Thank you for highlighting the increase in deaths of cyclists and the vigil to be held on Tuesday (Report, 17 December). As well as the concerns about HGVs and dangerous junctions, it appears that there is a great increase in dangerous and inconsiderate behaviour among drivers. Recently, going for a bike ride on a Sunday afternoon, we were subject to abuse from drivers for no other reason than having the nerve to cycle on the road. Cars no longer slow down if a pedestrian is crossing the road. Pensioners cross roads with a terrified look in their eyes, never knowing if someone is going to come hurtling round the corner. Nowadays there seems to be little idea of the duty of care to more vulnerable road users. Please can we have someone with some vision and inspiration to rid us of this thrall to the motor vehicle and make our streets truly streets for people? Perhaps we can invite some Dutch road designers, as well as pedestrians and cyclists, to design our roads and public spaces and make them fit for all.
Sue Abel
Hounslow, Middlesex
• Despite the shocking rise in cyclist fatalities, the government is ignoring its own safety statistics in allowing 7ft-longer lorries on our roads in the new year. While admitting that longer HGVs will have a larger tail swing and an even greater driver blind spot, the government claims that collisions will not increase by distorting its own figures. Crucially, these longer HGVs will be particularly dangerous for vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, as it will not be obvious how far the back of the lorry will swing out into another lane as it is turning.
Philippa Edmunds
Freight on Rail
Source: Read Full Article