they were ahead and nearing the finish line in
the Tour de France. Scruby says that pedestrians are losing a sacred
right that dates back to Roman times: the right to the exclusive use of
the footpath.<br>
</font><br>
<font size=4>Despite the growing concern about the environment and
obesity, intolerant, menacing motorists are believed to have been
primarily responsible for the retreat by many cyclists from the roads to
the footpaths. Why, when it became obvious a decade or more ago, that
Australians were taking up cycling in huge numbers, was so
lixÍ!ȉóÿÿÿÿlZb ttle, apparently, done by the authorities to protect
cyclists from the intimidating, life-threatening behaviour of thuggish
drivers? As Scruby notes, the authorities can "spot an illegally
parked car from Mars". So why, given 21st-century
detection/deterrent techniques, did our politicians and bureaucrats fail
so miserably to ensure a fair go for cyclists on our roads?<br>
</font><br>
<font size=4>Now, of course, it's the pedestrians who are complaining
about being the victims of intimidating cyclists. There is plenty of
anecdotal evidence to suggest that all too often the reaction of cyclists
to shouted objections about their recklessness is an obscene gesture as
they ride off and/or a torrent of foul-mouthed abuse and calls for more
dedicated cycleways. Do steriods sometimes prompt this type of behaviour,
or is it possible that cycling clubs coach their members to show
aggression in an effort to discourage pedestrians from speaking up after
a frightening encounter?<br>
</font><br>
<font size=4>Meantime, although Scruby stresses that many cyclists do
behave well, he is continuing to campaign for the introduction of a
10km/h speed limit on bike paths. He also insists bike paths should be
separated from footpaths. In January he was reported in the <i>Port
Phillip Leader </i>as saying that councils have exposed themselves to
massive damages claims from people who are injured as a result of using
shared bike and pedestrians paths. It was also reported that this
assertion was supported by legal advice from leading Sydney law firm
Slater & Gordon, which also said the RTA could be sued as it was part
of the cycleway approval process.<br>
</font><br>
<font size=4>Scruby has put forward a plan that includes fines for
cyclists who speed and are otherwise guilty of negligent
cycling,xÍ!ȉóÿÿÿÿlZb as well as a comprehensive identification system
for cyclists and number plates for their bikes.<br>
</font><br>
<font size=4>One of the main complaints at present is that cyclists who
hit and run are often able to escape any redress or punishment because
they cannot be identified. They are not presently obliged to display any
kind of identification and because most do seem to comply with the
requirement to wear protective helmets (and sometimes goggles) it's
almost impossible to identify them.<br>
</font><br>
<font size=4><br>
<i>
<a href="http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/01/footpaths-are-danger-zones-for-pedestrians/#comment-39422">
http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/01/footpaths-are-danger-zones-for-pedestrians/#comment-39422</a>
<br>
</i></font><br>
<font size=4><i>SEE:
<a href="http://www.walk.com.au/pedestriancouncil/page.asp?pageid=3194">
http://www.walk.com.au/pedestriancouncil/page.asp?pageid=3194</a><br>
</i></font><br>
<font size=4><i>and <br>
</i></font><br>
<font size=4><i>
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15903157?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum">
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15903157?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultxÍ!ȉóÿÿÿÿlZb
ReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum</a><br>
</i></font><br>
<font size=4><i><br>
<b>1: </b>Annu Proc Assoc Adv Automot Med. 2008 Oct;52:215-23.<br>
<br>
</i></font><h2><b>Teaching young children to cross roads
safely.</b></h2><font size=4><i><br><br>
<b>
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Oxley%20J%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
Oxley J</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Congiu%20M%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>Congiu M</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Whelan%20M%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>Whelan M</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22D%27Elio%20A%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.PubmxÍ!ȉóÿÿÿÿlZb ed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>D'Elio A</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Charlton%20J%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>Charlton J</a></b>.<br><br>
Monash University Accident Research Centre, Melbourne,
Australia.<br><br>
Road safety education is considered essential to teach children to
interact with traffic safely. Many programs, however, do not consider the
separate component skills of the road-crossing task, the functional and
behavioural factors that may put some children at increased risk, and the
most beneficial methods to transfer knowledge to improved behaviour in
real-world environments. A targeted and practical training program using
a simulated road environment has been developed and evaluated amongst
primary school children using a randomised controlled trial. Significant
reductions in proportion of critically incorrect road-crossing responses
were found immediately after training (56%) and one-month post-training
(47%) by the case group compared with pre-training responses, and
relative to any changes in responses of the control group. The beneficial
effects were greater for younger children, females, children with less
well developed perceptual, attentional and cognitive skills, and those
with little traffic exposure. The effects of the training program on
other outcome measures (proportion of missed opportunity responses,
decision time and safety rating responses) were less clear but showed
some beneficial effects. This paper discusses the use of the simulated
training program, a novel and safe way, to improve road crossing
decisions. It is suggested that improvements can be made to child
pedestrian education by providing tailored and practical programs that
target the component skills of road-crossing decisions and improve
essential skills through intensive training and feedback on known risk
factors.<br><br>
<br><br>
<b>1: </b>Br J Educ Psychol. 1998 Dec;68 ( Pt 4):475-91.Links<br>
<br>
</i></font><h2><b>The effectiveness of parents in promoting the
development of road crossing skills in young
children.</b></h2><font size=4><i><br><br>
<b>
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Thomson%20JA%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
Thomson JA</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Ampofo-Boateng%20K%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>AmpxÍ!ȉóÿÿÿÿlZb ofo-Boateng K</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Lee%20DN%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>Lee DN</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Grieve%20R%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>Grieve R</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Pitcairn%20TK%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>Pitcairn TK</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Demetre%20JD%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>Demetre JD</a></b>.<br><br>
Department of Psychology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow,
Scotland.<br><br>
BACKGROUND: Young children show poor judgment when asked to select a safe
place to cross the road, frequently considering dangerous sites to be
safe. Correspondingly, child pedestrian accidents are over-represented at
such locations. Increasing the child's ability to recognise such dangers
is a central challenge for road safety education. AIMS: Practical
training methods have proved effective in improving such judgments but
are labour-intensive, time-consuming and therefore difficult to implement
on a realistic scale. The study examined the possibility that volunteers
from the local community might be capable of using such methods to
promote children's pedestrian competence. SAMPLE: Sixty children from the
Primary 1 (Reception) classes of three Glasgow schools took part.
