So from what I can quickly digest, there's two main changes in this package:
- the fines for cyclists breaking certain laws have been increased, including the requirement to carry a licence
- minimum passing distances between bicycles and cars have been introduced.
The pairing of the changes will give the government a chance to say the package offers some quid pro quo. However, I reckon the passing laws will only be enforced where there is a non-fatal accident ie the police will now have an additional tool to charge a driver with. However, that doesn't help the cyclist if it was a fatal accident. But that's the way law enforcement works in Australia - it's more about having tools to penalise people ex post, rather than serving to modify behaviour ex ante.
On the equalising of fines, being brought into line with those imposed on drivers makes it a bit hard to complain against them. But I'm against the one on carrying a licence however, as I will regularly switch between bike and car over the course of a weekend. If I forget to take the licence from one vehicle to another (bearing in mind I'd prefer to ride and sometimes drive carrying minimal gear) I'm potentially up for $106??!! It was introduced to end the situations where a cyclist gives false information to police in the event of an accident, but there are already laws against this.
Alan Jones and Harold Scrubby have too much power.