HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: drobinso@mendel.une.edu.au (D.Robinson)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Accident rates up 10% following compulsory helmet legislation?
Keywords: Accident statistics, NSW, cycle usage, compulsory helmets
Date: 27 Aug 92 10:50:39 GMT


At last, some figures have been published on cycle usage since helmet
legislation.  The Australian Cyclist quoted RTA data showing adult cyclists
have decreased 14%, with a collossal 36% decrease for children.

Yet, compared with the previous two years in NSW, deaths and serious injuries
to adults are down less than 5%   Allowing for the decrease in cycling
activity, this equates to 11% MORE deaths and serious injuries for adults,
and 10% MORE for children.  Actual deaths were 32% (i.e.~ 5) less than would 
have been expected from the previous 2 years, but compared with the total    
effect of an increase for deaths and serious injuries combined, this is hardly 
statistically significant.  Indeed, as the death rate for pedestrians 
fell by 33%, it was suggested that economic conditions have reduced the amount 
of driving.  This would make the increases in dangers for cyclists much more 
dramatic than the actual figure of 10% suggests.

So there, Rex, is the evidence.  Exactly as predicted.  An increase in
the accident rate per cyclist, and a decrease in cycling activity.  With the
prospect of things getting still worse, because, to quote the Aust. Cyclist 

"where we would hope to be gaining recruits to good transport habits,
it seems helmet legislation has cancelled interest in cycling".  

If fewer people take up cycling in the future, the situation WILL get worse and
"the Australian community will lose out on the much greater health benefits
and savings that can be made by promoting bicycle use".

So, "with a Federal Election looming, it is time for all cyclists and cycling
groups to apply pressure ... we need at least to insist on programs that will
make cycling so safe, economic and attractive it will boom in spite of the
helmet legislation".  I second that.  Get writing!  Your safety may well 
depend on it!

To the 86% and declining,
Happy cycling!
Dorothy
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: ednstras@kraken.itc.gu.edu.au (Michael Strasser)
Subject: Re: Attacked by magpie !!
Organization: ITC, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: 24 Aug 92 03:53:49 GMT

When I lived in Canberra and was attacked I would try to head-butt the
magpies with my helmet!  (Just enough to discourage them.)

-- 
Mike Strasser                       Internet: M.Strasser@edn.gu.edu.au.
Education Division                  Fidonet:  3:640/308.2@fidonet
Griffith University
Brisbane, Australia
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Attacked by magpie !!
From: news@massey.ac.nz (USENET News System)
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 92 02:35:34 GMT
Followup-To: aus.bicycle
Distribution: aus
Organization: SMIS, Massey University

allanc@cs.su.oz.au (Restless Wanderer) wrote:
> 
> I've used one of those silvery ferris wheel type kids toys,to deter a few
> obnoxious maggies.I had it from the show a few years back.
> When it spins the bird doesn't SEEM to have a clue what to do.
> It looks dumb,but works(from both front and rear.) The more speed the less
> the magpie wants to know it.

I have heard of success with this method.  There is a trail popular with
runners and Mt Bikers close to here that suffers from the magpie attack
problem in spring.  One runner that I talked to said that a flag in his cap
prevented attacks.  His theory was that they get confused/scared when there
isn't a familiar object like a head to aim for at the highest point.

--------------------------------------------------------
Phil Etheridge               P.Etheridge@massey.ac.nz
Macintosh Consultant         Phone: +64+6-356-9099 x8689
SMIS, Massey University      Fax:   +64+6-350-5611
Palmerston North, NZ         40*23'S 175*37'E,    GMT+12
From: anthony@cs.uq.oz.au (Anthony Lee)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Accident rates up 10% following compulsory helmet legislation?
Keywords: Accident statistics, NSW, cycle usage, compulsory helmets
Date: 29 Aug 92 00:39:12 GMT
Reply-To: anthony@cs.uq.oz.au

In <1734@grivel.une.edu.au> drobinso@mendel.une.edu.au (D.Robinson) writes:

:So, "with a Federal Election looming, it is time for all cyclists and cycling
:groups to apply pressure ... we need at least to insist on programs that will
:make cycling so safe, economic and attractive it will boom in spite of the
:helmet legislation".  I second that.  Get writing!  Your safety may well 
:depend on it!

:To the 86% and declining,
:Happy cycling!
:Dorothy

In today's Courier mail, Wagne Goss is promising big spending on
making new bike tracks to link existing ones.  I think we cyclists
have to tell them what bike tracks are best.  A lot of the so called bike
tracks is hard to get on, to dangerous to get off and full of pedestrians.

