Vic Government expected to block bike bill

Victorian cyclists are likely to lose out despite a bill passing the upper house to set minimum overtaking distances.

Cyclists are unlikely to get minimum overtaking distances in Victoria despite the upper house passing a bill in state parliament.

The Greens bill would require cars to leave a one metre minimum passing distance between them and bikes if travelling under 60km/h, and 1.5 metres for higher speeds.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy says his party is likely to support the change and it went through the Legislative Council on Wednesday.

But the Labor government is expected to vote it down when the bill heads to the Legislative Assembly.

The government supports only public education campaign over legislation.

"Our real issue is getting people to culturally change and actually respect one another on the roads," Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan told reporters on Wednesday morning.

Victoria is the only Australian state without minimum passing distances.

Cyclists said they regularly felt bullied on the road and it was time for Victoria to have the same laws as the rest of the country.


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Source: AAP



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