Breaking cycle of blame over bikes
IT has been interesting reading the letters complaining about cyclists using the pavements. I am a very fortunate elderly person, (I’ve been retired for over 20 years), I am a walker, a driver and also a cyclist. Socalled cycle lanes are frequently simply onemetrewide linedoff sections of the road which allow the council to claim it is cyclefriendly, when it hasn’t bothered to repair the potholes, dropped drain and manhole covers and, of course speed bumps. That said, I use cycle lanes but I have to be alert to the risks of having to stop or veer out into the traffic to avoid being thrown off my bike. As a driver, I am aware of these cyclists’ hazards. Fortunately, I do have a mirror but I find that many drivers are not considerate of cyclists. Sadly, I find cyclists are frequently not considerate of drivers. Instead of staying within a metre of the verge, they hog the middle of the carriageway, making it impossible for drivers to pass. This is particularly annoying when it is a single (frequently Lycraclad) cyclist who insists he has as much right to the road as I have. This is true, but I wish we could all be considerate of each other. I use a mirror and always sign the driver past when possible and to show the driver that I know there is a vehicle behind me. When there is a marked cycle track on the pavement I will use it, but often that just ‘stops dead’. Where do I go then? I simply continue on the pavement. I am always considerate of pedestrians, but I frequently find that they are less considerate of cyclists. A group will often walk in the cycle lanes and expect the cyclist to avoid them. I never use my bell because it is extremely loud and I feel that doing so might alarm the person, or be interpreted as ‘get out of my way’, so I just slow down, cycle slowly past, say ‘thank you’ and give a wave as I pass. In towns on the Continent it is quite usual for pedestrians and cyclists to share pavements, and why not? A little consideration of each other is all that is required. I would prefer to say ‘common sense’ is required. The rise of the ‘health and safety’ seems, sadly, to have replaced ‘common sense’. Can we please just be considerate of each other’s needs and accept that there are now going to be more pedestrians and cyclists having to share space in the future — and not be demanding that the penpushers think up ever more rules and regulations creating ever more expense, when good old common sense is all that’s required?
CHARLES G M BEGG, Kirkcaldy, Fife.