Overtaking bikes are a danger
I HAVE a view about cyclists mowing me and other pedestrians down on Bristol's pavements. It is getting worse and there does not appear to be an answer, due to lacklustre monitoring of cyclists and Bristol city council's apathy towards being proactive.
Today, however, I have been unable to contain my anger about what I experience while driving.
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Letter writer Damian Wardingley says that this area of Broadmead is a 'shared space'
It is absolutely normal for cyclists and motorbikes and mopeds to overtake cars as they travel down the road. What is not acceptable is for the aforementioned to expect me, the motorist, in the opposite lane to give them way.
This may sound like a trivial matter but picture the scene: it's 7.30am and the lane I am in is quiet as the majority of cars are flowing towards the town centre.
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There in front is a cyclist or motor bike in my lane. The first time it happens, I was surprised. Twenty occasions later I am fuming.
Today (October 25) it happened again. It was still dark. I beep my horn to warn these people that they are in my lane. The third vehicle, I was not successful in deterring, resulting in my wing mirror being ripped off because the moped did not get out of the way soon enough.
Is this acceptable? Am I overreacting? Am I supposed to accept that the lane I am in should be used my oncoming traffic? Is there nobody with any sense out there on two wheels.
If you were that two-wheeler, think about your driving and actions and to all of you who regularly travel down Two Mile Hill leading onto Church Road, read the driving manual provided by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents to enlighten you on road safety and driving. Until the next time.
Lorraine
Bristol
YOUR collection of letters (The Post, October 24) headlined "Cyclists, lack of lights and daily congestion" was illustrated with a photo of a cyclist cycling past pedestrians in the middle of Broadmead.
Presumably, you are not aware that that area is designated as "shared space" and that cyclists can quite legally cycle through there. In shared space, cyclists and pedestrians are supposed to respect other users of the space.
Your collection might perhaps better have been illustrated with a photo of a cyclist actually breaking the law.
Damian Wardingley
Pill
Comments
by A_Mushroom
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 4:57PM
“Whoa! Steady, Dave, I think what Lorraine is describing are two-wheelers in the same lane as she is driving in BUT coming towards her, overtaking from the opposite carriageway.
I have a certain amount of sympathy as in Gloucester Road and other locations I frequently find vehicles in my lane, i.e. in the cycle lane.”
by dave_da_dog
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 1:14PM
“@Lorraine' letter. You are talking nonsense! Firstly how often do people get "mowed down" by cyclists? practically never! And as for the alleged mowings "getting worse" really what planet are you living on! Have you ever been to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Morocco? Did you complain when a moped whizzed past you in narrow ally? NO, because there it is a way of life and despite the apparent reckless nature, it works and no-one gets mowed down!
In Bristol there are a fraction of the cyclists and majority of them abide by the law so your comments really are flawed. Of course there are lots of people in Bristol with nothing better to do than moan about something that may or may not happen!
And your comments about having to "give way" to 2 wheeled vehicles are outrageous and irresponsible... did you actually take a driving test and read the highway code? As a car driver you give way to motorcycles/bicycles and bicycles give way to pedestrians and thats that! I bet you don't even know what to do at roundabouts or use indicators like most drivers these days you are lazy, inpatient and dammed inconsiderate!
Give Cyclists space and let busses pull out! Thats common courtesy! You should be banned from using the roads!
From a Driver, Cyclist and keen Pedestrian!”
by PotatoMan11
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 12:44PM
“Are you over-reacting? Yes. When is the last time you saw a "Motorist killed by cyclist" headline on TiB? And how often do you see a "Motorist/Cyclist/Pedestrian killed by motorist?" Are you not concerned about their deaths? Is that not a bit more important than this?”
by gentlegreen
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 9:34AM
“@Damian Wardingley - I concur - though photos can be misleading and that "duffel coat lout" may be "cycling furiously" - but the pedestrians seem unperturbed.”
by gentlegreen
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 9:31AM
“@Lorraine - Two mile hill is a scary descent at the best of times - easy to hit 30mph on a pushbike, but lots of hazards even when there's little traffic.
You sound like me on the railway path - travelling in the opposite direction to everyone else twice a day - though I rarely encounter frustrated fast cyclists overtaking whole queues of cycle traffic - though this "Cycling City" is in its early days.
Speaking for myself, I have sympathy and I keep to the left and slow down for them... there but for etc ...
Of course it's complicated in your case by there being two kinds of vehicle with added danger and mutual mistrust. Hopefully all those fit young people (i.e. under retirement age) trapped in their steel boxes will eventually realise what they're missing.
The other possibility is that those pedal cyclists at least, might find a more pleasant route using a route planner like cyclestreets - I myself have eliminated almost all contact with cars on my commute - by extending my journey by a mile and a half.”