Page 2496 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 14 November 1989
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case of part of Athllon Drive from the Woden area to the Tuggeranong Valley. So this Bill amending the Traffic Act to omit the definition of a bicycle path is, I consider, appropriate.
Many more people are looking to exercise. Our community especially considers exercise - whether cycling or jogging, or many other forms of sport - to be very important. In the ACT we are lucky to have a network of cycle paths. I believe there are over 130 kilometres of them. Cycle paths which enable cyclists and joggers to partake in such sport without using the road system make a significant contribution to safety. I hope this amendment reflects the Government's continuing commitment to improving road safety in the ACT.
Mr Speaker, it is perhaps timely for me to mention the lack of use of bicycle helmets. I think it is one of the things that needs much more promotion. We are all aware of many children who have had some serious injury through not wearing a cycle helmet, and I am sure all of us here recognise how important they are. I would like to see much more done in the area of the education program. Obviously legislation to make bicycle helmets mandatory is not the right way to go because it is one thing to actually have legislation and it is another to actually police it. In this case it would be very difficult.
Having bicycle helmets available with the sale of bikes is probably another way that it can be looked at. I hope, Mr Speaker, that Mrs Grassby will look into helmet wearing in the ACT, compare it with what is being done in New South Wales, and take immediate action to try to increase the numbers of children who are wearing helmets. At this point in time, less than a third of our children riding bicycles actually wear helmets. I would like to put the Government on notice that much more needs to be done in this area, and I hope that something will be done very quickly. The recently concluded Bicycle Week was another good time to make mention of the safety area and I think it was something that brought to our attention how important helmet wearing is.
As I indicated earlier, Mr Speaker, the Liberal Party will be supporting this amending Bill. We recognise just how important it is that cyclists do not have exclusive use of those bicycle paths, but that people walking, jogging, pushing prams or whatever can legally use that cycle network as well.
MR WOOD (4.34): Mr Speaker, the cycle paths - soon to be recreation paths - in the ACT are a unique resource in our city. I think there are few cities so well served by the extensive carriageways or paths that we have. Therefore, I am pleased to support this Bill that acknowledges that conversion.
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