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Ah, the letters section of local newspapers – a platform for residents and readers to engage with and debate, in a studied, forensic manner, the great political, socio-economic, and philosophical questions of the day.
Or maybe they’re just used to regurgitate the same old worn-out tropes about cyclists. Yeah, maybe that’s it.
This morning’s ‘Letters to the Argus’, Brighton and Hove’s local news outlet (famous, of course, for including a massive portrait of Adolf Hitler on a front page story about cycle lanes in April), featured a potential all-time classic of the anti-cycling bingo genre.
So, eyes down, cards at the ready – Christine from Brighton, take it away:
“Most people, especially drivers, know that cyclists do have a law of their own,” she begins, getting us all off to a good start.
“They don’t have insurance, pay road fund licence nor do they seem to know that the Highway Code exists.”
Line!
“Two weeks ago I was early for my dental appointment at Fiveways, Ditchling Road. As it was such a hot day I sat at the bus stop until my appointment was due.
“I counted seven cyclists ride through the lights. Six of them were completely dressed in black and were riding black cycles. Very hard to see, especially in poor light or at night.”
Which one was it, Christine, poor light or night?
“Two of them were riding side by side having a chat.”
The scoundrels…
“Cyclist number seven was the only one dressed in high visibility clothing and was easy to see. However, he rode straight through the red light and shot past me at some considerable speed.”
My card’s filling up nicely now.
“According to the new edition of the Highway Code, we, the car drivers, are supposed to give cyclists all sorts of consideration when we are driving.
“We have to have road fund licence, insurance and MOT.
“If we have an accident we could lose our licence. If the cyclists have an accident what exactly do they lose?”
Yes, Christine, if a cyclist is hit by a one tonne metal box at speed, what could they possibly lose?
She concludes: “They use the roads, so they should abide by all the rules and regulations laid out for car drivers.”
Full house!
Bonus points also go to the Argus’ sub for captioning the image used above the letter with the profound “Drivers can lose their licence after an accident”.
Anti-cycling bingo? Completed it, mate.
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