Call me old fashioned! The other day, during my morning constitutional to get my daily paper, I was 'zoomed' on the footpath by a couple of ‘young buggers’ on bikes.
Following my initial aftershock, I turned to thinking about the increasing number of speeding cyclists that are about these days.
I appreciate that this is an ecological, carbon footprint etc and healthy way to travel, but I am wondering about what rate of accidents there involving collisions with cyclists. With the advances in engineering and stuff, cycles are capable of speeds of 60mph+ (98km/h).This is under indoor track conditions, but that puts the average cyclist potential of 30-35 mph on the tarmac.
Since the innovation of cycle tracks, usually shared with footpaths, this moves the cyclist away from the danger of roads and their users, and pushes them into the way of pedestrians on footpaths. On which they terrorise the public barraging their way along shared footpaths.
Not a bad thing from the motorist point of view as many cyclists are menace to other road user, guilty of ‘nipping’ through in very close proximity either side of cars. Causing the occasional scratch, and dink on cars, but more so ‘a touch of the vapours’ as they cause a near collision or impact.
Yes a judge once ruled “…that a cyclist is entitled to his wobble”, but that only applies when they are being overtaken, not when they are under cutting traffic.
My particular hate is that cyclist which ‘zooms’ out from a left hand junction alongside the curb in the hope that traffic will give way. Yet it is the motorist who usually pays a penalty for the cyclist’s stupidity, fines etc and insurance in the event of a collision.
Some cyclist have a driving license, and thus a degree of knowledge of the Highway Code, that seems to go to pot when applying to them, but always know how it applies to other road users! Apart from that they are virtually unregulated, not even to wear a safety helmet, which, incidently, are only designed to withstand an impact of 12mph, or a drop onto a curb or road surface of 1 metre.
RoSPA is calling for more safety measures to prevent cycle related deaths (148 in 2005 and rising 10% a year); mainly from irresponsible car drivers whose reckless antics put many other road users in danger of their lives.
Many cyclists act do responsibly, yet there are those who arrogance prevails whatever they ride, drive or steer that make them an unsociable menace to others generally.
Regulation of cyclist may be the way forward that could result in a more responsible road/footpath user, along the lines of motorcyclists, and motorists.
After all new hybrid cars are so quiet at low speed there is now an initiative to fit recorded engine sounds to alert pedestrians when crossing the road, why not bicycles!
