Martin isn’t the only one. There is this idiotic rant from Robert Hardman in the Daily Mail (there’s a pattern emerging here) and then some “comic” from Australia, who has also climbed down and apologised. See the offending video below:

Before I go any further, I should put my own cards on the table:

• I commute into Manchester by bike a couple of times a week;
• I always wear lycra;
• I don’t jump red traffic lights or ever ride on the pavement;
• I pay vehicle excise duty (license to pollute) on my car;
• I’m a father

On almost every journey into Manchester car drivers are overwhelmingly courteous and patient. Occasionally one will drive past way too close for comfort. Very occasionally I have felt moved to gesticulate (I never make offensive gestures, just wave my arms to draw attention to the fact that I too am on the road) and have even shouted. The consequences for the car driver misjudging the passing of a cyclist are trivial; the consequences to the cyclist can be fatal.

Too often the Clarksons and Martins of this world have vented their bigoted spleen on cyclists, fostering a tribal mutual hatred amongst certain sections of the driving and cycling public. It’s on a par with racism, homophobia and sexism as far as I’m concerned. But where does this get us? Let’s respond, and respond calmly and with facts.

Chester Road, near my home, in Hazel Grove is notorious for speeding, so much so that the council has surveyed it extensively with a view to proposing traffic calming measures. Within a few hundred metres of Chester Road on either side are 3 primary schools and a large secondary school, not to mention a train station and a couple of old folks homes. Children and adults alike are crossing this road all day, and especially at commuter and school times, yet, incredibly, the council have shown that 63% of the traffic using Chester Road is exceeding the speed limit. So, James Martin, Matthew Parris, Magda Szubanski, Robert Hardman and all you other  cyclist haters out there, I put it to you, who represents a greater threat to the pedestrians of Chester Road? The cyclists (even the kids that ride their bikes on the pavements) or the car drivers?

Statistics:

According to Government statistics for the 8 years ending 31/12/05.

• Nunber of pedestrians killed on pavements by cyclists was 2
• Number of pedestrians killed on pavements by drivers  was 382
• Number of pedestrians on crossings killed by cyclists was 3
• Number of pedestrians killed on crossings by drivers was 530

The UK stats for 2008 are presented here, and show an improving picture with 115 cyclists killed and 572 pedestrians. None of these deaths, I believe, were caused by cyclists.

It is quite clear that the risk posed to pedestrians by cyclists is tiny when compared to the risks posed by cars, vans and lorries. Cyclists caused the death of 5 pedestrians in 8 years. In the same period over 5,000 pedestrians were killed by motor vehicles. How many of these victims were killed by speeding, by drivers texting, by drivers using mobile phones? So, let’s engage the brain a little bit before setting off on another lazy “lycra lout” rant and realise that, in the greater scheme of things, the actions of  the small minority of cyclists who run red lights, jump crossings and ride inconsiderately, while reprehensible, do not represent the vast majority of cyclists and are a mere nuisance compared to the drivers who ignore the rules of the road who year on year kill and maim thousands.

I will never condone the running of red lights by cyclists, or even riding two abreast when it’s obvious that the traffic is being held up. Equally, I don’t blame kids for cycling on pavements (although sometimes I wish they would do it a little more considerately). Life’s too short for all this anger and hatred, let’s just accept that, take a deep breath and point out the simple fact that the more cyclists there are on the roads, the safer it becomes and the greater the benefit to the environment and everyone’s health.

Right, I’ve got that off my chest, now back to normal service.

http://www.roadpeace.org/