COMMENT:
Speed camera vehicles blocking bike lanes were once a common problem for riders, who had to swerve out into traffic lanes to avoid them.
While it was legal for operators to park in a bike lane, they should have only ever done so after conducting a risk assessment.
And any risk assessment would instantly have concluded that there was risk to the safety of people on bikes.
Once this was understood by the safety camera authorities, after some prodding by Bicycle Network, the problem seemed to recede.
Then suddenly, in Dorset Road, Croydon, an outer Melbourne suburb, the cameras were back.
Looking like a camper Elon Musk would tow behind his Cybertruck, a new speed camera trailer was perched in the bike lane of a multi lane high-speed arterial road, forcing riders into the uphill traffic stream to get around it.
The presence of the object was ostensibly to test a new type of unmanned camera vehicle, one that could be left unattended and built to withstand gunfire and the sharp teeth of angry drivers channeling their inner three-year-old.
This bike lane was a particularly bad choice of location as it is the only area in which the very long Dorset Road has bike lanes – on the approaches to the Dandenong Creel Trail, from both directions. These lanes do honourable duty getting riders up and back from the trail.
One the other hand it could have been a good choice for speed camera as traffic constantly exceeds the speed limit on the approach to the creek, putting pedestrians, riders, and passengers in vehicles at risk.
The trailer was part of a trial by the Department of Justice and Serco, the massive multinational services operator.
Both should have known better.
There are few people in the community who better understand the threat that speeding motor vehicles pose to life and limb than bike riders.
We support speed compliance and the use speed safety cameras to achieve it: the more cameras the better.
But first, take a look at the street your operators are putting them in. If there is a lane with at least six bicycle symbols ahead of you, as there is in this case, then this is probably not the best location.
Or become our friend and subscribe to receive our fortnightly newsletter.