Cyclists caught in the middle
If you listen to the chat of any average group of drivers, chances are at some point they’ll end up complaining about cyclists; the way they creep up on you from nowhere, weaving in between the cars, before plonking themselves firmly in front of the queue of traffic stopping you from getting away quickly when the lights go green. It’s fair to say that not many drivers like cyclists, but it turns out pedestrians don’t like them much either!
My friend doesn’t drive much (he lives and works in town so doesn’t need to – lucky beggar!) which means he’s a full-time pedestrian. Usually he can’t join in with our road rage chat in the pub, except when the conversation turns to cyclists. Then you can’t shut him up! Apparently bike riders aren’t happy with taking over the road, they’re trying to take over the pavements too! Not only is this dangerous for both cyclists and pedestrians, but it’s also illegal.
Apparently, those poor downtrodden cyclists say they’re being forced to ride on the pavement by inconsiderate and boorish car drivers. Maybe that’s true of some of us, but if you ride your bike correctly on the road, then I’ll have no problem with you, and will treat you with the courtesy I give to any other road user, whether they’re on four wheel, two wheels or two legs.
I have to admit, I did think my friend was making a mountain out of a molehill. I mean, how difficult can it be to avoid a cyclist on the pavement? I found out the hard way when I was on holiday in Cornwall recently, and was nearly knocked sideways by THREE different groups of bike riders on a very narrow pavement outside some hotels in Looe. For once even I had a pedestrian vs. cyclist story to tell when I got back to the pub!
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