The above image is taken from the article that ran today in the Courier(trash) Mail. In the article it is claimed that 220 incidences a year are recorded where a cyclist is fined for running a red light but then claims that it occurs "much more frequently" then that but provides no number. Why, because the paper does not know and cares not to investigate. This is very usual for the bike riders of Brisbane to be targeted by this tabloid paper, we are a very easy target. The truth is we are getting sick to death of this.
As well not mentioning how many times people on bikes go through red lights they also leave out another important figure, how many motor vehicles in Queensland run red lights each year. According to this article in Brisbane Times from 2009 26,800 fines for running red lights were issued. This figure brings things into context because by going by official figures with cyclists making up around 1 to 2% of all traffic in Queensland but are accounting for less then 1% of all fines for running red lights. You may ask why I am using official figures, well just like cyclists running red lights not every motor vehicle that runs a red light is caught either. Not every set of traffic lights has a camera so official figures are the only way to really compare.
The other thing that is heavily depressing is the comments that are posted by the public, and the misinformation that is within them. The most common is the typical "Rego demand" is an excellent example that the person commenting has a very misinformed mind.
The fact is in Brisbane the Courier (trash) Mail hates cyclists and when reading any of there reports you need to do your own investigations on what the (so called) facts are telling you. While this report was missing the venom that we have seen in pervious years reports it was still missing valid comparasons to put things into context.
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