Cyclists must take more responsibility
In various daily excursions I drive a car and also enjoy cycling.
Being a cyclist, I tend to notice others on bikes when I'm out in my car. Not the fully-kitted out noticeable cyclist in Lycra and smart helmet on a decent road bike. No, I am thinking more of the occasional cyclist, not because they stand out in their cycling wear but mainly because they are so obscure.
I'm almost on top of them before I see them properly. How many of these loonies on two wheels have brains, I ask myself?
Someone dressed in black or similar dark colours as dusk is falling or on a dull miserable day out on their bike is virtually impossible to see. They seem to loom out of the side of the road like ghostly dark visions. Have they no value on their lives? Not to mention the lives of others if they cause a crash?
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Are these people brainless or just arrogant?
How much does a reflective vest cost? It isn't just the sensible clothing, but many don't wear a helmet either.
Are they so invincible that they don't need a helmet? I know from experience helmets aren't exactly comfortable but, if I were unfortunate enough to be knocked off my bike or go over the handlebars in a pothole, at least I am giving my skull some protection.
Cyclists, even if you are only going down the road to the shop or just to the next village, make yourself visible before you end up under some poor soul's car or a lorry.
I have to say the worst people on the roads are those who have a toddler in a child seat on the back of their bike – it's like playing Russian roulette with your child's life.
It should be made a criminal offence to carry a child on the back of a bike such as this with no high visibility jacket or protective headwear.
It's often the same when families go out for a bike ride.
Even if they are protectively dressed, it is usually Dad in front with his superbike, Mum trailing behind with her "girlie" bike and the kids straddled behind with no gears, struggling to keep up.
My mind boggles at these parents. This is the 21st century. We live in a county where our roads are extremely busy.
Children need to learn the joys of riding a bike, I know. But we get people taking their children on the busy roads unprotected.
The law says they have to wear a seat-belt in the back of a car, but what laws protect children whose parents take them on backs of bikes with little or no thought for the child's safety?
Name and address supplied.
Comments
by wayne65
Thursday, January 17 2013, 9:08AM
“My first question to you would be "why withhold your name & address", the points you have made are valid!
However I would disagree with "I have to say the worst people on the roads are those who have a toddler in a child seat on the back of their bike" You rarely see children being carried on bikes on roads, and my experience is that they (children) are usually wearing helmets. May I add, at this time helmets are an option, although I'm with you on wearing one, but lets not try to feed into the "hate cyclists" mantra...
The thing what stood out to me in your letter was missing the point of lack of lights alot of "people on bikes" display. Hi Viz is great in daylight or low light, but useless in the dark. Reflective clothing is proven to be more noticeable, again along side lights. A set of reasonable "be seen" lights costs no more than £10, a small price to pay to avoid being shunted from behind. And whilst you talk about high viz, how does it help when most of the cyclists who ride wearing "industrial" high viz clothing are usually on the pavements? again usually with no lights, so pedestrians have no way of seeing them coming (before every pedestrian moans, I do not agree with cycling on pavements!).
I feel you also fail to identify the regular commuter on a bicycle, who tick all the boxes, high viz, lights etc... As for the "Not the fully-kitted out noticeable cyclist in Lycra and smart helmet on a decent road bike", some of these are the worst for dark clothing, I know as I ride with club ride.”