It’s about time I attacked cyclists . . .
. . . with a verbal assault, not with a cricket bat, although it is the latter that I would rather do*. But, before I get lynched by all of the cyclists in the world I should point out that it is only a small(ish) majority of the cycling community that is letting the side down. So to elaborate further, what is making me so irate? Well, I’ll explain. There is one very simply rule that all cyclists should follow, in fact, so simple is this rule that anyone with at least half a working brain could follow it, yes, even Paris Hilton!
Look over your shoulder BEFORE moving out into the road.
Very simple wouldn’t you agree? Evidently not to some brain dead idiots who are under the delusion that there is no such thing as the car, that some how, a squishy human straddled over a flimsy frame supported by two circles of rubber can simply ignore over a tonne of steel travelling at speed and move out to “pass that parked car” or “turn right into that side road” without even having to flinch, or look, or slow down, or engage brain. No cyclists, no. In reality here is what actually happens; Cyclist plank moves out into road with no regard for his/her safety or anyone around them, I have to slam on the anchors (In some instances swerve towards oncoming traffic is required. Yes, you’ve spotted the danger in that as well haven’t you? You clever people!) and somehow hope that I don’t flatten said plank under the wheels of my car. Arse biscuits!!
Now for the serious bit.
Yes, I always give cyclists plenty of room and yes, I always try to pre em-pt what a cyclist may be going to do or what the traffic conditions are like up ahead. I do have common sense and road sense to know that me and a cyclist can’t overtake a parked car at the same time, one of us has to go first, sometimes its me, sometimes it’s the cyclists. I do sympathise with how difficult and how dangerous the roads are for cyclists but put simply, you don’t do yourself any favours by not looking around and over you shoulder before making any kind of manoeuvre! Lessons learnt kiddies!
Rant over.
*I would never hit anyone with a Cricket bat. I would use a steel bar. Chortle!
