CYCLISTS will pay thousands of pounds for a bike but won’t spend a few pounds on a bell or other means of warning of their approach (David Ward, Letters, October 24). Time and time again cyclists get away with behaviour that would see motorists jailed or fined. If cyclists want to be treated like other road users let them behave like other road users.
Stuart Neville, Clydebank.
I AM a just little bit younger than David Ward and have been riding a bike for almost 75 years. Most days I cycle along the nearby railway footpath to fetch The Herald, during which time I often come up behind young mums chatting and pram pushing, grandparents too, the “blind” lady with her guide dog, others engrossed in conversation or listening on their headphones. I am always glad to have a bell to alert them to my fairly silent approach. In my view the bell is an essential part of equipment on any bicycle in regular use in public areas.
Duncan Miller, Lenzie.
I WRITE in support of David Ward’s letter asking cyclists to ring their bells on the Kelvin Walkway. I am hard of hearing and use the same stretch of the walkway regularly. Every Thursday I walk along it with two other deaf friends en route to a lip-reading class. We rarely hear bells but it does help. We would ask cyclists to remember that the walkers they are about to pass may be deaf (or plugged into their mobile phones) so they should slow down, and make sure they are aware of their approach.
Lisella Hutton, Glasgow G12.
I CAN identify with David Ward’s concern about being overtaken by silent cyclists and assure him that the River Kelvin walkway is not the only walkway in the west of Scotland where he would be at risk from stealth missiles on wheels.
I have not yet resorted to walking backwards but have often thought of adding a bicycle bell to my various accoutrements and sounding it when passed by offenders; only my disinclination for confrontation and well-developed sense of self-preservation has deterred me so far.
Good luck to courteous cyclists, but others may reflect on “live and let live”.
R Russell Smith, Kilbirnie.
HOW many more times will we hear from Abellio ScotRail (ASR) about its “specially designed carriages” for use on our West Highland line ("Highlands get UK’s first cycle carriages", The Herald, October 24)?
This story has already appeared half-a-dozen times. It’s nothin mair nor ASR caul kale het yet again .
Tom Smith, ASR project manager, is quoted as saying “this innovative pilot is the first of its type in the UK”.
Innovative? To provide room on a train for bikes and luggage? Where has ASR been? Any serious rail traveller expects long-distance trains to provide such basics as a matter of course. Our European cousins have provided them for decades.
Gordon Casely, Crathes.
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