| |
Cycling is dangerous – so be safe not sorry
• I NOTE that Murray Abisch and John Hartley (Letters, November 5) both completely missed the point of John Sutherland’s letter.
Mr Abisch’s somewhat vitriolic letter states how sick he is of the constant criticism of cyclists.
Well my suggestion is this, first spend 15 minutes standing at the junction of Judd Street and Tavistock Place and watch. Secondly note how many cyclists jump the traffic lights, you will be unpleasantly surprised.
I loved cycling once upon a time, but don’t do it now, for reasons I will not explain but it’s nothing to do with how dangerous cycling is – that’s always been so.
I agree with Mr Abisch about madcap pedestrians who insist on dicing with death.
However I have been knocked into by cyclists on pavements, those riding over the red lights when it was supposed to be safe for me to cross and, indeed, one charmer cycled diagonally across me on both pavements all to save having to go around a corner.
With the best will and equipment in the world, many cyclists cannot be seen by high-sided vehicles.
Cyclists have often been trapped on the inside and crushed against kerbs.
I am more than saddened at any death on our roads, but remember this, you are not always visible. To cycle on pavements is, as Mr Sutherland pointed out, illegal. And cycling over red lights while having your iPod plugged in just won’t do. Be safe, not sorry.
Eileen Fry
Tavistock Place, WC1
Bleating
• YOUR correspondent complains about pedestrians in his way (Letters, November 5).
He may be surprised to know that, except where specifically prohibited, pedestrians always have right of way, and all road users, including cyclists, have a duty of care towards them.
Anyone travelling faster than his or her fellow humans is tempted to feel an automatic sense of entitlement: thus fast walkers tut-tut at slower walkers in front of them, joggers feel no compunction in barging through pedestrians, cyclists jump lights, and cut corners by riding across pavements, which in turn irritates drivers (of whom I am one) as well as pedestrians (of whom I am also one).
At least motorists have to take some form of test and, by law, must be insured, carry licence plates, display lights in the hours of darkness and obey traffic regulations. Cyclists do better to face up to responsibilities as road users (as many do) rather than bleat about minor interruptions to their self-conferred right of progress.
Chris Fagg
Third Millennium Information Ltd, EC1
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
