We are always hearing of campaigns to make cycling in London safer, and quite rightly so - make it
as safe as possible. However, that requires some input from the cyclists themselves as well as they
share the roads with other vehicles. More often than not the irresponsible behaviour of vehicle drivers
is highlighted during these campaigns and spoken about on tv etc. They often go on about how they
want more respect from other road users, sometimes justifiably, we all want that, after all when everyone
is behaving as they should on the roads, everyone is safe.
The other evening I was driving a coach with people going to theatre and my expeiriences with cyclists
in the city was, I'm sorry to say, very negative. I had cyclists trying to squeeze up the inside of the coach,
jumping red lights and, worst of all, hanging onto my rear lights and getting pulled along. Dreadfully dangerous at the best of times, but coaches are big things and if one turns left with a cyclist hanging on the back, that cyclist is probably going to be wondering why he's (they're usually blokes) had a close encounter with the rear end of a coach, or not be wondering anything because he'll be crushed underneath it.
When I went to park along the Embankment, I got into a bay at the front and was going to back up to get close to the kerb. I could see traffic and cyclists and was waiting until they'd passed. The abuse I got
from a couple of cyclists was unbelievable, one tried to sneak up the inside in a gap that was scarecely a foot wide, banging on the coach all the way alongside it and scratching it with his handlebars. Another was hanging on my back light.
That was it, enough is enough. I had a word with them, politely but firmly. I said to them both if they want the respect from other road users that we all want and deserve, then do not do that. I said how come they are always complaining at others' behaviour on the roads and yet they appear to think they are exempt from
the law and can do what they like? Most of them completely ignore traffic lights. Some of them no doubt wonder why they get knocked off.
Whilst parked, I saw two idiots on bikes doing wheelies and acrobatics along the Embankment, in the dark - no helmets, no lights, no high-visibility clothing - right in front of a policeman!
On the way home another idiot cyclist riding on an unlit road, pitch dark, no lights, black clothes, no helmet.
There are some good, law-abiding cyclists amongst them, people that wear good visibility clothing, a helmet and cycle according to the rules of the roads.
We all know there are some arrogant drivers out there, yes, but there are good ones too and most are not out to get cyclists. It works both ways. Us coach drivers aren't out to get cyclists, or anyone else, either
but neither to we want cyclists damaging our coaches with handlbars, hanging on our rear lights and doing daredevil acts all around us and not wearing suitable clothing and a helmet, so when they are being stupid, we can at least see them quicker.
Perhaps these campaigns should interview people from both sides and take a bit of film around London
one evening - that would paint a truer picture.
OK, rant over, thanks for listening!
