The Hon Carl Scully
Minister for Transport
Minister for Roads
Level 36 Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place 
Sydney NSW 2000

Dear Mr Scully,

We understand that State Ministers of Transport will soon be considering the recommendation from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (Evaluation Report on a 50K GUSL, December, 2001) to adopt a General Urban Speed Limit of 50 kilometres per hour. On behalf of our members and of bicycle riders throughout New South Wales we seek your support for adopting this recommendation.

The benefits of cycling and the need to encourage the use of bicycles have been recognised in government policies, notably in Action for Bikes- Bike Plan 2010 (RTA,1999) and in Australia Cycling - the National Strategy (Austroads, 1999). Objective 4.5 of this policy is "…to improve cyclist safety in areas such as motor vehicle speeds…". We believe that the adoption of a General Urban Speed Limit [GUSL] of 50 km/h would be a significant means of achieving this objective and of others in the strategy.

We agree with the Evaluation Report on the 50 GUSL which states that its adoption would provide significant accident reduction benefits for walking and cycling, but we would add that it will also encourage walking and cycling, particularly amongst women and the elderly.

As has been documented here, in Europe and in the USA, where lower speed limits have been introduced (or have long been the case), significant reductions in accidents and casualties have resulted. For instance, RTA accident statistics for NSW in 2000 show that no fatalities occurred on streets with a 40 km/h limit. Australia appears to be one of few countries with such a high default Urban Speed Limit as the present 60 km/h. Many local authorities are introducing 50 km/h speed limits (which we would argue is still too high in many areas), but in non-uniform ways and to different degrees, and most arterials, regardless of standard, remain at 60 km/h or 70km/h.

We believe that despite the inconsistencies of the current 50km/h scheme, where it is applied, it has provided a safer road environment for cyclists and all road users. We submit that adoption of a GUSL 50 Km/h uniformly around Australia would allow a much better outcome.

Most fatalities and serious injuries to cyclists occur on arterial roads (30/30/30 report, Bicycle Victoria, 2002) or on collector roads. Many of these roads are often considered as being "too dangerous" for cycling, largely due to the speed of traffic, even though they are otherwise excellent cycling routes and there may be no convenient alternative routes. This effectively discourages many potential cyclists and cycling trips to schools, business areas, work or shopping centres. The adoption of a default GUSL 50 km/h implies, as we understand it, that roads would have to meet certain standards, including standards of both cycling and walking safety and convenience, to have higher speed limits. Authorities would have another tool (speed reduction) to use to improve safety and convenience for cyclists and pedestrians.

Bicycle New South Wales is a strong supporter of this proposal being implemented across Australia as soon as possible. There are benefits for a wide range of road users and non-road users, but the positive consequences specifically for cyclists would be of great assistance in encouraging this form of sustainable transport.

Yours sincerely

Robert Moore
President