Editor: It’s cycling season once again, and once again, drivers need to be reminded to drive safely whenever they encounter cyclists, no matter where they are.
While most drivers I see when I’m out on the roads around Chatham-Kent do pass safely, giving more than the minimum one-metre clearance, there are some that either just don’t care or are just too stupid to realize the danger they’re putting us in.
I said “stupid” intentionally in the hope that it might knock some sense into these people.
Last summer. I had a dump truck driver pass within two feet of me. One wobble or being pulled in by the side draft, well, I wouldn’t be writing this letter now, would I?
I do have a video camera on my bike and was able to track down the owner of that truck and discuss the incident.
This year I personally have only been out a couple of times, but already I had one idiot pass me with another oncoming vehicle directly opposite. In other words, for a split second, we were three abreast! That is unacceptable driving.
All the driver behind me had to do was just slow down for 10 seconds, but noooo, my life wasn’t worth that much time to lose in his/her rush to get nowhere.
The bottom line is cyclists are human beings, not objects in your way. Just like you, we have family and loved ones we want to get home to.
So, next time drivers encounter a cyclist, just remember one thing, What if I/we were one of your family members who just got killed by a selfish, uncaring driver?
Oh and by the way, to the idiot who passed me, I have your licence number.
Geoff Clement
Chatham
