22nd of February 2012 - On Your Bike

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E-mail: JohnEDouglas@gmail.com
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22nd of February 2012

Dear Sir/Madam,

ON YOUR BIKE

As a society, we have rightly adopted a harm reduction culture in which we seek to persuade people by law and reason to safeguard their health. Changes in the law have brought about restrictions on smoking and the forthcoming crackdown on alcohol will similarly save many lives. Healthy eating promotion is also playing its part (although the legal route may yet be needed in this respect). And police will stop and prosecute any motorist not wearing a seatbelt or motorcyclist without helmet.

Yet, when it comes to pedal cyclists, little is done to enforce existing safety legislation. Whereas cycle helmets are not a legal requirement, adequate nocturnal front and rear lighting is - as well as obeying traffic signals whilst mounted. Yet, how often does one see cyclists sailing through red traffic lights - if one actually sees them at night without lights?

Is the only reason that police never seem to enforce cycling law a Clarksonesque view that cyclists form the natural prey of the four wheeled avatar and are a species not worth saving? Or is there some other agenda?


John Eoin Douglas