Cyclists under attack

Did you sit there patiently twiddling your thumbs waiting for green while cursing under you breath as you watched the cyclist creep past you, diving in and out of traffic?

Southampton City Council has worked hard to ensure this cleaner, greener and cheaper method of transport is more widely used - but now it seems the humble cyclist has been the target of criticism from motoring organisations.

Fed up with being increasingly shackled by speed cameras, parking regulations and motoring fines, drivers have demanded that cyclists should obey the rules of the road or face similar penalties as the beleaguered driver.

As with motoring, should the actions of a minority create greater regulation?

Is it time to introduce the cycling licence?

This week, motoring organisation the RAC led calls for greater enforcement on cyclists.

A spokesman said: "Enforcement is weak. The police must make sure that the rules of the road are enforced because there are a minority of cyclists fragrantly disregarding the law."

Carlisle's Labour MP Eric Martlew has announced a Private Member's Bill intending to force young cyclists to wear a helmet or face fines.

Southampton City Council's cycling development officer Peter Brunskill does not feel that is the way forward.

He has overseen a large expansion in the number of cyclists and cycle routes in the city and has led initiatives such as last month's successful Active Transport roadshow.

He recommended wearing helmets, but expressed concern that making it mandatory would not encourage cycling.

He said: "It's a good idea to wear a cycling helmet. We do point out that if you were injured, head injury is the most common - and a helmet could be life-saving.

"We are trying to break down the barriers. We are saying you don't need to wear Lycra or be sporty.

"Personally I think making compulsory helmets would be a detriment. If we say you must wear a helmet, people will think it must be dangerous and people in lower income groups could find it quite expensive.

"In parts of Australia it has been introduced and cycling has declined dramatically."

Motoring organisations have been worried by new legislation, which is awaiting its second reading in the European Parliament, that could cost motorists dear.

The new law, which harmonises much road legislation across Europe, could mean greater responsibility on the driver in an accident - even when the cyclist is to blame.

In response Andrew Howard, the AA's head of road safety, and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents have both suggested incorporating road cycling into the national curriculum.

Mr Howard, who called for more cycling proficiency volunteers, said: "There is an element of lawlessness among pedal cyclists and they sometimes need reminding that there are people more vulnerable than them on the roads."

Next month Southampton's city patrol officers will gain the powers to report people they have seen cycling dangerously.

"We are not going to get touchy about it," said Mr Brunskill. "A small but significant minority do cycle inappropriately - but these are behavioural issues.

"We try to say to people that cycling is a realistic option and the aggressive behaviour by the minority of people does not help the case.

"We are saying to the five per cent minority that you could pay. We have had people reported and fined for not cycling sensibly.

"We know that there are more people cycling. We've been surprised by the figures. We expected it to be maybe in the 10s or 20s but it's been in the hundreds. There is still a way to go.

"We are putting more funding into cycling. Having someone who is dedicated to cycling means we are more focused.

"We are not anti-car, but in line with central government policy we are trying to control the growth in private car ownership.

"It's not saying don't have a car, but don't use it for every journey.

Could the future be greater cycle training in schools, perhaps incorporating it into the curriculum.

A spokesman for Hampshire County Council ruled out that option as likely to be too expensive but pointed out that many schools do take up the voluntary cycling proficiency.

Seven- to ten-year-olds can take three one-hour sessions on the school playground while children aged ten and over can take eight one-hour session in the playground and out on the roads.

Mr Brunskill added: "Training is very important. You need to be confident before going on the road.

"Once you've gone through primary training I think it's fine to have a test and I think instruction from parents can also pass on these skills.

"They do still do tests at schools. Not all schools do it as it's an issue of getting the volunteers to run it."

VIEW FROM THE CYCLE LANE - by Paul Hancocks

Cycle commuter, aged 38, with an average weekly mileage to and from work of 40 miles, "though occasionally I cop out and drive in."

AS A regular cyclist I feel sometimes as if I'm a member of an endangered species - one that some motorists would like to see become extinct.

I say this more in sadness than in anger because I feel that future generations are in danger of being put off discovering the benefits of two-wheeled travel, such as getting regular exercise and not having to pay for parking to name but two, if the current demonisation of the cyclist continues.

My journey to and from work should be straightforward. The fact that sometimes it isn't is an indictment of the attitude of local and national government and, worst of all, other road users.

I've lost count of the number of times I've been cut up by motorists, encountered cars parked in cycle lanes and been passed by vehicles whose drivers must think I don't need, or deserve, any road space.

The layout of the cycle lanes, such as they are, is sometimes bizarre, while some yobs seem to delight in smashing bottles in the gutters.

The condition of the highways in Southampton, as has been reported previously, leaves a lot to be desired. In some parts, such as where Howard Road nears its junction with Shirley Road, it's a disgrace.

Some motorists complain about riders using the pavement. I'm not condoning this practice, but I bet in many cases those doing it are simply trying to avoid a section of traffic-clogged, worn-out highway that can be dangerous to use.

As for introducing training for riders and cracking down on highway transgressors, then I say fine, but make sure you do the same for motorists.

It only takes a short hop across the Channel to countries such as Holland to see how different it could be.

However, I must stress again that the biggest change required in this country is in the attitude of motorists towards non-car users, pedestrians included.

If it is society's intention to stop today's young people taking up cycling, then I think it is succeeding as most of the riders I encounter are men in their 40s and 50s, which begs the questions: who is going to cycle in future years and what state is the planet going to be in if we all use cars for even the shortest journeys?

That said, it's still great to be a cyclist and it's hard not to feel a certain smug satisfaction overtaking a long queue of stationary traffic in Shirley Road - unless somebody decides to open their car door and knock you off.

So come on motorists, get out of your tin boxes and join us. After all, you will certainly save pounds and shed a few from your midriffs . . . and you might even enjoy it.