In response to Coun Mark Le Sage’s campaign for cyclists to use lights, We in PEDALS are also concerned about cyclists riding without lights – not just in the dark but in the half-light at the time when children return from school.
These cyclists are taking unnecessary risks, as well as breaking the law. We wish they wouldn’t do it.
Rather than use abusive language – is there anyone who appreciates or responds positively to being called an idiot (or worse)? – I would offer solutions in the hope that they might work:
Parents should think of taking their children out in the car when it is dark or getting dark, and pointing out to them how difficult it can be to see a cyclist without lights. A conversation should take place. Surely children will respond when they can see with their own eyes and talk about it.
How about giving bicycle lights as presents? There are some amazingly bright and effective lights on the market nowadays _ children enjoy showing off, and super-special bicycle lights would be an ideal way to do this. I recently saw a couple of kids with multi-coloured Christmassy lights on their bikes; this may border on the illegal, but it was most effective, as the kids were very visible; I hope the police would be understanding.
Schools should be encouraged, particularly at this time of year, to mention the issue in assemblies and form periods; maybe a professional driver could be invited in to talk to the children about it. Yes, there are too many schools for this to be practicable, but certain schools have more children cycling to school than others; I can think of one school in Spalding where some conversations or presentations could usefully take place.
The police in Hull and other places have donated lights to cyclists without; as they will say, that is much less expensive and distressing than clearing up after an accident.
The most important thing is that we should all be as safe as possible on the roads.
Our roads are dangerous places, and not only because of cyclists without lights, or cars with a missing headlight or drivers not being sure how to negotiate a roundabout – the three most recent issues I have come across in Spalding.
David Jones
PEDALS
