Is it lunacy in this world.
When you read stories such as I read in a local newspaper.
Up on the Whitsundays, where a group triathletes were out on a ride., a pack of 16 cyclists had to ride through a wall of flame that had been lit by young men who had earlier harassed the group and had poured a flammable liquid on the bitumen and lighted it up, as they were approaching.
The group had been harassed by the car full of hoons earlier in the ride. When, as the car passed them. The passenger side doors flung open as if they were trying to knock the cyclists over the people considered it a joke as 16 riders tried to avoid the flames, ending up in the dirt. Somebody could have been seriously hurt in the incident, the youngest of the riders being only 14 years old
Cyclists should have a license
What I consider is more a joke is a survey commissioned by insurance company budget direct, that found 60% of Brisbane motorists believe cyclists should have a licence to use main roads.
Now granted, there are a cyclist out there that need to be reminded of the road rules I will admit that.
When you read articles like just mentioned above,It doesn’t take long as a bike rider to understand that it is more need of education of car drivers, more so than the education of cyclists.
Maybe, there is an even greater cultural argument to it that the society that we live in has become so separated from a cause and effect of an individual action that a lot of people just do not care.
As a bike rider. There have been more than one occasion, where it has been only quick thinking on my part that has averted an accident. Based on intolerance and ignorance shown by car drivers. I would believe there would be more drivers that need to understand that doesn’t take much just to slowdown in courtesy to a cyclist as opposed to negligent, bike riders.
- Image via Wikipedia
Now, what is happening there is a push for the licensing of all, bike riders to become targets on the road and have to pay for the privilege of it, what a bloody joke.
bikes are essential transport,, bikes are ecologically friendly
bikes can be expensive for racing. They also can be a status symbol for those with more money than talent on any weekend at the races.
With that said, let’s get real, do we need more government legislation.
I don’t think so ,when you see these issues start to appear make sure as a bike rider or athlete you think about your actions and if you are contributing to any actions that would give bad press, and what soapbox you can stand on, to educate rather than berate recalcitrant car drivers.
What do you think about the issue of licensing for bike riders and other actions that need to be taken for a safe riding environment. Please leave a comment with your thoughts like to hear from you.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=2c987d6d-31cc-45a7-9422-9ab379751c24 "Cyclists ambushed with wall of flames")
Related posts:
licensing cyclists is ridiculous – teaching people how to behave would be good – how about bringing back mandatory national service.
i also have had many near misses from cars and seen accidents where the driver just has not seen the rider. i was hit by a car that went through a red light once also so i know how painful that can be.
what can be done? – maybe as part of a getting a car licence the driver should be required to ride a bicycle in traffic so they can see how not to treat cyclists when they are behind the wheel.
I agree that car drivers should be more aware of cyclist, sounds like a good idea having a mandatory section in a drivers licensing for cycle awareness