Beware Mr Angry on the road

I was cycling peacefully up Oakdale Road on the last leg of my journey home from work when two fools in a clapped out excuse for a car roared past, gesticulating and shouting abuse.

I maintained my dignity and resisted the urge to shout back – after all they were in the car, I was on the bike.

If only I knew a Q who could fit James Bond-style rocket launchers on the front of my bike.

Whoosh, bang! Bits of burning Nissan raining down over half of Bakersfield.

Ok, maybe I took their rudeness a little too much to heart.

I can only think the two gentlemen were angry because they had been forced to slow down before they passed me, probably adding a whole ten seconds to their journey time.

What makes people so impatient and aggressive? Both dangerous states of mind when behind the wheel.

Perhaps they could lower their blood pressure and calm their minds with a little exercise - cycling would be ideal.

They could also congratulate themselves on helping the environment.

And with a bit of luck, they might not have the breath to spare to shout at anyone

Beat the 'plugs' - get on your bikes

I see the good folk of Burton Joyce and parts thereabout are having another meeting to discuss the extension to the Loop Road and other changes to the highways which have ruined their lives.

The most wretched of all the changes is the introduction of the ill-named bus plugs on the A614, which mean only buses and cyclists can use the road.

While people in Burma cannot even see a road because they are under 20ft of flood water, some folk in BJ are furious because they have to take the long way round to get their children to Carlton le Willows School.

But fear not, I have a suggestion that could help many in their heroic struggle to get their offspring educated - make the kids walk.
It’s only a few hundred yards from the village to the school, it will provide them with some exercise and cut pollution.

Better still, buy them a bicycle - they’ll get there in five minutes, and be wide awake and invigorated when they get to their desks.

Frightened off the road

Ever wondered why there are so few cyclists on the road when the Government is pushing green transport?
Bruised pedestrians will say they are all on the pavements, but I can tell you what the real answer is: Cyclists are too afraid to ride on the road.
Our traffic is so heavy and so careless of the safety of cyclists that most people do not want to risk it on two wheels.
On one side we have the armoured might of the motorist: on the other the vulnerable, plucky, cyclist.
Now, lest anyone say what right have I to comment on this, let me tell you that I have been a motorist for 26 years, and a cyclist for longer

It’s an unfair conflict - when it comes to car versus bike, the car always wins.

Drivers of cars, vans, lorries and buses tear along knowing that crumple zones, anti-lock brakes and airbags will save their bacon.

They are kings of the road, indestructible and nothing had better get in their way.

Cyclists, with nothing more than their skill, awareness and a plastic skid lid, are at their mercy.

All we want is room, for motorists to slow down and pass us when it is safe to do so, not skim past at 50pmh.

Now I know that the armoured brigade will hit back and say that cyclists are bad riders and ignore the rules of the road, and I would agree with that to a point – I will not defend the Lycra-nutters and cycling chavs who flout every law of the road.

But very, very few motorists have been killed or maimed by cyclists, while the toll of injured cyclists continues to mount.

And anyway how can you justify bad driving on the grounds of someone else’s bad riding – a skilled driver anticipates and allows for other people’s mistakes.

Next time out, I’ll tell you why motorists should love cyclists.