Cameron Frewer: Cycling activist’s ironic death

The tragic manner of his death has been called “shocking and devastating” by Aussie cyclists who have posted emotional tributes to the father-of-three online.

Earlier this year, Mr Frewer helped launch the campaign Safe Pass, Drive Wide after experiencing numerous close calls with vehicles while cycling. He was also a vocal member of news.com.au’s Share The Road Facebook page, where he would often engage in debates and spark ideas to keep cyclists safe.

Never claiming all cyclists were blameless, he wanted the roads to be as safe as possible for everybody.

Safe Pass, Drive Wide called on motorists to leave a minimum of a metre when passing vulnerable road users.

The beloved family man was allegedly struck down by a utility truck as he was cycling on Caloundra Rd on the Bruce Highway at Meridan Plains yesterday about 6.05am.

A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said multiple paramedic crews rushed to the scene to treat Mr Frewer’s injuries. They were unable to save the passionate safety advocate.

Always riding with front and rear safety cameras, Mr Frewer built a reputation for filing huge numbers of close pass complaints to at his local Beerwah police station.

Using his videos and social media presence, he encouraged cyclists to record their rides too. He then guided them on correctly filing potential infringements.

“When only 2 in 3 drivers make an effort to pass a rider with care you know that education of the safe passing rule or its ‘enforcement’ needs looking at,” he wrote on Facebook alongside a recent video of a driver passing a cyclist. “Short stretch of road. Good sightlines and no oncoming. Should be a no-brainer, yes?”

Despite his best efforts to inform the public of the dangers of close passing, his fears of riding on the road spiralled after moving to Caloundra, Queensland, from Victoria a year ago.

“It’s the 10 per cent (of drivers) that come within half the distance of you. When you have a car going at a fair tilt come within 50cm of you, it is scary,” he told the Sunshine Coast Daily in September.

Bicycle Queensland chief executive office Anne Savage was a close personal friend of Mr Frewer.

“Cameron was one of Australia’s fiercest advocates on safe cycling,” she told Bicycling Australia.

“I don’t have the words to describe how I feel today. My thoughts are with his devastated wife and children right now. He fought every day of his life to make Australian roads safer for cyclists. This is the darkest of hours.”

Close friend Dave Sharp had known Mr Frewer for 10 years and worked closely with him to promote cycling safety.

He posted an emotional video on Facebook, speaking of his devastation and his anger at Australian politicians and police for not improving cycling safety.

“As soon as I saw the news story from the Sunshine Coast this morning, the first thing I did was check his page, Drive Safe Pass Wide,” he said.

“I just had a feeling. And then I got the phone call.”

The activists devastated fans left heartbreaking tributes on social media — with one saying the activist’s death was a “truly tragic and ironic tale”.

“We have lost a wonderful, selfless advocate,” wrote one supporter on Facebook.

Join the cycling safety debate on our Share The Road campaign page.