Sad news........sadder reaction.

A cyclist was hit and killed by a truck today whilst training in a bunch of 19 cyclists. Thanks to the Sydney Morning Herald, idiots now have a forum to spew forth the shit that was previously safely locked away in their tiny brains.

Bicycles on the road are like a man in shark infested waters - if something goes wrong they have no chance. They are always a hazard on the roads clogging up traffic and how more aren't killed I'll never know. When are we going to wake up, the road is for motorised vehicles (that are able to do speeds of 60kms or more - better say that or next we'll have motorised wheelchairs crawling down the highway) they're not for bicycles or skateboards or pedestrians or prams or children to play on. Posted by: David of Sydney 9:15am today

"Bikes glogging up roads". Cars hold up cars! Need I say more. And I don't call riding to work 'playing'.

Packs of cyclists are by far the most annoying thing on the road. Why do they ride side by side often 4 or 5 deep in a pack formation? Stupid. Posted by: Nate Silver of Canberra 10:24am today

It's called slipstreaming you arrogant f*ckwit. I bet you know lots about other sports, so I bet you can answer me this: Why do rugby/AFL players play with each other arses?

I have always said you have to be braindead to be a cyclist (and they really are too). They simply do not belong on the road mixing it up with cars and trucks. Here in Canberra you can get just about anywhere here on a bike path. But no that is not good enough for them, they had to get out on the roads and get killed. Our moronic politicians are even narrowing all the road lanes to make room for bike lanes, wasting millions they are with special green areas on off ramps where the cars have to give way to these idiots. The roads are poorly maintained enough without more money being wasted providing special lanes for moronic bike riders who don't even pay road taxes. If I was in a car doing 30km/h in a 100 zone I would get booked for holding up traffic so why is a bike rider different??? Get off the roads and back into the gyms. Posted by: tuffguy of Canberra 10:28am today

(1) You think you are a 'Tuffguy' , is that why you use a pseudonym and justify none of your comments with fact? (2) We "had to go out on the roads and get killed", did we? I must have missed the memo. (3) How dare the moronic politicians be concerned over the health and well being of the planet and the people under their geographic umbrella. (4) Road taxes? What f*cking 'road taxes'? Roads are paid for by a portion of everyday taxes that we all pay, not car rego. So even a 'moronic' cyclist pays your 'road tax'. Get your facts straight. (Oh, and I own a car and pay rego but choose to ride). (5) No you can't get booked for going 30km/h if that is all your vehicle can do. Since when do road rego'd tractors get booked for going slow? (6) "Back" to the gym, I've never chosen to go to a gym. I get out and see the world on a bike, slow and steady I see more than you staring at a brick wall like a lab rat on an elliptical machine or doing 100km/h in a car(cage?). It's called enjoying life every day, even on the way to work.

These contraptions are a hazard, especially when they ride in groups. The road is no place for toys, there are plenty of dedicated rate-payer funded cycleways and parks where these things can be ridden. If they insist on using the road then pay registration and obey the road rules - like everyone else has too. Posted by: Smithy of Sydney 10:15am today

"Toys?" I think billions of Chinese may disagree. And again with the taxes!!!!

Cyclists need to get off the bloody road, they deserve whatever comes to them i say. Posted by: teakle of tassie 9:30am today


So would you like to meet Dominic's wife Michelle and his two children, aged 3 and 5, and tell them that he deserved to die? Not even worth the air you breath.

Now we move to the so called 'braindead' cyclists.

Firstly, my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of those involved. Wow, there a LOT of self absorbed, narcissitic motorists posting here. The roads are NOT the sole domain of cars. As said, there are some idiots cyclists, but in my experience the proportion is a lot less than idiot drivers. I have 2 cars, both fully registered and insured. They are used on weekends. I use public transport during the week and ride my pushbike to visit family, friends and run errands. I do not take up parking space at my destination, and subsidise your full time runnings costs. Twice. No contribution- utter, utter garbage. We live in a society, its not all about how important you think you are, and how much the 15 secs delay a cyclist would normally cause (think about it) really impacts your precious life. Posted by: Pinchey 12:07pm today

teakle of Tassie you 6 fingered banjo player, cyclists are in fact forced by law to ride on the road after the age of 12 years in NSW. Enjoy the pulp mill. Posted by: cyclist of sydney 9:54am today

David of Sydney - are you serious? 2 people have tragically died and this is the sort of rubbish you feel inclined to write?. A truck could just as easily lose control and plow into a bus stop, or a house or whatever, unfortunately for the cyclists involved, it was a case of wrong place wrong time. I agree that there are some places / roads where people shouldnt ride particularly in big bunches etc and that there are a number of idiots that ride on roads. Do you suggest that cyclists riding 30 - 40kms per hour ride along paths only, the same place where mums with their prams, young children etc are going for a leisurely stroll. Pull your head in and think of the families involved losing a loved one so close to Xmas rather than standing on a soapbox. Posted by: Kevin Smith 9:40am today


Obviously some intelligent readers posting here, especially our little friend from across Bass Strait. But hey, I'm sure he is man enough to look Amy Gillet's parents in the face and tell them their daughter deserved to die... Are there bike riders that abuse the road rules, such as running lights etc just because they are on a bike - of course there are! In the same mould - do you tar all car drivers with the same brush as the 4 kids that were killed allegedly speeding in Melbourne on the weekend? Bike riders need to be properly educated on how to ride safely on the road just as we as car owners need to lose the arrogance that this is OUR road. From my experience, it is a minority on both sides that abuse the rules. Tarring all of one group with the same brush would be like me saying you must be married to your sister because you are Tasmanian. Posted by: Chris Barker of Sydney 10:22am today


I feel very sad for the family (wife and two young kids) of the man who lost his life while keeping fit with friends. I also feel very sad for the truck driver. It's not nice to be responsible for the taking of a human life, in any way. I am also very saddened by the comments of some people in this forum. This is not the time nor place for people to get on a soap box and berate cyclists for doing something that is completely legal. Freedom of speech unfortunately means that some people enjoy the opportunity to deepen the pain that is already being experienced by both parties here. One day we will all learn to RESPECT EACH OTHER and while accidents will still happen, we can at least work together to reduce their frequency and impact. Ce la vie. From: Andrew Cassie of Canberra via e-mail.

Who would you rather be? A cowardly, crude, self absorbed, arrogant, ignorant, poluting and pasty skinned lab rat of a motorist or a cyclist.

Rant over.