Page 4065 - Week 13 - Thursday, 10 November 1994
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MR LAMONT: Are we finished?
Mr Stevenson: It depends on what you are going to say.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mr Stevenson!
MR LAMONT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. The situation is that cyclists are required to exercise caution in any built-up area. There is a provision in relation to riding within 20 metres of a shopfront, I am informed. The question has been canvassed to some extent in the small-wheeled transport strategy specifically - - -
Mr Moore: When you are riding little bikes.
Mr De Domenico: I do that all the time.
MR LAMONT: When you are riding little bikes, or littler bikes. It is of considerable concern, particularly to our older citizens who are unable to get out of the road or to protect themselves with the same type of agility as a younger person. I will provide for you to provide to your constituent, Mr Stevenson, a copy of the requirements. I will alert my colleague Mr Connolly particularly, with reference to the police. I think you were referring to Dickson.
Mr Stevenson: Particularly, yes.
MR LAMONT: We will alert them to take a specific look at Dickson again. I know that it has been looked at, as Mr Connolly indicates, because of previous matters that I have raised with him. It is an area they have specifically targeted. You will also note that the police have their pushbike patrol. One of the reasons for that is to assist them in providing advice to cyclists about how they should behave. The question goes wider. It is not, as I have said, just the question of cyclists. It is a question about all small-wheeled transport in those built-up areas. As you would be aware, I have provided for public comment a very comprehensive document outlining a range of strategies that we consulted with the public about.
I am the last one to suggest that there should be necessarily a prohibition on the use of small-wheeled transport and/or cycles in those built-up areas, but it is one of the options that is canvassed. It has received strong support, particularly from organisations and individuals associated with the seniors clubs, seniors organisations, in the ACT. Obviously, we have to take into account their protection as well as the rights of individual people to use in-line skates or skateboards, or to be able to cycle in those built-up areas.
There has been a suggestion - one that I am particularly attracted to - that in some areas like the Dickson shops there be a total prohibition. You would not be able to ride a bicycle, you would not be able to use in-line skates and you would not be able to use a skateboard within the shopping precinct. That is a fairly well-defined mall-type area. I would be reluctant to see that extended to, say, the city area, which is much more open.
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