The
bicycle: also known as a bike, push bike or cycle, introduced in the 19th
century, there are now about a billion worldwide, twice the number of
automobiles. They are the principle means of transport in many regions, they
provide a popular form of recreation, children's toys, fitness, transportation
for military and police, courier services and bicycle racing. That's right,
bike racing.
If you
Google bicycle racing, one discovers that there are various forms of this sport
such as road races, track cycling, mountain bike racing, cyclo-cross (that's a
new one to me) etc etc, which are performed in a controlled environment in a
designated area etc etc. Well, that is reassuring and if someone wouldn't mind
letting our local cyclists know that riding on our city streets last time I
checked, does not mean that you are all in the running for the Tour de France
yellow jacket, not on my watch anyway!
I have
watched the increase of road cyclists over the years and the increased testosterone
flowing from so many of them. I know of a friend who had an incident with a
female cyclist, watching the cyclist land on a friend's car bonnet, not knowing
where the cyclist had even come from (wait for it......the cyclist was coming
through changing traffic lights around a corner and thought she would make it
in time! Thank goodness life was not lost) and who quite frankly is still in
shock from the incident. Keeping fit in our ever- increasing technological
world of "sit down in front of the PC, TV etc etc for hours on end and
help increase our cholesterol levels and weight, whilst working on that
spreadsheet/latest video game which I must conquer before the guys at work beat
my score" is a good thing. No it's a great thing.
I admit
to having purchased one of the same metal-framed modes of transportation myself
and then sold it not too long after, having feared for my life whilst cycling
through the suburbs while semi-trailers rush by, causing me to nearly ride into
trees whilst trying to control my bike due to the wind force of these huge
mechanical masses. This is something I have seen repeatedly as these crazy
cyclists (yep I am using that word and I don't care) try and defy the laws of
physics whilst cycling next to modes of transport 100x their size and weight.
If you are that crazy (yep, again) then so be it and so be the consequences my
friends and my goodness aren't there many of those. I feel sorry for the
ambulance men who are eternally being called out to bicycle/traffic crashes. I
know this because I have seen many.
You see
the last time I checked, we have had a plethora of bike tracks created, worth
millions and millions of tax payer dollars, yet so many of these crazy (yep, I am
enjoying this) and selfish cyclists (and yes I know that many of you are good
little cyclists who do the right thing and thank you) seem to give the
appearance that it is their God-given right to cause chaos on the roads and
I thought the roads were created for automobiles etc long before the
cyclists donned their testosterone-driven lycra-clad bodies and seemed to take
the roads as their own! Oh and God help you if you get in their way as the
testosterone drains out of their sweat-soaked bodies because interestingly,
just because we pedestrians/car drivers weren’t
born with eyes in the back of our heads and amazingly can't see them
approaching from behind, is absolutely no excuse people!
I for one
am hoping that bike registration, just like cars, motorbikes etc must, will
become compulsory and I do know there has been talk about it which is a
positive sign. Recently, a spokesman for some cyclist association was against this idea.
I can't think why (I write with much sarcasm intended!?) My keenness for this
registration to come to fruition is due to the fact that if I had a dollar for each time I
saw a cyclist ride through a red traffic light, or not stop at a stop sign, I
would be driving a Lamborghini which I would have paid cash for and I would be
rivalling Warren Buffet's fortune! How more cyclists aren't killed on the road
for this arrogant and reckless behaviour amazes me but then how do I know the
numbers aren't through the roof, and maybe the media are not permitted to
advise us of such catastrophic events?
These
bikes need to be registered so that the offenders, and goodness knows there are
many of you out there, can be booked and charged accordingly. If we as drivers
have to adhere to the road rules, why in heaven's name don't these maverick
cyclists have to comply too? Watching the lack of respect for the local traffic
rules in my area nearly every day, I am thinking that half of these characters
would lose their rego in a very short period of time as they cycle through
those red lights......good grief, I just saw someone do it just now! Book 'em
Danno"
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