Olga was cycling
along with a chum last week, two abreast, when the driver of a passing car
called out, “You shouldn't ride like that. It’s dangerous.”
“Fuck off!”
bellowed Olga, as usual. But this time she’d made a big mistake. The motorist
was a policewoman. Olga had to stop and be told off by two officers who looked
very young indeed, which she found galling, but didn't dare be rude, and for
once had to grovel and apologise- despite the policemen being wrong. It’s not
uncommon for police to wildly overstep the mark like this, and the belief that
it’s illegal to ride two abreast is common
Olga didn’t deserve
that. In a more civilised country there would be an excellent network of
cycleways on major roads and no through motor traffic on back streets.
Pedestrians would be free of fear of cyclists, having their own space without cars parked blocking the pavement.
I mention this to
Olga and she agrees, but she’s not put off cycling here anyway. Even though the
last motorist she swore at pursued her on to a pavement and tried to squash
her. Then she cycled through the park late at night, got shut in, hauled her
bike over a 6ft fence and almost impaled herself climbing after it. But will
she cycle more cautiously? No. She’s just rather proud of herself, for being so
fit at 71.
She has a point. Most of us are much weedier.
After several close shaves, poor Fielding suddenly bottled it years ago in the
middle of a five-lane roundabout. He got off his bike and doddered to the kerb,
never to cycle again. This country fails people like Fielding
Daughter insists
that I be pleasant to cyclists, because they are saving the planet. Quite
right. I never, ever, want to accidentally crash into one. I’m not a monster.
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