The wife of a Merimbula cyclist who died on Mount Darragh Road, Lochiel has said she doesn’t want to see it happen again and is urging everyone to be aware of the distance rules when overtaking cyclists.
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It is six months since Louise Brand’s husband David, 72, died after an incident with the driver of a ute on Mount Darragh Road.
Riding was one of the things that Louise and David did together after Louise sold Poppy’s Cafe, Merimbula in 2016.
“David was a passionate cyclist and taught me how to ride a road bike – I already rode mountain bikes. He was very experienced and always very careful.
“This time last year we cycled from Merimbula to Thredbo. We’ve done a lot of road trips and never had a problem, but I will never get on a bike again,” Louise said.
David and Louise were on the return journey of one of their regular rides between Merimbula and Wyndham on Saturday, June 23.
“David and I usually cycle together but his chain came off and he told me to go on ahead. It was one of the first times ever we were separated while riding.”
Louise said they always travelled with lights on and she could see David’s light behind her.
“I turned a corner and kept cycling, expecting to see David’s light appear, but the light never came.”
What happened next is a matter that is currently before the courts and a man has been charged with not passing a bicycle at safe distance, and grievous bodily harm.
Louise said a witness saw David go over the handlebars of his bike and called emergency services. David suffered severe injuries including a brain stem rupture, cracked ribs, pierced lungs and a bleed on the brain.
“My husband is dead and I just want justice. I don’t want this to happen again. He was a good man, fit and healthy, the impact on me has been extraordinary, “ Louise said.
“As legitimate road users, we do not wish or intend to hold up, or annoy other road users. We just want to get to our destination safely,” Louise added.
She is also looking at the possibility of a Coronial inquest to help establish the cause of David’s death.
The overtaking rules
When the speed limit is 60kmh and under, a motor vehicle must provide bike riders one metre of space when overtaking.
When the speed limit is over 60kmh, a motor vehicle must provide 1.5 metres of space when overtaking.
The measurement is taken from the widest part of the bike or rider (i.e. handle bars or shoulder) to the widest part of the motor vehicle (i.e. a mirror)
Drivers will be exempted from the below, when passing a bike rider (with 1 or 1.5 metre of space):
- Keep to the left of the centre of the road (two-way road with no dividing line)
- Keep to the left of the centre of a dividing line - broken and unbroken lines
- Keep off a flat dividing strip
- Keep off a flat painted island
- Driving within a single marked lane or line of traffic
- Moving from one marked lane to another across a continuous line separating the lanes
This means that drivers can cross double lines, when it is safe to do so, in order to safely overtake a cyclist.