1) “The danger they pose both to what roads are for – cars – and what the pavements are for – walkers.”
Right. First thing is first. We’re fairly sure roads are for transport in general rather than just for cars.
A quick Google will tell you that the first paved streets are believed to have been built around 4000 BC, and while we’re not encyclopaedic when it comes to our automobile knowledge, we’re inclined to say that the car wasn’t invented until, hmm, a bit later than that. In fact, we’re betting that a bicycle was probably on the road before the car, if we’re going to go down that route.
BUT ANYWAY.
Cyclists shouldn’t be riding on the pavement. Agreed. And fairly often you’ll find keen cyclists telling other cyclists exactly that. They should be in the bike lane and in the cycle paths, and usually, that’s exactly where you’ll find them, regardless of the fact that sometimes those cycle paths are the most poorly thought-out constructions of all time.
When cyclists stick to the roads, they’re no more putting cars in danger than buses or taxis. Remember drivers, you’re the ones kicking about in the one-tonne metal battering ram.
If a cyclist is cutting between lanes irresponsibly, they are an idiot, exactly as a driver would be if they did the same. Cyclists don’t make the roads dangerous. Neither do cars, buses, taxis or anything else. Idiots do.
More often than not cyclists are the most alert people out there – it’s hard not to stay alert when you’ve got wind piling in your face and journalists from the Metro honking their horns at you for no reason.
Our guess is that the author in question once got in a brief – very brief – argument with a cyclist at a red light and ever since have been so terrified of the outside world they’ve barely put down their copy of James Blunt’s debut album.
