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Get real, cyclists, take a bus
• AN excessive amount of attention and municipal consideration is being given to cyclists.
But we are not facing the facts of life. When you shop for groceries, how do you think your various foods get to the supermarket? When you seemingly eternally buy clothing for your ever-growing children, how do you think it is delivered to the stores? When you purchase furniture, do you think it walks to the stores on its own stumpy legs or, hey, rides a bicycle?
All over the country heavy goods vehicles are freighting the multitude of needs for our everyday lives 24 hours of every day. Bicycles are all very well on little side roads for housewives pedalling to local shops or in a country village.
In our cities it is another matter. These days I am scared even in a car and rather travel by bus. It is a reality in our fast-moving and congested city roads that cyclists don’t stand a cat in hell’s chance. Get real. Use public transport!
Maggie Milner
Address supplied, N6
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Your comments:
THE fear is understandable. Bicyclists should practice prior to engaging heavy traffic, and develop skills to maneuver to and fro in rhythm with motorists. Outfit yourself with a good rearview and form the habit of knowing from whence trucks and cars will appear. Truckers are professionals. It's the 4-wheelers I worry about as an obsessive biker. Fully 1/5 of them should never be on a public road to start with, and may not be prepared to get stopped until after they hitcha. Remember something about buses approaching from rear: many are designed with motors in the rear, 40' or more behind the front of the bus. You won't hear a bus until after his front end goes past ye. Ouch!
Samarami |
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