A cyclist in this year’s Indian Pacific Wheel Ride across ‘the paddock’ is calling for more collaboration with truckies to prevent further tragedy on the dangerous highway.
Kevin Paine, who’s riding by the name of Pizza Rider, reached out to Big Rigs from the road as he came through Ceduna, en route from Fremantle to Sydney in the unofficial 5500km annual event.
Paine has already crossed the Nullarbor in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023, and returned again last year, only to stop at Fraser Range when 62-year-old Chris Barker was killed after being stuck by road train about 190km west of the SA border.
When he returns home this year, Paine said he’s going set up a website to provide advice and information for the 100-plus who cycle across the desolate road each year and also wants input from truckies.
“I feel it’s best for the two communities to work together, rather than be adversaries,” Paine said in an email to Big Rigs.
“I’m reaching to you and others in the trucking community to have something that works well for all. Riders using hi-viz, mirrors, multiple lights and UHF as an example. Getting off the road when vehicles are going where you are (not a legal requirement, but absolutely recommended for the safety).”
Paine also said simple things, like a short toot of the horn or a flash of high beam at night to ensure the rider is aware of an approaching truck “would be great”.
“Riding at night is considerably safer due to lower traffic volumes and higher visibility,” he said.
Paine also said the lower temperatures, lack of sunburn, less wind, and the spectacular night sky are other reasons why night riding is popular among cyclists.
“Bicycles have been ridden across the paddock since Arthur Richardson in 1896,” he added.
“Each time I’ve crossed I’ve met riders heading in the opposite direction. There will always be riders on the Nullarbor. Long distance and touring cycling is a growing global trend.”
Paine said he’s hoping to start on the project in May.
“Roads are not dangerous. It’s the actions of those who use the roads that creates the danger,” he added.
“This year I met five other cyclists who were crossing the Nullarbor in the opposite direction and have seen pictures from at least one more that I missed meeting.
“Cyclists are never going to be banned from crossing the Nullarbor, so it’s best to do what we can to make it safer for riders and easier for drivers.”
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 as he headed west on his weekly run to Perth.
Truckie Damien Tsouris was so concerned for the cyclists’ safety he called the Ceduna police.
“One of the cyclists was on the fog line with no lights or high-vis in the dark. I nearly hit him as I didn’t know he was there.”
John Mulder also wrote on our Facebook page that the number of riders on the highway is “getting beyond a joke”.
“There used to be one or two you’d see a year, now it’s like six or seven each trip and they don’t wear hi-vis, but opt for the highly standout black – you struggle to see them.
“It should be against the law that a road train has to hit the brakes to slow for a pushbike, or veer onto the wrong side of the highway to avoid them
“It needs to be stopped before more are killed and innocent truck drivers pay the price of prison for driving down a highway trying to do their job.”