Ok I was loathe to start this off on here, as its started a mini war on my Facebook between one very pro-cyclist and others who don't see the world like he does.
I posted it because on Saturday, at a major junction in Twickenham, where my mum lives, I was crossing the road with my kids. All traffic signals are red and there's a bleeping as well to indicate a green man to cross. My lad scoots across and just before he reaches the opposite kerb, a lady on a bike cruised straight through the red light and nearly smashed into him. She wasn't going at breakneck speed but fast enough to do considerable damage to an adult let alone a small boy.
She only avoided him as a result of my load shout, mainly of pure fear. Luckily there was no collision. But instead of stopping to apologise, or indeed acknowledge what happened, she carried on without stopping or apologising. In fact the only reason I know she actually knew what happened was a dismissive, regal wave of the hand she gave.
I did shout after her, not by swearing but more in that parental fear and incredulity of what I had witnessed.
Now I'm not anti cyclist. I own a bike and in good weather I like to get out on it but I have to say being on the road scares me due to how vulnerable I feel and because of the behaviour of other road users - passing too close, driving right behind your back wheel and sometimes passengers just shouting at you for the fun of it.
Before Saturday's incident, I'd already had to move swiftly out of the way of another adult riding fast on the pavement who didn't seem to want to slow or keep to one side and then whilst driving another cyclist just came off the pavement from my left into my path to join the road.
I know not *all* cyclists are like this nor do I want them removed from our run off the road. But I have noticed since the 2012 Olympics, the behaviour of cyclists in my mums area has changed considerably - it's part of the Olympic route. There's certainly more cyclists on our roads which is good for the environment and good for the health of the nation.
But has anyone
I posted it because on Saturday, at a major junction in Twickenham, where my mum lives, I was crossing the road with my kids. All traffic signals are red and there's a bleeping as well to indicate a green man to cross. My lad scoots across and just before he reaches the opposite kerb, a lady on a bike cruised straight through the red light and nearly smashed into him. She wasn't going at breakneck speed but fast enough to do considerable damage to an adult let alone a small boy.
She only avoided him as a result of my load shout, mainly of pure fear. Luckily there was no collision. But instead of stopping to apologise, or indeed acknowledge what happened, she carried on without stopping or apologising. In fact the only reason I know she actually knew what happened was a dismissive, regal wave of the hand she gave.
I did shout after her, not by swearing but more in that parental fear and incredulity of what I had witnessed.
Now I'm not anti cyclist. I own a bike and in good weather I like to get out on it but I have to say being on the road scares me due to how vulnerable I feel and because of the behaviour of other road users - passing too close, driving right behind your back wheel and sometimes passengers just shouting at you for the fun of it.
Before Saturday's incident, I'd already had to move swiftly out of the way of another adult riding fast on the pavement who didn't seem to want to slow or keep to one side and then whilst driving another cyclist just came off the pavement from my left into my path to join the road.
I know not *all* cyclists are like this nor do I want them removed from our run off the road. But I have noticed since the 2012 Olympics, the behaviour of cyclists in my mums area has changed considerably - it's part of the Olympic route. There's certainly more cyclists on our roads which is good for the environment and good for the health of the nation.
But has anyone
