This attack on cyclists went far beyond a joke

RAB McNeil’s piece on cyclists (Voices, October 28) is a disgrace. It is basically an incitement to hatred and virtually encourages drivers to behave badly around cyclists. If it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, then it has failed. He has trotted out all the familiar canards of wobbly, red-light jumping cyclists, yet fails to mention the impatient, tailgating, speeding, phone-using motorists who bring the real danger to our roads.

Our town centres are blighted by pollution and our population is in the midst of an obesity crisis. Both of these issues can be mitigated by encouraging and facilitating active travel, such as cycling and walking, and by improving public transport. Boyd Johnston Paisley

This is my first letter to The Herald on Sunday, and the feeling I have is far beyond even anger.

My interest was raised when my eye caught the picture of the lycra-clad man on a bike in Rab McNeil’s column. However, my interest turned to outrage as I read the article. What was this attack on people who, despite the lack of cycle infrastructure, choose to use their bike, as I do, for journeys to work, the swimming pool, to the shops and sometimes just to enjoy the Scottish countryside?

I was stunned at the language used. I have been encouraging my three-year-old granddaughter to ride a bike; it’s fun and enjoyable and I hope that as she grows up conditions for cycling, and walking, will improve. It’s sad that people are deterred from this excellent pursuit by such mistruths as are peddled in this article. Patricia Fort Glasgow

It seems to be a truth that some people like telling jokes and stories at the expense of marginal societal groups. When I was a child back in the 1960s, the subjects of the jokes make me cringe now. Happily most of us grow up and leave such “humour” behind us.

I say most people, because I was appalled to read Rab McNeil’s column. I know he sets himself up as a contrarian, but there is fair comment, there is satire, and then there are crude savage attacks.

In this case Mr McNeil turned against cyclists, accusing them of being vile, aggressive bullies. On a very superficial level he tried to dress his article as humour but it is so lacking in mirth, all that remains is savagery.

The article implies he doesn’t cycle but I would like to take him out on the road with me. He will then know which road users are the aggressive bullies. It’s not fun cycling when drivers shout abuse from their window; it’s not fun when a driver delivers a close “punishment pass” and it really is vile to be spat at from the window of a passing van. All these things have happened to me simply for having the temerity to be innocently cycling.

Language like Mr McNeil’s has consequences. Studies have shown constant negative stereotyping of cyclists leads to more aggressive behaviour from motorists which can be translated into injury and death of cyclists. Bob Downie Glasgow

Rab McNeil’s puerile diatribe about cyclists last week was not clever and certainly not funny, at a time when there is a crying need for public education about responsible road use.

Most drivers have felt frustrated at being held up by cyclists, but we should remember the words of Olympian Chris Boardman: “People on bicycles are flesh and blood, they’re mums and dads, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters.” Wendy Faulkner Aberfoyle