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Peddling myths on cyclists’ behaviour
• A PEDESTRIAN has called for all cars to be banned from Camden because she was hit by a speeding one: “If one car driver refuses to drive within the speed limit then they should all be banned” (Walker badly injured by Heath cyclist, May 24).
Seem unreasonable? Well, it seems that that is exactly what the pedestrian who was knocked over by a yob on a bicycle is calling for – a ban of all cyclists on the Heath due to a silly kid who is probably just as rude and anti-social whether he is on his feet, a skateboard, a car, a scooter or a bicycle.
Whilst I absolutely sympathise with this elderly woman’s experience, the local papers are continually reporting aggressive behaviour by youths and other many anti-social people.
Teenagers are stabbing themselves and others, people are damaged every week and three cyclists have been killed on Camden streets in the past year.
When will we understand that there are simply anti-social people – be they on feet, two wheels, four wheels or pushing a pram? When will people stop hating entire tribes of citizens because of their bad experience of one person?
And in case you are wondering what all the fuss is about, as far as I can tell it’s this – Hampstead Heath is 852 acres of which there are currently two miles of paths allowing cyclists.
The “selfish” Camden Cycling Campaign, as far as I can tell, is requesting another 2.5 miles of paths – a grand total of 4.5 miles out of 852 acres.
The Heath For Feet campaign’s stance is no to negotiation, compromise, sharing or any steps to protect people who are able and willing to cycle, to help make their journey a little more pleasant.
Is this what they teach their children? Unfortunately, it is people just like them that are on both sides of the Israel/Palestine war, along with all the other conflicts on our sad and beautiful world, who refuse to take part in dialogue and are consumed by their arrogance and hatred.
Try getting on your bike and get some wind blowing through your hair – it might just remind you of how precious the air is. I appeal to the Heath For Feet campaigners to try and see the bigger picture.
THE FREEWHEELING CITIZEN MACAULAY
Address supplied
• ON behalf of Camden Cycling Campaign (CCC) I would like to offer my sincerest sympathy to Ms Parker who was hit and seriously injured by youths cycling in an irresponsible manner, and on a non-designated path on Hampstead Heath.
These upsetting events reinforce our determination to campaign for responsible and safe cycling.
In the past we have worked on this issue with Camden Council and the police, and this month we are joining in the campaign for considerate cycling on the canal towpath.
We also work with schools to encourage more children to take up cycling training and to cycle to school.
Indeed we would like children to cycle through parks and across the Heath at an early age together with their parents so that they can learn the behaviour appropriate for shared use paths.
While Ms Parker is entitled to be very angry about the incident, it should not be a reason to oppose CCC’s proposal for a modest increase in shared cycle/pedestrian paths, as such opposition would penalise the law-abiding cyclists, leaving the irresponsible ones unaffected.
The description of the behaviour of the youth that ran into Ms Parker clearly demonstrates that he takes no notice of the basic rule that pedestrians always have priority.
I could understand a demand for an increase in policing but I doubt whether that is feasible.
I therefore suggest that the public should be more vigilant and not tolerate irresponsible behaviour of any kind on the Heath.
Finally, we need to introduce children to cycling early on and in general teach them to have respect for other people.
STEFANO CASALOTTI and JEAN DOLLIMORE
(Joint co-ordinators – Camden Cycling Campaign)
Address supplied
• SO, walking, as you report, is now becoming risky on Hampstead Heath.
It is also dangerous in the other parks.
I am partially crippled. I am unable to jump out of a cyclist’s way, especially when they are on the pavement and silently approach from behind and in the dark.
Some of them, arrogantly, in their environmental enthusiasm, also disregard traffic lights and endanger slow walkers.
I have yet to see police or community guardians notice these offenders.
WP JASPERT
Fermoy Road, W9
• THE debate on cycling on the Heath must not be allowed to be dictated by hysteria and bigotry.
The walkers lobby seem to be engaging in a rather nasty campaign to encourage fear and loathing in the public against all cyclists.
Reasoned argument is one thing, naked prejudice quite another.
As both a regular Heath walker and a committed cyclist, I understand both sides of the argument.
I too have seen the selfish and reckless adolescents careering around on their mountain bikes, noisy and dangerous.
But I have also encountered the elderly lady with her full-front basket leisurely pedalling home from her morning’s shopping trip. Both are cyclists. The point is to encourage one, and punish the other.
It is precisely because most of the Heath is barred to cyclists that you attract the most irresponsible to use it – the bloody- minded who are prepared to break the law.
The tragic story in last week’s CNJ of the lady severely injured by a youngster illustrates the point all too well.
The current rules are being openly flouted and not deterring tearaways anyway.
By making the Heath welcoming to cyclists you will, in fact, be attracting the law-abiding and responsible.
Once such cyclists become the majority, a culture of sensible cycling will become the norm.
NEIL O'DONEL
Oakeshott Avenue, N6
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