NEVER before have I felt compelled to write a letter to a newspaper, but having read letters last week regarding cycling I felt I had to offer my opinion.

There were in fact two letters, one offering very useful advice on keeping safe during obscure conditions (Cyclists plea, December 15), thanks David.

But the other (Cycle lanes, December 15), well, what can I say. Well, this actually...

Cycle lanes are designed to provide a safe haven for cyclists but I would ask Alan whether he regularly uses them only to be confronted by frustrated pedestrians, furry dogs that want to take you on in a Time Trial but more importantly broken glass and other debris.

As Mr Benson mentioned, sometimes we want to go fast – yeah, and what’s wrong with that?

Yes, I am a keen cyclist, desperate to be like my heroes at Le Tour but I also drive around 1,000 miles per week for business and when I come up behind cyclists I see it as just another ‘slight’ delay, just as I would with having to drive at 70mph on the motorway or being held at a red light, it will cost me seconds rather than minutes but also if you are behind a group of cyclists out for a healthy NHS, tax and planet-saving ride it’s better if they are abreast rather than strung out in a much longer line.

Cycling two abreast is quite legal on most roads and in fact, better for the car driver. As you have to cross the central line to pass cyclists safely, you can pass the group in a much shorter distance so in fact, makes this safer for the car driver as well as the cyclist.

So, come on Mr Benson who’s up next, horse riders? Pedestrians? How about Santa’s sleigh?

Got to go now as I have just had yet another tax bill I have to pay. Might have to sell a bike!

STEVEN MURR
Taunton