Hazards posed by risky riders

I read your article ‘Crackdown on dangerous riders’ [Gazette, February 24] noting that stern action was taken on February 9 and 10 to curb dangerous riding in St George’s Street.

I would like to add that this action has had little effect. Here is my account of my experiences less than two weeks later. Last Saturday at about 4pm I walked down and back along the whole length of the High Street. The street was quite busy with shoppers and sight-seers.

I was quite shaken when a cyclist skidded to a halt from quite a speed a couple of yards from me. He had to make an emergency stop to avoid colliding with a group of people including small children.

He gave the pedestrians a really dirty look and continued riding on his hurried journey. It was just an ordinary pedal powered mountain bike with very good brakes (fortunately) but I suspect the large box on his back made quick action more difficult. I continued my walk paying much more attention to the hazards, which soon became very apparent. In 20 minutes I encountered more than 23 irresponsible incidents involving delivery bicycles and motor scooters.

Only one driver (again on an ordinary push-bike) was proceeding at a courteously reasonable speed for the pedestrian traffic.

I also observed that all the electrically ‘assisted’ bicycles were in fact illegal to use on the public highway.

It is quite easy to spot these high-powered bicycles as they have a much bigger motor (usually black) and are capable of speeds up to (and above) 40 mph without pedalling at all. They are absolutely silent, and a rider (especially with a large load) is an obvious danger to pedestrians, especially on the pavement or in a pedestrianised area.

Don’t get me wrong here.

I am an advocate of electric vehicles (and electrically assisted bicycles). I already own an electric car and my wife has a legal electrically assisted bicycle. Whilst I appreciate the convenience of fast-food delivery, the need for speedy service, the survival of the food outlets on the High Street, not to mention the employment opportunities, I must urge that action is taken before it is too late.

I look forward to not being scared out of my wits by being overtaken on the pavement by my house by an electric bike being silently driven at 30mphplus approaching from behind. Have a thought for those of us who are not as agile as we once were and our hearing is not perhaps what it was.

Jon Penton

New Dover Road, Canterbury