--
Anthony Lee (Time Lord Doctor) (These are my opinions !)
email: anthony@cs.uq.oz.au	voice:+(61)-7-3651204 FAX:+(61)-7-3651999
SNAIL: Department Computer Science, The University of Qld, 
       St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: sml@yarra-glen.aaii.oz.au (Steven Law)
Subject: Re: Touring shoes
Organization: Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute
Distribution: aus
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 01:45:08 GMT

malcolm@cs.su.oz.au (Malcolm Bjorn Gillies) writes:

>In article <1992Aug23.014802.11779@physiol.su.OZ.AU> john@physiol.su.OZ.AU (John Mackin) writes:
>>In article <ednstras.714268004@kraken>,
>>	ednstras@kraken.itc.gu.edu.au (Michael Strasser) writes:
>>
>>> Can anyone recommend some touring shoes?  I am referring to lightweight
>>> shoes with a shank in the sole that go well in standard rat-traps and can
>>> also be walked in comfortably.  They usually have some sort of half-cleat.
>>
>>The last pair of touring shoes I bought was made by Detto Pietro, the
>>same people who make full-on cleated shoes.  They were great.  They
>>were light and well-ventilated, with nylon uppers, a thin sole of
>>hard-ish rubber stuff, and a VERY solid steel shank inside the sole.
>>They even came in a good range of colours.
>>[...]

>The shoes I'm wearing right now are Sidi touring shoes. They have leather
>uppers (with lots of ventilation holes in them), a thin hard-rubber compound
>outer sole, and a very stiff leather sole inside. They're the most beautifully
>constructed pair of shoes I've ever owned (they're Italian), I bought them
>in 1987 for $99 and they're still going strong after regular use. The leather
>moulds nicely to the shape of your foot, and the grooves on the bottom (alas,
>now mostly worn off) grip both the pedal and the ground quite effectively - no
>cleat of any description however.

I'm wearing a pair of Nike touring shoes which are very comfortable, look like
ordinary runners, have a space for the pedal (no grooves), but I got them
in the States a couple of years ago and haven't seen them here.

I've had Madisons from the UK which were stiffer and had leather trim. I also
have a pair of Diadora which look like leather racing shoes. They fit like
a glove (on my foot?) but they have a few grooves for the pedal. For me
these grooves don't place my feet at the correct angle so I rarely wear these
shoes. Size 41. Make me an offer.

I've got some cleated shoes which I bought for the Oppy 24hr ride last year
and once they were set up, I felt the position was much better than with
the Diadora. I'll probably go SPD soon as I mostly mountain bike and tour.

Steve Law
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: john@physiol.su.OZ.AU (John Mackin)
Subject: Re: Touring shoes
Organization: Department of Physiology, University of Sydney, Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 01:48:02 GMT

In article <ednstras.714268004@kraken>,
	ednstras@kraken.itc.gu.edu.au (Michael Strasser) writes:

> Can anyone recommend some touring shoes?  I am referring to lightweight
> shoes with a shank in the sole that go well in standard rat-traps and can
> also be walked in comfortably.  They usually have some sort of half-cleat.

The last pair of touring shoes I bought was made by Detto Pietro, the
same people who make full-on cleated shoes.  They were great.  They
were light and well-ventilated, with nylon uppers, a thin sole of
hard-ish rubber stuff, and a VERY solid steel shank inside the sole.
They even came in a good range of colours.  They come in the European
sizes (you know, like 46, etc.) and I think quite large ones can be
had, although they might need to be ordered specially.  These don't
have a half-cleat: the sole bottom is flat, with little transverse
slots every cm or so, which provide both friction when walking and
a bit of a chance to stay put in the pedal.  I didn't have problems
with them staying in -- nor with them coming out: a good hard pull
would get my foot out no matter how tightly I'd done up the pedal.

-- 
John Mackin <john@civil.su.oz.au>
`It's a question of methods.  Everybody wants results, but nobody wants
 to do what's necessary to get the job done.'  -Harry Calahan
From: cagney@kanga.cs.adelaide.edu.au (Andrew Cagney - aka Noid)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Adelaide bike tracks
Date: 2 Sep 92 23:50:43 GMT
Reply-To: cagney@cs.adelaide.edu.au

From article <lcampbel.715304673@adelphi>, by lcampbel@physics.adelaide.edu.au (Laurence Campbell):
> anthony@cs.uq.oz.au (Anthony Lee) writes:
> 
> In Adelaide we have an excellent bicycle track along the river Torrens,
> almost continuous from the beach to the Hills, crossing the edge of the
> City centre.

