Veteran interstate truckie Robby ‘Roadtrain’ fears that it’s only a matter of time before there is another tragic accident on the Nullarbor involving a cyclist.
Robby was speaking out after witnessing first-hand the dangers for riders in the Indian Pacific Wheel Ride this week as he headed west on his weekly run to Perth.
He watched aghast as a road train was forced to come to a complete stop near the Nullarbor Roadhouse because there wasn’t enough space for it to safely pass the cyclist heading east and avoid the oncoming traffic.
“There’s just enough room for two trucks to pass – there’s no shoulder, but the cyclist didn’t bother to get off the road.” Robby said.
“He [the truckie] had to stop and let the other traffic go so he could go around her.
“This is becoming a weekly occurrence. They must wake up one day and decide they want to ride a push-bike across the Nullarbor, f##kn idiots.
“They shouldn’t be allowed on the Nullarbor. All they are is a travelling road block. It’s way too dangerous.”
Robby said he can’t understand why cyclists aren’t allowed to ride on a motorway where there is plenty of room on the shoulder, but they can ride a cycle on this major freight route with next to no shoulder room.
“It’s only a matter of time before someone is killed and the poor old truckie is the one who’s going to get the blame for it.”
A cyclist was killed in last year’s Indian Pacific Wheel Ride and another seriously injured, prompting the South Australian Road Transport Association [SARTA] to issue a warning this year for drivers and operators to be on high alert.
“This event clearly increases the risks for heavy vehicle drivers and we ask operators to inform their drivers and stress to them that the event is legal and it is happening,” said SARTA Executive Officer Steve Shearer.
The 28 riders left Fremantle on March 15 and are already spread far and wide on their way to the Sydney Opera House.
To track where each Indian Pacific Wheel Ride participant is in real time, click here. At the time of writing, four have already called it quits.