On a dim morning in Perth, UpRider Jeremy watched an unregistered vehicle plough through an intersection without hesitation, despite having every opportunity to stop. Jeremy caught the incident on camera, and has plenty to say about why the system makes it harder than it should be to do anything about it.
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Every UpRider has a story. Here is Jeremy’s.
What happened prior to this incident and why do you record your ride?
It was a dim morning with fairly thick traffic that wasn’t moving particularly fast. The vehicle in question could have easily stopped but instead ploughed straight through, despite me trying to cross. Nobody drives like that further up the road where there is a camera at the South Street intersection. If people feel like they can get away with it, they will. Lack of action grants permission.
The vehicle wasn’t even registered. I record my rides to ensure there is accountability when it’s needed.
When do you feel most vulnerable as a cyclist?
Friday afternoons. Everyone is in a rush to get home, to the pub, or away for the weekend, not concentrating on the journey, just the destination. As one driver yelled at me after I called him out for ignoring a red turning arrow: “I don’t look at those, I’m f**king tired.”
What do you think are the most important things that can be done to improve safety for cyclists on the road?
Good data being fed back to local councils and law enforcement. The Cycliq cameras combined with the UpRide website provide excellent tools for exactly that.
Did you report your incident? What was the reporting process?
In WA the only platform available is Report a Hoon through WA Police. It works reasonably well because it assumes the reporter is an observer rather than a participant.
What I have discovered, however, is that reporting an incident as a cyclist is impossibly confusing, the system is built around the assumption that the reporter is driving a car. That needs to change.
What is your advice for other cyclists?
Gear up! lights, mirrors, and cameras. And don’t be afraid to communicate with your local council. You might be surprised, they might actually improve things.
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