Now now lets be honest, come February they will all covered with three corner
jacks :-)

					Andrew C
From: gareth@lucifer.latrobe.edu.au (Gareth Davies)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Attacked by magpie !!
Date: 24 Aug 92 04:07:16 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: La Trobe University

In article <TAJ.92Aug24100502@manta.dsto.gov.au> taj@manta.dsto.gov.au (Trevor Jackson) writes:
>
>I was out riding on the week-end, enjoying a pleasant ride when suddenly
>something hit me on the side of my head (side of my helmet actually). I quickly
>look around to who the offender was, only to see a magpie flying off. With one
>eye on the road, and the other looking over my shoulder, keeping an watch on
>the aggressive magpie, I cycled on. Approx, ten seconds later, the bird in
>question turned around and came in for another attack. This time I managed to
>duck out the way and avoid being hit.
>
>Has anyone else had a similar experience with aggressive  magpies (or other
>birds), 

I had one of these fellas attack me once, fastest I've ever ridden I reckon'...

Unfortunate thing about spring...

>and is there anything that can be done to deter aggressive birds from
>attacking inocent cyclists?

Dress up as a magpie?

Nasty critters when they're protecting their young...

Gareth.
-- 

gareth@lucifer.latrobe.edu.au
From: daavid@bohra.cpg.oz.au (Daavid Turnbull)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Accident rates up 10% following compulsory helmet legislation?
Date: 31 Aug 92 11:40:38 GMT
Organization: Computer Power Software

In article <1992Aug31.024014.25611@bilby.cs.uwa.edu.au> quinn@cs.uwa.edu.au (Quinn) writes:
> In article <10033@uqcspe.cs.uq.oz.au> Anthony Lee, anthony@cs.uq.oz.au
> writes:
>>A lot of the so called bike
>>tracks are hard to get on, to dangerous to get off and full of
> pedestrians.
>
> Yeah and when you do get on them you find your bike shaken to bits
> by the silly rubber separators between the concrete slabs.
>
> Damn the expense, bring back tarmac bike paths!!!
>
Ever tried to ride on a bitumen bike path at night? It does not have to be
very dark (and there are not many sections of bike paths that are lit!)
before it merges into the inky blackness,  illumination from one's headlamp
is absorbed into bitumen like a sponge.

White lines at the edge/middle of a bitumen path could go a long way in
addressing this issue.  White paths on the other hand do not suffer from the
same problem.  They require very little light to see where you are going
effectively, and obsticals on the path to be easily detected.  (Ever come
accross a shopping trolley on a dark corner of a bitumen path and you
will understand what am talking about.

Perhaps the trick is to have bitumen paths with three lanes marked. Shove
the pedestrians along the middle and give cyclists right of way either side.
Of course the pedestrians will not stick to the middle but they would have
a better chance of knowing where to go in order to get out of your way
when you yell out... in my experience, without such cues, they seem to
to have this uncanny knack of jumping directly into your path when you
make them aware of your presence.

About 75% of my route to work consists of bike path and its great.  The best
part of the journey by far.  There is not greater buzz than flying through
the mists on a cool winters morning listening to the ducks along the creek
and watching the sun come up.

As for the pedestrians/joggers I do not try and alert them to my presence
anymore, they are far more predictable moving objects if you do not.
Can scare the pants off them however as you whizz past at 30K... they
obvious do not hear a thing, with or without walkman.

;-)
-- 
	Daavid Turnbull
	daavid@bohra.cpg.oz   +61 3 823 0222    (fax) +61 3 824 8068
	uunet!munnari!bohra.cpg.oz!daavid
	CP Software Export Pty Ltd                   ACN 006 640 133
From: lcampbel@physics.adelaide.edu.au (Laurence Campbell)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Attacked by magpie !!
Date: 24 Aug 92 03:29:21 GMT
Distribution: aus

taj@manta.dsto.gov.au (Trevor Jackson) writes:

>Has anyone else had a similar experience with aggressive  magpies (or other
>birds), and is there anything that can be done to deter aggressive birds from
>attacking inocent cyclists?

I have been attacked in this way several times. Generally I heard the bird 
coming just before it struck, so it should be no problem if you can
identify the noise. I know of a case of a person walking where the magpie
landed and pecked her in the eye, so it can be dangerous.

I heard a segment on the Science Show several years ago in which it was
suggested that you can avoid attacks by painting large eyes on the back
of your helmet, as the birds do not attack a victim that is watching.
Of course, this could attract attention from drunks and hoons, which are
much more dangerous than magpies.

