YP Letters: Cyclists v cars and why two wheels have historic right of way

AS an active cyclist for over 60 years, I must take issue with the grumpy letter from John Richardson (The Yorkshire Post, April 30).

I would argue that we cyclists have more “right” to be on the road than he does in his car.

Motorists are “permitted” to use the road by possession of driving and vehicle licences. This privilege can be withdrawn.

Cyclists, along with pedestrians, horse riders, cattle drovers and diverse others, have free access to the public highway as a right of way and have been exercising this since long before motor vehicles crowded us out.

His assertion that cyclists should pay a road tax would contravene this historic right.

Moreover, his suggestion that a registration number and compulsory insurance might curb the excessive behaviour of some cyclists is highly optimistic.

Motor vehicles carry individual identities on their number plates but this doesn’t deter drivers from ignoring speed limits, jumping red traffic lights, using hand-held phones or indulging in any other hazardous misdemeanour that suits their convenience.

The increase in cycling comes from growing concerns for a healthier lifestyle and a realisation that the motor car is not the ultimate solution to personal transport needs.

As this develops, so will the conflict between cyclists and motorists and the only solution is to increase dedicated routes for cycle use, both on and off the road.

As for the Tour de Yorkshire being an imposition on our roads and ratepayers, about two million people turned out in the rain to cheer on the riders.

Clearly they were not protesting about closed roads but seemed thrilled to watch the peloton speed through their localities.

Get a bike and enjoy life, Mr Richardson!

From: Clive Bailey, The Crescent, Carlton, Stockton-on-Tees.

I WRITE to applaud the letter from John Richardson (The Yorkshire Post, April 30). Cyclists really are becoming a nuisance on our roads. I speak not of the solo riders who travel to and from work, but of the bands of club cyclists who race two or three abreast in groups of 20 or 30, inconveniencing other road users in the process.

Motorists are being constantly reminded by the police that the public road is not a race track. Indeed motoring insurance policies do not cover racing. Amateur cyclists however are now being actively encouraged to race around the public roads. For such cyclists, insurance is optional.

Drivers of motorised vehicles find large groups of cyclists difficult to overtake, particularly on narrow, winding country lanes. Can these cyclists, together with those who organise and encourage them, not see that they are a danger to themselves and other road users? A gaudy lycra suit offers no protection against a car, bus or truck.

I agree with Mr Richardson that the time has come when all cyclists should be registered by the DVLA.

Third party insurance should be mandatory. Alternatively we could bow down to yet another minority group and close all roads to motorists.

BBC quality beats rivals

From: Mr R Hanson, Golcar.

RE your report “BBC may face bar on ratings battle” (The Yorkshire Post, May 2).

Somebody has to pay for making TV programmes. Most people watch BBC programmes. The TV licence is a licence to watch live television whether it is put out over the air or on line.

Regarding watching non-live TV for free, the law should be changed to stop this because the programmes have cost money to make in the first place.

The BBC licence costs £145.50 per year. I pay £801 per year for commercially broadcast programmes via Sky.

Most of the commercial broadcasters do not even produce programmes.

My wife and I have got so fed up of watching 40 minutes of content and 20 (sometimes more) minutes of adverts per hour of programme that we record them so we can fast forward or watch on catchup with no adverts.

Do people want to make the BBC go down this road? I don’t.

As for banning the BBC from showing its popular shows at peak viewing times, the fact that polls show considerably more people watch BBC programmes at these times than commercial ones means that the BBC makes better shows.

Perhaps, if ITV spent more money making better programmes, it would get more viewers.

TV’s Virgo misses cue

From: Anne Jeffrey, Halifax.

WAS it me or did snooker commentator John Virgo become rather tiresome during the BBC’s coverage of the World Championships at Sheffield? If he is such a know-all when it comes to shot selection and execution, why was he not a better player?