Bicycles and brains

The Transport Authority (ADT) has recently declared a policy of discouraging car use and promoting bicycle use.

It intends to give precedence to cyclists and also in effect make car driving inconvenient and expensive as a result.

Moreover, the ADT wants to go beyond that. It aims to achieve "a cultural change" in our mode of travel by having car drivers switching over to riding bicycles. Such a proposed drastic change in our lifestyles has been passed over without comment.

Consistent with its policy, the ADT will launch a comprehensive educational campaign for cyclists to unlearn bad habits and to adopt a correct and legal way to ride a bike. Presumably, this will involve motorists as well. This is mere hopeful expectation on the ADT's part. There is wholesale anarchy on our roads. Our system of rules is rendered unworkable by the unruly and by lack of enforcement. Drivers and cyclists are both to blame but I wish to concentrate on cyclists who are in great danger.

I have never seen one at night wearing luminous or light clothing. Protective crash helmets are rarely if ever worn. Reflective side lights on wheel spokes or lights at the back or front of the machine are never seen. Riding in tandem on a narrow road is quite common. Many will wobble their way up a hill and most will ride against the traffic flow and one-way systems. Contrary to habitual use, cyclists will have to learn to use cycle lanes allocated to them which follow the traffic flow on the nearside of the road.

If cyclists are to be given rights above those of motorists, they should appreciate that rights carry with them responsibilities and obligations. One gets nothing for nothing. All bicycles need to be registered and taxed if used on designated highways. Cyclists should be insured for their own protection and a lower age limit set for highway users. Along with motorists, cyclists should be made to obey traffic regulations and pulled up for contraventions such as non wearing of crash helmets and riding without lights.

If the ADT succeeds in restricting car use, they may have to rethink their policy. A substantial reduction in car use will have a huge knock-on effect on the car industry The car serves as an instrument of economic policy. The industry employs thousands involving in all manner of trades, professions and businesses. The ADT should know what their right arm is doing.

However, I agree with the authority that if bicycles are to mix in large numbers with the motor car, the whole system has to become safer for cyclists especially... Given the present circumstances, they are a danger to themselves as well as to others.