--
                 Dr Laurence Campbell  (lcampbel@physics.adelaide.edu.au)
                        Phone: (08) 228 5313   Fax: (08) 224 0464
From: gavina@otc.otca.oz (Gavin Abfalter)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Attacked by magpie !!
Date: 1 Sep 92 04:19:36 GMT
Distribution: aus

in article <TAJ.92Aug24100502@manta.dsto.gov.au>, taj@manta.dsto.gov.au (Trevor Jackson) says:
> Nntp-Posting-Host: manta.dsto.gov.au
> 
> 
> I was out riding on the week-end, enjoying a pleasant ride when suddenly
> something hit me on the side of my head (side of my helmet actually). I quickly
> look around to who the offender was, only to see a magpie flying off. With one
> 
> [stuff deleted]
> 
> Thanks
> 
> 
> Trevor J.

I remember having to put up with a few maggies every year at the north-western
end of the Levels campus of what was SAIT in Adelaide, when riding in from the
railway station at .... Green Fields, I think it was.

After a few near misses a friend told me his secret which I suppose is only
useful when you know where you are going to run into these little critters. He
and I used to have chains to lock our bikes up and all we had to do was whirl
the chain above our head as we rode along and the maggies tended to leave us
alone.

I never had any problems after that although my friend told me that he actually
did hit one on one occasion and although he didn't appear to do any damage the
bird didn't appear to happy about it!!!!

Does anybody know if these birds are still there??????

Gav. Abfalter
-- 
 Gavin Abfalter                  ACSnet:  gavina@otc.otca.oz.au
 Network Access                    UUCP:  {uunet,mcvax}!otc.otca.oz.au!gavina
 Systems Group R&D |||| OTC ||    Phone:  +61 2 2873198   Fax:  +61 2 2873299
From: fraser@munta.cs.mu.OZ.AU (Fraser Wilson)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Attacked by magpie !!
Date: 28 Aug 92 01:24:01 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: Computer Science, University of Melbourne, Australia

allanc@cs.su.oz.au (Restless Wanderer) writes:

>The only other successful method is a tennis racquet..... *

Do you carry it attached to the frame, or next to the front wheel?

:)

Fraser
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: Quinn <quinn@cs.uwa.edu.au>
Subject: Re: Accident rates up 10% following compulsory helmet legislation?
X-Xxdate: Fri, 4 Sep 92 02: 17:50 GMT
Organization: The University of Western Australia
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1.1d9
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 02:27:11 GMT

In article <mylene.715483502@swanee> Mylene Pijpers,
mylene@swanee.ee.uwa.edu.au writes:
>
>I think if YOU fools whizz towards a pedestrian at 30 K
>by the time you SEE the poor soul, get out of that awkward position
>the "real" bikeriders feel they should have (bent all over) to reach
>for that fashionable bell that only does 'p'ng', there is not much
>time, if any, left to pass them.

Hey I never said I was doing 30Ks!  I'd be lucky to make that
with a tailwind going downhill on a good day (-;

But pedestrians seeing you is not the problem.  If you're heading
towards a pedestrian most of them are pretty good and move to one
side of the path.  But it's coming up behind them that's the problem.
They hear the bell and don't know which way to jump.  It's generally
much easier to not ring the bell and just go around them at the
edge of the path.

And hey I DO have one of those "fashionable bells that only go ping"
but it's not my fault.  I used to ride without a bell (I always found
saying "EXCUSE ME" loudly worked better) but the police pulled me
over and, not finding anything else wrong with the bike (they didn't
look too hard, the brakes were RS at the time), read me the riot act
and told me to get a bell.  Pathetic really.

>Please, stick to those wonderful bitumen roads they make for 
>*fast* traffic, like cars, if you want to whizz at 30 K.

Believe me I'm rapidly coming to that opinion myself.  The problem
with modern cities is that there are all these wonderful roads for
cars and bugger all for cyclists.

Quinn "The Eskimo!"      <quinn@cs.uwa.edu.au>     "Support HAVOC!"
Department of Computer Science, The University of Western Australia
  -- Just a misunderstood cyclist.
From: s854109@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au (Nicholas Murray)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Touring shoes
Date: 28 Aug 92 00:21:34 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: RMIT Computer Centre, Melbourne Australia.

Ah, the joys of SPD. (Refer to my *earlier* posting, "Concerning how to make
a complete idiot out of yourself by forgetting to twist your foot out of the
pedal _before_ coming to a halt".)

I haven't fallen over since. 

On a less related note, Jenny (co-worker) was almost knocked over by a car
on her way to work today. She *did* manage to knock the guy's mirror off.
:-) :-) :-).



