Ride to work

This week marked the 2011 ‘Ride to work’ day – an annual event that rightly promotes the benefits of using a bike to commute each day.
As always, the Queensland organisers did a great job in promoting a worthwhile activity and lifestyle.
For those people who ride a bike to work regularly, there are great health and financial benefits in pushing the pedals.
That said, there is a more serious side to bike riding – the risk that cyclists and drivers both face when sharing the road goes wrong.
In our motor vehicle practice, we regularly represent both cyclists and drivers who have been involved in a bike accident of some sort.
Despite the best efforts of road users, more than 40 Queenslanders have died while riding a bike in the past five years.
As cities grow, roads will only become more congested. Riding to work, and ride to work day, are great ways to alleviate that pressure. However, there is an obligation on all road users to look after each other.
It is crucial that cyclists and drivers alike treat each other with caution and respect on the road.
Luke Short,
Lawyer, Slater & Gordon