Claudia
Senior Member
- Location
- Biggleswade
I got my first bike when I was 3 - over 20 years loving those pretty things now. Back home, I never had a helmet, high vis jacket, lights... Nothing in regards of safety. Apart from when I wen to school, I never left home by foot. Later on, I was dragged to a 3rd world country, I lived in a city by the sea where at the time there were no traffic lights, zebra crosses and, the very few STOP signs didn't mean a thing. I've seen the most bizarre accidents over those 3 years. Yet, I still rode a bike, still no helmet, lights or high vis equipment and I made it without a scratch or scary situation.
Now, London. A semi expensive bike sitting at home, helmet, 2 sets of lights, high vis stuff and that's still not enough to get me riding to work. I just don't have the balls. Especially now that 8 people died within the ridiculous space of 8 days, all of them just next door. It terrifies me!
Then, when it should be time to stick together and try to get the ones who call the shots to make London safer to cyclists, shoot happens! The things I read through forums this week, just put me even more off than I already am. And pissed me off too! I thought some people would actually take it seriously but all I keep reading is "get your f***** bikes off the streets, London is not a place for cyclists." "You don't pay to use the road as I pay for my car so stay the f*** out of my way." "Go to the country side and ride your bike there." And more non sense. Some of them even suggested in blurred lines that all cyclists should just 'disappear'. Probably the same way the other 8 disappeared. This is revolting. I replied to some of them but hey, what do I change on my own? nothing.
I realise now how much most of this city hates cyclists...
It's 5.40 am and this is actually taking my sleep away.
What else needs to be done to make drivers* (any) sensible to this?
*especially lorry and taxi drivers!!!
Now, London. A semi expensive bike sitting at home, helmet, 2 sets of lights, high vis stuff and that's still not enough to get me riding to work. I just don't have the balls. Especially now that 8 people died within the ridiculous space of 8 days, all of them just next door. It terrifies me!
Then, when it should be time to stick together and try to get the ones who call the shots to make London safer to cyclists, shoot happens! The things I read through forums this week, just put me even more off than I already am. And pissed me off too! I thought some people would actually take it seriously but all I keep reading is "get your f***** bikes off the streets, London is not a place for cyclists." "You don't pay to use the road as I pay for my car so stay the f*** out of my way." "Go to the country side and ride your bike there." And more non sense. Some of them even suggested in blurred lines that all cyclists should just 'disappear'. Probably the same way the other 8 disappeared. This is revolting. I replied to some of them but hey, what do I change on my own? nothing.
I realise now how much most of this city hates cyclists...
It's 5.40 am and this is actually taking my sleep away.
What else needs to be done to make drivers* (any) sensible to this?
*especially lorry and taxi drivers!!!