This week the Adelaide cycling community experienced the death (via the media) of one of its own. Simon Whitley, a 47-year-old husband and father of two, tragically died on his way to work. His death was as unavoidable as it was horrific, but it has happened and his family is now left to try and pick up their shattered lives.

One of the most awful situations that any family must deal with has been exacerbated by some of the “vitriolic comments” that have been allowed to remain on the website of another media outlet, which shall not have the satisfaction of its name appearing here:

mike of adelaide Posted at 8:13 AM April 14, 2010

I am beginning to think that hardcore cyclists are becoming as a big nuisance to Adelaide residents as hoon drivers.

Paul of Adelaide Posted at 8:34 AM April 14, 2010

I’ve got an idea, use the bike lanes provided instead of blocking entire roads during peak hour, forcing people to drive at lycra clad poncing speed while they are trying to get to work!

James C of magill Posted at 8:54 AM April 14, 2010

Cyclists need get a grip. Many don’t follow road rules and think they are super man. Fines should rise hugely for non compliance to road rules and kids should have bikes confiscated for breaking them. We all see kids riding without helmets, riding 2&3 abreast, with dark clothes, no lights, racing through traffic and with ear phones. At every intersection and driveway cars cross the bike lane, yet cyclists think they can race down it unimpeded and can suddenly find a car bonnet crossing their path with meters to stop and the driver unable to see them coming. I’m sorry for families in grief, but before cyclists blame drivers look at their group.

CYCLISTS ARE THE CANCER OF THE ROADS of ADELAIDEPosted at 2:14 PM April 14, 2010

Pay a yearly road registration fee like all motorists (motorbikes,cars,trucks) and then demand rights on the road. You already ride on them like you own them so how about paying for the privelage.

Barx Posted at 8:22 AM April 12, 2010

What can be done to improve the safety of cyclists on our roads? How about they stay off them, particularly when busy roads are busiest ie peak hour.

Alan Fields Posted at 12:28 PM April 12, 2010

…Who pays road tax? who pays tax on petrol? who supports the economy with all the other costs of running a car? As far as being environmentally friendly, the disruption to the traffic probably caused far more pollution than was saved, and if this is done for health reasons, why should so many be inconvenienced for the sake of one health nut?

From:

In a sense I am glad that the comments have been allowed to remain, because it shows one thing to be true: there on the pages of that website are the same words that cyclists everywhere hear every time they get on their bike, or dare to make a comment out loud about the poor behaviour they experienced on their latest ride.

I am in the process of teaching my three daughters (aged 8, 7 and 4) how to ride and how to ride safely on the road and it scares the living daylights out of me that they are one day going to have to deal with this level of abuse when they ride. It is one thing to have to deal with stupidity. It is quite another to try and anticipate vindictive, random acts of violence. How do you teach that to a young child? More to the point, why should I need to be thinking about that eventuality?

Recently I had an altercation with a car driver when I asked him to move his car, which he had stopped in traffic over gigantic words painted on the bitumen that said “Keep Clear”. The purpose of the marking is so that cyclists and pedestrians can both cross safely on a section of road that is often clogged with larger vehicles (ie cars) because of a train crossing. The driver took offence to my suggestion that he should not have stopped his car in that place, got out and pushed me over.

I did not report this to the police and I did not tell my children about the incident. The former decision was made because I perceived that the potential outcome would not have been worth the investment of my time and energy for what, in reality, was a relatively minor assault. The latter decision was made because I do not want my kids fearing the ride. I do not want my girls stressing over whether or not their dad is OK.

The biggest reason for me not to tell my kids about this type of behaviour is a hope that I carry that things can change.

On Saturday morning there will be a ‘Ride of Respect’ that will leave from the corner of Cross Rd and Anzac Hwy at Plympton Park, where Simon died. Every cyclist in Adelaide is invited to join in a slow completion of Simon’s ride to Glenelg, where we will part ways. We will be meeting at 7.30am, with bike lights on and (if you wish) a black armband. Please bring your bike and join us in showing our respects for one of you who, as the motorcycling community would say, has ‘ridden on’.