-- 
-Nick.                                 | There once was a lady called Bright
s854109@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au           | Who could travel faster than light
Ph. +61 3 282 3708 (bh)                | She set out one day/In a relative way
RunFluteProgramEatCoffeeJu-Jutsu&Cats  | And arrived home the previous night!
From: drobinso@mendel.une.edu.au (D.Robinson)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: RTA provides reply-paid consultation process for NSW - use it!
Keywords: RTA, NSW, Consultation process, transport planning
Date: 31 Aug 92 07:30:45 GMT


    Just a reminder that the RTA in NSW is in the process of consulting the 
public about "Road Transport Future Directions".  Copies of a reply paid 
postcard size questionnaire are available from RTA offices, or by phoning 
toll free 008 805 715.
     It includes various options matching prices as closely as possible to
total economic costs (including economic costs).
     Replies are due in by 11th Sept.  If you haven't sent one in yet -
why not do so?  It will cost you nothing.  You can bet all the motoring
organisations and lobbies will encourage their membership to do so.  Let's
at least get some input from cyclists as well!
     Dorothy.
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
From: mpulver@research.canon.oz.au (Mark Pulver)
Subject: Re: Touring shoes
Organization: Canon Information Systems Research Australia
Distribution: aus
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1992 05:54:29 GMT


I noticed in Adelaide before I moved to Sydney that it was getting hard
to find touring shoes, most stores felt that the moutain bike store
are good enough,  but if you look around you should find some.

Personally I've just started using the Shamino SPD system. I'm using
the road pedals (on my road bike) and the M050 Mountain bike shoes.  I
uses these shoes on my mountain bike with normal toe straps without
any problem, and my girl friend is also using these shoes as touring
shoes (no cleats).  I convince her to buy these in case she decided
to go for strapless pedals, our bikes would be compatable.

I had no problems walking in these shoes, I have not found them to hot,
but its not summer yet.

No more clicking sounds when I walk.

And touring with only one pair of shoes.

Mark
From: taj@manta.dsto.gov.au (Trevor Jackson)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Attacked by magpie !!
Date: 24 Aug 92 00:35:02 GMT
Distribution: aus
Organization: /home/manta/dt/taj/.organization


I was out riding on the week-end, enjoying a pleasant ride when suddenly
something hit me on the side of my head (side of my helmet actually). I quickly
look around to who the offender was, only to see a magpie flying off. With one
eye on the road, and the other looking over my shoulder, keeping an watch on
the aggressive magpie, I cycled on. Approx, ten seconds later, the bird in
question turned around and came in for another attack. This time I managed to
duck out the way and avoid being hit.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with aggressive  magpies (or other
birds), and is there anything that can be done to deter aggressive birds from
attacking inocent cyclists?


Thanks


Trevor J.
From: allanc@cs.su.oz.au (Restless Wanderer)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Attacked by magpie !!
Date: 27 Aug 92 06:08:34 GMT
Reply-To: allanc@cluster.cs.su.oz (Restless Wanderer)
Distribution: aus
Organization: Basser Dept of Computer Science, University of Sydney, Australia

I've used one of those silvery ferris wheel type kids toys,to deter a few
obnoxious maggies.I had it from the show a few years back.
When it spins the bird doesn't SEEM to have a clue what to do.
It looks dumb,but works(from both front and rear.) The more speed the less
the magpie wants to know it.
The only other successful method is a tennis racquet..... *


* I do not use this and do not advocate this force,but friends tell me
that a small hit with the strings tends to keep the blighters at bay.
From: lcampbel@physics.adelaide.edu.au (Laurence Campbell)
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
Subject: Re: Excellent bicycle paths...
Keywords: Accident statistics, NSW, cycle usage, compulsory helmets
Date: 2 Sep 92 00:01:28 GMT

jday@spam.ua.oz (Jemery Day) writes:

>Dogs and pedestrians can be a problem, but I think they are
>comparatively minor. As a commuting facility, the track is hopeless -
 
I have commuted from the Western suburbs into the City for 15 years, and
have progressively switched to the Linear Park track as it became available.
This morning the 10-km trip took 28 minutes, compared to 25 minutes for my
average time when I made most of the trip by road. I think three minutes
extra each day is a reasonable price to see trees instead of houses, hear
birds instead of trucks and to avoid yobbos (99.9% of whom are male) in cars.
I had one comparatively minor attack by an unleashed dog, under the non-control
of a person whose sex I will not disclose, to avoid further accusations of
sexism.  

--
                 Dr Laurence Campbell  (lcampbel@physics.adelaide.edu.au)
                        Phone: (08) 228 5313   Fax: (08) 224 0464
Newsgroups: aus.archives,aus.general