Volunteers were ordinary parents from the same areas. None had 'formal'
experience of working with children other than through being parents.
METHOD: Volunteers rxÍ!ȉóÿÿÿÿlZb eceived experience of training children
at courses organised in each school. Children learned in small groups,
receiving two sessions of roadside training followed by four on a
table-top model. Pre- and post-tests allowed the effectiveness of
training to be assessed. RESULTS: Significant improvements relative to
controls were found in all children following training. Improvements
proved robust and no deterioration was observed two months after the
programme ended. Comparison with a previous study in which training was
undertaken by highly qualified staff showed that the volunteers were as
effective as 'expert' trainers. CONCLUSIONS: Parent volunteers can
significantly increase the pedestrian competence of children as young as
five years. They constitute a most valuable 'resource' in road safety
education. The opportunities afforded by involving the local community in
educational interventions should be further explored.<br><br>
<br>
<b>: </b>Am J Public Health. 2003
Sep;93(9):1456-63.<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/utils/fref.fcgi?PrId=3051&itool=AbstractPlus-def&uid=12948963&nlmid=1254074&db=pubmed&url=http://www.ajph.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=12948963">
<img src="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/corehtml/query/egifs/http:--highwire.stanford.edu-icons-externalservices-pubmed-standard-ajph_final_free.gif" width=120 height=28 alt="Click here to read">
</a>
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/utils/fref.fcgi?PrId=3494&itool=AbstractPlus-nondef&uid=12948963&nlmid=1254074&db=pubmed&url=http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=12948963">
<img src="http://wxÍ!ȉóÿÿÿÿlZb
ww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/corehtml/query/egifs/http:--www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov-corehtml-pmc-pmcgifs-pubmed-pmc.gif" alt="Click here to read">
</a> Links<br>
<br>
</i></font><h2><b>A review of evidence-based traffic engineering measures
designed to reduce pedestrian-motor vehicle
crashes.</b></h2><font size=4><i><br><br>
<b>
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Retting%20RA%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
Retting RA</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Ferguson%20SA%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>Ferguson SA</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22McCartt%20AT%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>McCartt AT</a></b>.<br><br>
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1005 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA
22201, USA.
<a href="mailto:rretting@iihs.org">rretting@iihs.org</a><br><br>
We provide a brief critical review and assessment of engineering
modifications to the built environment that can reduce the risk of
pedestrian injuries. In our review, we used the Transportation Research
Information Services database to conduct a search for studies on
engineering countermeasures documented in the scientific literature. We
classified countermeasures into 3 categories-speed control, separation of
pedestrians from vehicles, and measures that increase the visibility and
conspicuity of pedestrians. We determined the measures and settings with
the greatest potential for crash prevention. Our review, which emphasized
inclusion of studies with adequate methodological designs, showed that
modification of the built environment can substantially reduce the risk
of pedestrian-vehicle crashes.<br><br>
<br>
<b>: </b><a href="xÍ!.htm">Inj Control Saf Promot.</a> 2004
Dec;11(4):231-7.Links<br>
<br>
</i></font><h2><b>Community-based programmes to prevent pedestrian
injuries in children 0-14 years: a systematic
review.</b></h2><font size=4><i><br><br>
<b>
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Turner%20C%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
Turner C</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22McClure%20R%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>McClure R</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Nixon%20J%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.PubmedxÍ!ȉóÿÿÿÿlZb _DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>Nixon J</a></b>,
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Spinks%20A%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus">
<b>Spinks A</a></b>.<br><br>
School of Population Health, Mayne Medical School, University of
Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
<a href="mailto:C.turner@nursing.uq.edu.au">C.turner@nursing.uq.edu.au</a>
<br><br>
BACKGROUND: Community-based models for injury prevention have become an
accepted part of the overall injury control strategy. This systematic
review of the scientific literature examines the evidence for their
effectiveness in reducing pedestrian injury in children 0-14 years of
age. METHODS: A comprehensive search of the literature was performed
using the following study selection criteria: community-based
intervention study; target population was children under 14 years;
outcome measure is either pedestrian injury rates or observed child
pedestrian or vehicle driver behaviour; and use of a community control or
an historical control in the study design. Quality assessment and data
abstraction was guided by a standardized procedure and performed
independently by two authors. Data synthesis was in tabular and text form
with meta-analysis not being possible due to the discrepancy in methods
and measures between the studies. RESULTS: The review found four studies
that met all the inclusion criteria. The three studies using injury as
their outcome measure found a 12%, 45% and 54% reduction for all
childhood injuries with the fourth showing improved traffic control at
child pedestrian sites (9% reduction in traffic flow) and sustainable
community safety promotion activity. CONCLUSION: There is a paucity of
research studies in the literature from which evidence regarding the
effectiveness of community-based programmes for the prevention of
pedestrian injury in children can be drawn. However, the hypothesis
txÍ!ȉóÿÿÿÿlZb hat community-based interventions are effective in
reducing the incidence of childhood pedestrian injury would appear to be
supported, with the degree of success being cumulative depending on the
complexity of individual strategies employed.<br>
</i></font><br>
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