I love riding around Eastbourne in all weathers and today was no exception, despite the heavy rain shower in the middle of the afternoon.
I was almost home when I reached the traffic lights at Stone Cross, there was a rather long queue of traffic, but I waited patiently and joined the queue, only for the lights to turn red (rather too quick) again. So I slowly made my way to the front of the lights and stopped in the section for cyclists; however another cyclist passed me, went through the red light, up on to the pavement and then across the road, via a traffic island. But who was this person dressed in dark clothing, not wearing a cycle helmet, with a shopping bag hanging from each handle of his bike?
Was it a teenager on a BMX? No.
Was it an awesome dude on a full suspension mountain bike? No.
Was it was a MAMIL (Middle Aged Man In Lycra) on a road bike? No.
It was in fact an elderly gentleman on a hybrid bike.
My point is that it doesn't matter what age you are or what bike you are on, please respect the rules of the road. I'd hate to think what a car driver would be going through right now if he or she had hit you, let alone your own personal injuries and the effect that a collision would have on your family and friends.
Us cyclists get a bad press at times and we don't always help ourselves. We can share space with others if that space is respected. I'm afraid there isn't always the money to put us in segregated cycle lanes with high electrocuted fences and machine gun nests to stop us going near pavements (I know I'm being sarcastic).
One last thing.... someone shouted at me a few weeks ago that I should "Pay my B****y road tax!" What made me laugh was the fact that the driver was in a Toyota Prius!!!
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