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Cylists who flout the law
Woodbrook Close Mixenden Why is it a minority of road users feel that they can do what they want, regardless of what the law says?
In the past I have tried to get cyclists recognised as legal road users. Some on bikes now seem to be going out of their way to say that they will do what they want to do.
In the space of five minutes tonight I saw two. One went head to head with a bus. Having come along Northgate through the lights at the top of the bus station the wrong way, he got as far as the junction at Old Market and Market Street when the bus travelling the correct way made him decide he would lose any competition between the two vehicles, forcing him to swerve.
The taxi following made him take to the pavement where, given the choice of pedestrian or shop window, he decided on colliding with the pedestrian. He disappeared up Russell Street, on the pavement.
Minutes later, one missed being collected by the front end of a bus by a matter of seconds.
He chose to come flying down Russell Street, straight across Market Street going over the steps at the top of Woolshops and then continued down Woolshops at speed. Anyone getting in his way came second to what he wanted to do.
Unfortunately he only seemed able to ride the bike downhill as to return he had to push it back uphill.
This lack of consideration isn't confined to two wheels or pedal power. Parts of Commercial Street and Market Street have signs that clearly indicate no motor vehicles, other than buses and taxis.
We have people who feel that these signs apply to everyone else but them.
Motor vehicles travel the wrong way, through the lights outside the Post Office on a daily basis. The wrong way through a one-way system. Why is nothing done about them?
There seems to be something about the junctions around the bus station that makes people think that they can do what they want. On Friday evening a private hire vehicle had just cleared the junction and suddenly stopped, causing the following vehicles to pull up, sharpish. He then reversed back through the lights, back almost to the library entrance.
Nearside lights were out and anything travelling the correct way had to avoid him.
Similar scenes can be seen almost anywhere in the town centre.
They'll pull up at junctions, park on the pavements and generally do what they want.
They are after all "professional drivers" so no other road user can tell them what they shouldn't be doing.
S. Loftus
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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