It is a sad day when a friend dies. This week we lost a fellow cyclist and we are all shaken by this, perplexed by the lack of action from the authorities to do something more effective about making our roads safer. Speed cameras only help reduce speeding. They do not address recklessness. They do not address the pitiful state of our roads.

They do not address the complete lack of etiquette by our drivers. Every morning, I put my life in my hands when I go out cycling. My wife is worried sick and I don't blame her. Since we travel regularly and sometimes train abroad, we know the stark difference between the quality of driving here and that overseas. The respect for cyclists and runners is incomparable.

The authorities must address the issue. The cycling lanes are a joke - the place where roadside detritus collects and manholes and drains are placed, guaranteeing punctures and injuries. You have to move to the middle of the road to get round potholes that would break the shocks on a 4x4. Of course, we get killed! There isn't a single road we can "choose" to cycle on safely.

Driving licences need to become more valued. Re-test every 10 years, commercial licences every five. Weed out the culprits. Change the mentality of wardens from giving parking tickets to saving lives. Fine reckless driving as much as drug pushing; they both lead to death.

My reason to take up cycling seriously was the same for Lifecyclists; to raising fund for charity. Would people donate more if we told them every morning we faced death to reach our goals, I wonder?

You may think I'm exaggerating, and angry but I have been hit, threatened, pushed over and made to break so hard I've fallen off my bike at least once a month by reckless drivers. Is that right? Angry? Yes I sure am!

Let's see how many more of us die before action is taken.... And I don't mean more speed cams.