OK, Victor Meldrew winge moment.
In case you have not guesed it, I am a keen cyclist. It therefore really bugs me when I see people out riding their bikes without lights.
Last night I was driving home from work along country roads. Now these roads have lots of dips and hidden rises, as well as your usual corners. The edge of the road is quite deteriorated with some serious pot holes, so that you need to see where you are going. Anyway, what do I see? A man riding his bike with a carier bag on the handle bars, no lid and no lights. The roads were pitch black. He couldn't see where he was going and, more to the point, nobody could see him. His only nod to safety was that his bike was fitted with reflectors and that had more to do with legality when the shop assembled the bike.
Lights are not expensive. You can get a pair of LEDs cheaply for about £15. They will flash on and off, front and rear, and give everybody a fighting chance of seeing you. You can get a nice, viable front light for about £30 - £40, or even a reasonable rechargable for little more than this. Ideal for road work. Why the hell don't they? Do they think that, because it is a bike it doesn't count?
The one that really gets me is that at 8 or 9 O clock you will see children out with their mates on bikes. They wear dark clothing, often with hoods, ride dark bikes etc. And the worst thing is, that the p
arents who sent them out in that condition, who don't have a clue where they are anyway, complain when you run them over.
I think that we need to promote cycling, which is becoming more popular. But I also think that we need to do more to make it safe. When was the last time that a cop pulled someone over for not having any lights? Why are schools so apathetic when it comes to cycle safety?
A scheme runs in the UK where, through schools or individuals, you can get a £40 cycle helmet for your child, a high vis jacket and reflective stickers, for £10. My partner approached my daughters school about this and, rather than leaping at it with both hands, they asked what was in it for them. Ummm, live children.
Anyway, we need to do more to educate parents and children about cycle safety, even the minimum of lid and lights would be a start. Consider. In order to drive any other vehicle on the road you are legally compelled to take a test. Most people learn to ride on the pavement and stay there. So with no idea of road sence or basic safety, people set out onto the roads. Grrrr.
What are the parents and authorities doing ignoring this?
Luck
In case you have not guesed it, I am a keen cyclist. It therefore really bugs me when I see people out riding their bikes without lights.
Last night I was driving home from work along country roads. Now these roads have lots of dips and hidden rises, as well as your usual corners. The edge of the road is quite deteriorated with some serious pot holes, so that you need to see where you are going. Anyway, what do I see? A man riding his bike with a carier bag on the handle bars, no lid and no lights. The roads were pitch black. He couldn't see where he was going and, more to the point, nobody could see him. His only nod to safety was that his bike was fitted with reflectors and that had more to do with legality when the shop assembled the bike.
Lights are not expensive. You can get a pair of LEDs cheaply for about £15. They will flash on and off, front and rear, and give everybody a fighting chance of seeing you. You can get a nice, viable front light for about £30 - £40, or even a reasonable rechargable for little more than this. Ideal for road work. Why the hell don't they? Do they think that, because it is a bike it doesn't count?
The one that really gets me is that at 8 or 9 O clock you will see children out with their mates on bikes. They wear dark clothing, often with hoods, ride dark bikes etc. And the worst thing is, that the p
arents who sent them out in that condition, who don't have a clue where they are anyway, complain when you run them over.I think that we need to promote cycling, which is becoming more popular. But I also think that we need to do more to make it safe. When was the last time that a cop pulled someone over for not having any lights? Why are schools so apathetic when it comes to cycle safety?
A scheme runs in the UK where, through schools or individuals, you can get a £40 cycle helmet for your child, a high vis jacket and reflective stickers, for £10. My partner approached my daughters school about this and, rather than leaping at it with both hands, they asked what was in it for them. Ummm, live children.
Anyway, we need to do more to educate parents and children about cycle safety, even the minimum of lid and lights would be a start. Consider. In order to drive any other vehicle on the road you are legally compelled to take a test. Most people learn to ride on the pavement and stay there. So with no idea of road sence or basic safety, people set out onto the roads. Grrrr.
What are the parents and authorities doing ignoring this?
Luck
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