OPINION:

HAVE you ever been labelled a criminal and had a police operation trying to bring you down?

It’s the horrible feeling I deal with every day of my life. No, I’m not a drug dealer, I have never committed assault and stealing cars seems a little too dangerous for my liking.

My crime is being a cyclist in the city of Sydney.

Yes, I am one of those vile citizens who cares for the environment and likes to keep fit by using a bicycle as my main method of transport.

I’m almost certain that even though I don’t wear lycra, the NSW government would like to lock me up and throw away the key for my disgusting crimes against humanity.

The constant police crackdowns on cyclists combined with some of the world’s most expensive fines highlight Sydney’s backwards attitude towards something that should be encouraged.

In addition to the whopping $319 fine riders face for wearing no helmet — despite studies showing it doesn’t improve safety — the horrific crime of riding on a footpath is also the subject of the constant police operations.

The law stipulates that children under 12 years of age can ride on a footpath and an adult rider supervising a cyclist under 12 can also do the same. For everyone else there is a $106 fine for the act.

Currently NSW and Victoria are the only states that do not allow riding on the footpath with care, but now two peak cycling bodies have launched a campaign to change this.

media_camera Look at these disgusting criminals getting fit and saving the environment.

Bicycle NSW has joined peak cycling body Bicycle Network’s call to lift bans on cyclists on footpaths, which would bring the state up to speed with the rest of country — Western Australia and South Australia both overturned the ban in the past two years.

“There needs to be a change in the current cycling environment in NSW. Children are being forced to ride on the road at the age of 12, ” Bicycle NSW chief executive Craig Meagher said in a statement.

“Adults who are rediscovering bike riding are being left with no option but to battle the roads. This is not an environment that encourages bike riding.”

To help convince the government to make the changes, Bicycle NSW has created a petition for legalising footpath riding.

And while I am more than happy to sign the petition, it’s worth noting that I am going to continue riding on the footpath regardless of whether the law changes or not.

Sure I might be risking multiple $106 fines, but if you have ever commuted into the city on bicycle, you will understand why.

I would be more than happy to use the bicycle paths provided for the daily commute from my home to the office, if they existed.

The problem is Australia’s largest city has failed to future-proof infrastructure to cater for those using alternative forms of transport, which means bike paths only exist sporadically throughout my commute.

In moments where there are not bike lanes, I have the option to ride on the road or along the footpath.

media_camera Don’t worry, I will be sensible when riding on the footpath.

I am not sure if you have ever cycled on the road next to vehicles in the middle of Sydney, but I can attest it’s a very uncomfortable feeling for both myself and my mother who worries her lovely son will end up under the wheel of a truck while riding to work.

With police more worried about cyclists not having a bell than enforcing the law which requires motorists to leave one metre of space when passing a cyclist in speed zones of 60km/h or less and 1.5 metres in higher speed zones, is it any wonder I ride on the footpath.

Why would I want to physically feel a car pass me on the road when I could happily ride on a footpath wide enough to fit a 15 piece marching band?

And close calls aside, there is the also the small fact that the minuscule area of gutter I am supposed to ride has more holes than a piece of Swiss cheese.

For those outraged by my willingness to ride on the footpath, have a think about how you would feel paying thousands of dollars on a road cycle only to have it constantly damaged because the government doesn’t want to provide you with sufficent infrastructure.

And for those worried about getting cleaned up when I am riding on the footpath, I would just like to clarify that I am not going all Cadel Evans and cycling at 60km/h, I understand I am sharing the space and act accordingly.

If you have read my point of view and can’t agree with my logic not riding on the road, all I can say is sucked in because I am not going to damage my bike or put my life at risk when there is a perfectly safe footpath to ride on.

Don’t like me doing it? Build better infrastrucure for cyclists and it won’t be an issue. Simple.

Continue the conversation in the comments below or sent hate mail to Matthew Dunn on Twitter and Facebook.

Originally published as ‘No, I won’t stop riding on the footpath’