But this week for a change I will write in defence of the drivers.
There has been quite a lot of comments recently in this newspaper about cyclists riding on pavements, one article even quoting cyclists saying why they have to use the pavements.

How logical is that? 'I do not want to get hit by a car so I will ride on the pavement where I may hit a pedestrian?' It brings a new meaning to "keep death off the roads".

I do not want to get too involved in this side of the argument, other than to ask what these people think a car driver who feels unsafe on the road should do - also use the pavement?

I fully understand why children may need to ride on footpaths (so the mental age of some adult cyclists may explain why they also ride there), but if an adult does not feel safe, then maybe they should walk as I am sure they would agree the car driver alluded to earlier should do.

My complaint is against those who ride on both the road and pavement just when it suits them. The pavement is usually used just to negotiate traffic lights, so that the cyclist thinks they are immune to normal traffic laws.

As has been stated in some reports, it is illegal to ride on the pavement, although many cyclists seem to think they are above the law, especially when it comes to pedestrian crossings.

As the name suggests, these are for people on foot only, whether zebra, pelican or puffin. The only crossing that can legally be ridden across is a toucan which will have a cycle lane approaching it from both sides of the road.

There are too many idiot cyclists who think that a reflective jacket makes them immune from damage and will ride straight off the pavement onto the road without bothering to check if a car is coming first.

Before anyone mentions it, yes I am aware of the idiot drivers who park and open their door without checking for cyclists first.

Pedestrians will also just step into the road without bothering to check first for traffic coming. This is very often done in the middle of town, especially at traffic lights.

You may hear a car coming if there is no other background noise, but you won't hear a cyclist coming. Pedestrian crossings are there for a reason; to allow you to cross the road safely.

Why do so many pedestrians cross the road when there is a crossing only a few yards away or why do they cross before the lights tell them it is safe?

Think about the example you are setting when parents are trying to teach their children the safe way to cross and see you just walk out into the road.

I must admit to doing this until the road safety training side was brought to my attention by one of my parent learners (thanks Danni).

This brings me to my final point which is something that almost everyone seems to do, yet when you see it happening it seems both ridiculous and stupid.

When people cross the road with a car coming towards them, why do they
run into the middle of the road but then slow down to a walk when they are on the same side of the road as the car? Wouldn't it make more sense to run when the car is in front of you?