Fed up with town centre cyclists

10:50am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Letters

Has anyone noticed the number of people cycling against the traffic in Falmouth’s main street?

The main cause has to be the lack of signage to indicate that bicycles are forbidden!

Why am I writing this? Well mainly because I’m fed up with being almost knocked over by inconsiderate pedal pushers.

Roger Jacob (sent by email)

UPDATE: Crackdown planned for 'wrong way' Falmouth town centre cyclists. Click here to read

Comments(14)

abecambridge says...
1:44pm Wed 24 Oct 12

Why is your primary concern with push bikes when there are 2 tonne pollution spewing killing machines (cars) driving through the town day and night, spewing out Carbon Monoxides and PM10 particulates? I cycle because it is free, doesn't pollute and is healthy! And because my bike doesn't create exhaust fumes, it is better for your health too. You can thank me later. How about a compromise. A designated cycle lane perhaps???

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ucsweb says...
5:06pm Wed 24 Oct 12

Why thank you? You do not seem to realise that it is against the law for cyclists to ride against the traffic and on the pavements. I have also noticed that they no longer use bells to warn pedestrians.
In the past I have been given the choice to get run down by a bike on the pavement or step out in front of a car. If you try to protest all you get is a mouthful of abuse. The Police and PCSO's don't take any notice when it happens and wont until someone is seriously injured or killed!
Make the town fully pedestrian or traffic and police it properly.

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abecambridge says...
11:19am Thu 25 Oct 12

My point is, you are so fixated on the dangers posed to you from cyclists, you are ignoring the ongoing and invisible threat to your health from vehicle exhausts. Do you have and idea how harmful diesel and petrol engine fumes are and what nasty chemicals they have in them?

I suggested a compromise whereby we acknowledge the need for a designated cycle way through the town and a complete ban on motor vehichles.

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ucsweb says...
1:57pm Thu 25 Oct 12

So what you are saying is: don't worry about getting killed or injured now (by the arrogant stupidity of a few people) when I could die of exhaust fumes in several years time.

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GrahamHarris says...
1:19pm Mon 29 Oct 12

I think ''abecambridge'' has missed the point of the letter. Yes we know cars are a health risk and arguably shouldnt be going through the town centre, but as things stand, the law says they can so thats that.

What the law also says is that its a one way street and the idiot cyclists going through it the wrong way are doing so illegally!!! I'm extremely tempted to 'accidentally' step in front of one and make sure they end up on the deck. I should then be able to get a few hundred £££'s in compensation too ;-)

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molesworth says...
1:44pm Mon 29 Oct 12

Woah everybody! Let's calm down. I'm a cyclist and a motorist (strange I know) and as a cyclist one thing I can't stand is other cyclists breaking the law and giving all cyclists a bad name. I also can't stand motorists (a lot of whom reside in the UK) who show no consideration to cyclists and members of the public who seem to be grumpy in the extreme when it comes to cyclists (but not cars). So, we're all different but let's all agree that it's wrong to break the law and go against the one way system (or jump traffic lights) whether you're a cyclist or not.

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Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe says...
4:30pm Mon 29 Oct 12

I'm also both a motorist and a cyclist - not as rare a breed as you might imagine. I have never cycled the wrong way along there as I don't want to have shouting matches with pedestrians but I can understand why some more intrepid souls do venture along there on their bikes as there is a serious lack of alternatives due in part to the town’s topography: are they seriously expected to push their bikes all the way through the town along the flat? - talk about discouraging cycling at a time when councils countrywide are supposed to be actively encouraging it. Or are they expected to climb up steep hills and carry their bikes down steps, etc?
Until the council come up with something forward-thinking (like banning cars from going along there and then introducing a cycle lane), this problem will persist and, despite many posters here talking about the law being sacrosanct, etc., I think a blind eye should be turned to this practice as long as they’re not tearing through there hell-for-leather.
Plenty of times when walking through there, I’ve encountered rude and impatient drivers who seem surprised to find pedestrians in their way (on the busiest street in the town that even looks and feels like a pedestrianized area, at least until the next driver approaches). I can honestly say that I’ve not had any problems with cyclists there.
Could it be that they’re just an easier target for pedestrians’ ire than drivers?

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Claudius says...
7:52pm Mon 29 Oct 12

LBFS...'are they seriously expected to push their bikes all the way through the town along the flat ?

Are you seriously suggesting that they are incapable of walking through town like the pedestrians ?
As others have said...it is against the law and I expect our local plod would stop them if he can find time between what seems endless gassing with everybody every time I see him.

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Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe says...
8:47am Tue 30 Oct 12

Claudius, getting off your bike and pushing it is all very well for brief distances if its particularly crowded or dangerous, but for cyclists, if you're on a bike, why shouldn't you benefit from it and actually use it (responsibly) to get from one side of the town to another? Could I be right in presuming that only a non-cyclist would expect cyclists to push their bikes that kind of distance...?
As for the law, well, I know there are other (bye)laws that I sometimes don't strictly follow for my own convenience, after forming a reasoned opinion about the level of seriousness and the effects on others, and I'd be surprised if all of these commenters who are insisting on the letter of the law being applied don't do the same when it suits them (incorrect parking, littering, dogs on beaches, letting an under-18 have alcohol... the list goes on and on). 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.'

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Claudius says...
9:19am Tue 30 Oct 12

Ah.....incorrect parking.Another bugbear of mine especially with a town councellor who seems to be able to leave his car facing the wrong way ,half on ,half off the pavement straddling the double yellow lines outside the Royal Cornwall Yachtclub ....with impunity.I have seen a police car drive right past it.
I am also fed up squeezing past cars parked in places they shouldn't ,leaving little space to pass and resulting in me scraping my wheels along the pavement.
There are reasons for rules Lbfs

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dukeoffalmouth says...
12:05pm Tue 30 Oct 12

@GrahamHarris

"I'm extremely tempted to 'accidentally' step in front of one and make sure they end up on the deck. I should then be able to get a few hundred £££'s in compensation too ;-)"

Are you suggesting to deliberately cause an accident in order to make a claim for compensation? Is that not illegal? In the event of you actually being involved in an incident this statement could well be used as evidence that you conspired to defraud.

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molesworth says...
4:38pm Tue 30 Oct 12

Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe is so right on this matter. I guess that comes with breeding! You weren't at school with 'Fatty Howler' Henderson-Smith (Hampshire clan) by any chance? I'm sure there was a Forbes-Smythe in his cohort who loved to dash about on two wheels. Also climbed the Eiffel Tower dressed as a frog I believe(?).

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Lord Barrington Forbes-Smythe says...
8:27am Wed 31 Oct 12

Well thank you molers. As a matter of fact I was. A thoroughly good egg, old Fatty. ..

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molesworth says...
2:52pm Wed 31 Oct 12

Unfortunately in 2002 old Fatty died whilst attempting something called Bakasana what ever that is (he went native on holiday in the Himalayas). Bloody good memorial service though.

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