Jean Karl Soler makes a number of errors and untruths in his letter ‘Road safety rule’ (April 6).

He says: “It is notable that the Bicycling Advocacy Group continues to avoid any enforcement of road safety regulations for cyclists, including the most basic safety measures, such as a helmet.” This is incorrect, the BAG does recommend that cyclists wear helmets, however, the group feels there are far more proactive and better ways to prevent accidents.

Helmets are a good last line of defence; they should not be the first one.

For this reason, we feel it is far better to invest our energies in better infrastructure, awareness and overall road user behaviour.

With regard to enforcing cyclist behaviour, there are good and bad cyclists just as there are good and bad drivers.

Only recently, BAG called for cyclists to address a number of ‘cyclist sins’ and asked that the police assist BAG in enforcing the use of lights at night, among other initiatives.

So we have to refute Soler’s opinion that BAG does not call for enforcement.

When opening car doors, drivers often don’t look for cyclists. In such cases, we might advise drivers that using their opposite hand to open a door allows them to look further back to check for people on bicycles. But, equally, we would, and have done so several times in the past, proactively advised cyclists to avoid the door zone. So, yes, we do ask road users to modify their behaviours to safe ones but, unlike what Soler suggests, rather than attacking drivers, we do it across the board as friendly advice and include cyclists.

While advocating bicycle use, we are ultimately trying to reduce congestion, pollution, parking and health problems.

This is hardly attacking car drivers. At least, we are trying to do something about it.