Cyclists should be allowed to cycle on footpaths regardless of their age, an independent review commissioned by the Victorian government has found.
The report also suggested tougher penalties, including on-the-spot fines, for cyclists who used mobile phones while riding.
The review, undertaken by VicRoads to help understand barriers faced by cyclists or people wishing to take up cycling, was based on 10,450 Victorian responses to an online survey, a literature review and an analysis of crash statistics.
The review highlighted many road rules, such as those around footpath use and intersections, that cyclists and drivers found confusing.
It said consideration should be given to forcing drivers turning at an intersection which has bicycle crossing lights to give way to cyclists crossing the road the driver is entering.
Asked which road rules they would like introduced, respondents most frequently cited allowing cyclists of all ages to use the footpath, and allowing cyclists to ride across pedestrian crossings.
Only children under 12 are allowed to ride on the footpath in Victoria. In NSW, riders carrying a child under 10 years as a passenger or being towed in a trailer are allowed on a footpath, while South Australia is developing laws to allow all cyclists to ride on the footpath.
The main reason respondents and stakeholders gave for wanting the footpath rules changed “was to allow riders to gain a better understanding of the road rules before sharing the road with other vehicles”, the review said.
Those opposed to the change argued that extra riders on footpaths could create a danger for pedestrians, the review said.
Stakeholders interviewed, including Bicycle Network Victoria, Transport Accident Commission and Vision Australia, unanimously agreed that laws requiring cyclists to wear a helmet should not be repealed.
The Bicycle Network chief executive, Gary Brennan, told ABC radio on Thursday the review was needed due to an “explosion” in the number of bicycles on the streets.
“We have had a huge change to the on-road environment in recent years with so many bikes, so it’s fit and proper that we look at the rules and ask ourselves the question: do they match up with what we see today?” he said.
VicRoads manager for road user access and mobility, Robyn Seymour, said the report found cyclists were most concerned about a perceived lack of respect from others on the road, a varied understanding of road rules and a need for more bicycle infrastructure.
The public would be able to provide feedback on the review in October, she said.
In the decade to 2013, there were 29,181 crashes involving cyclists in Victoria, with 84 people killed and 4,447 seriously injured, the review found.
