“Door Knock” campaign targets Chapel St


Bicycle Network Victoria is rolling out its “Door Knock” campaign to reduce the risks of cyclists colliding with parked car doors by targeting hazardous locations such as Chapel St.


VicRoads Crash Statistics show Chapel St being one of the most dangerous roads to cycle in all of Australia. Chapel St along with St Kilda Rd, Collins St and Elizabeth St – is the most frequent location for car “dooring” crashes.VicRoads reports there were over 1,000 recorded “dooring” crashes between 2000 and 2010, and the amount of bicycle accidents from dooring has doubled in the last couple of years.

A recent Bicycle Victoria study has found that these four roads represent 30 per cent of all “doorings” over the five year period between 2006 and 2010.

CDM Research Principal Dr Cameron Munro said the frequency of bicycle crashes has increased over the recent years on Chapel St but the number of serious injuries has not.

The death of James Cross in 2010 highlighted public health and safety awareness issues around changing drivers’ behaviour and car door hazards due to the risk they pose to cyclists.

As a response, Bicycle Victoria has marked 2012 as “The Year of the Door” by promoting a partnership with Road Safety Action Group – Inner Melbourne, VicRoads, and Victoria Police.

Bicycle Victoria spokesman Garry Brennan said the main objective of “Operation Door Knock” is to raise awareness among cyclists and motorists of the risks of “dooring” – through training, education and communication campaigns to help eliminate the danger.

Given the critical thing about “doorings” is the driver’s attitude, Mr Brennan said behavioural campaigns – such as “Lead with the Left” – will engage directly with road users to develop new habits.

“This will be slow, but it will work if you keep it up for long enough,” he said.

The campaign is promoted through electronic and print media. Bicycle Victoria also communicates through Twitter, Facebook and email with 40,000 members.

The recent VicRoads “Road User or Abuser” online campaign is an example of promotional materials to warn of the risk of “dooring” to cyclists and motorists.

However, there is no former evidence of the effectiveness of similar communication campaigns. Dr Munro said it is likely that only those who are already aware of “dooring” hazards would be receptive to such measures.

“Almost invariably they will be preaching to the converted,” he said.

Port Phillip Councillor Janet Bolitho said the road safety literature suggests that education, engineering and enforcement measures are needed in order to have a successful intervention.

“I do not believe that this campaign in isolation will necessarily reduce the incidence of doorings, but the research and the community discussion it generates will be helpful in the longer term,” she said.

Bicycle Victoria has also conducted a review of international practice in this area. In Holland and Copenhagen cyclists are safeguarded by “dooring” by having separate bike lanes.

Cr. Bolitho said the Copenhagen bike-lanes are the safest approach, but an infrastructure change on Chapel St is a cultural challenge.

“Cycling safety is probably always one of a range of factors considered by local government decision makers such as the economic vitality of Chapel St. Many believe that car-parking is fundamental to the economic health of shopping strips,”

“Achieving political support for it is a more challenging task than building it.” she said.

However, given the insufficient width of the road, the displacement of the bike lanes between the footpath and the parking is physically impracticable.

The only radical option seems involving the cars. Both Mr Brennan and Dr Munro agree that the main problem with cycling on Chapel St is the high flow of traffic, and a possible solution could be to significantly curtail car movements down the road.

“The best think for Chapel St would be if it was closed to through traffic and redeveloped for trams, pedestrians and bikes,”

“In the meantime, the [Stonnington] Council should look at continuing to improve the street, but also develop an alternative for bikes traveling.” Mr Brennan said.

The Stonnington Council that had already been rebuked in 2009 by Bicycle Victoria for its delay of funding bike infrastructure, was not willing to release any comment.

According to the Road Rule 269, “dooring” is against the law.

Boroondara Bicycle User Group (BBUG) member John Parker said the main problem is that most drivers are not fined or penalised for breaking the offence.

“Most of our BBUG members typically believe the fine $366 should be augmented with the loss of license demerit points,” he said.

Therefore, police enforcement is a critical aspect to ensure drivers involved in “dooring” accidents are charged and fined. In February, Victoria Police launched the “Operation Halo” initiative which focused on reducing road trauma involving pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.